Vultures in the Bible

Vultures are specialized carnivorous birds that consume dead creatures (carrion). They are part of Earth’s clean-up crew, designed for this purpose by God as needed in the post-Fall and post-Flood world. Without them, dead animals would lay about far longer and become an increasing problem.

A group of feeding vultures is called a “wake.”

Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) are seen in modern Israel, parts of the Mediterranean region and Eurasia.

Yahweh declared these birds unclean and not be eaten by the children of Israel.

Bible translators have rendered 2 Hebrew words as “vulture”.

Hebrew: דָּאָה —transliteration: daah or da'ah —occurrences: 1 in Leviticus

And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; —Lev. 11:14 KJV

In the parallel passage (Deuteronomy 14:13) the Hebrew word used is ra'ah, translated as “glede;” Septuagint: “gups;” Vulgate: “milvus.”

“When used without the epithet ‘red,’ the name is commonly confined to the black kite.”

The habits of the bird bear out the allusion in Isaiah 34:15, for it is so numerous everywhere in Israel as to be almost gregarious, except during winter’s 3 months.
Hebrew: אַיָּה —transliteration: ayyah —meaning: the screamer, some type of hawk (kite or falcon)

The Hebrew word denotes a clamorous bird of prey.

In some translations of the Bible, including the King James Version, ayyah in Job 28:7 is translated as “vulture.” Most modern translations prefer the word “kite,” a common name for certain birds of prey in the Accipitridae family.

In Leviticus 11:14 KJV and Deuteronomy 14:13 KJV ayyah is translated as “kite”.

Vulture in Egyptian idolatry

In pagan ancient Egypt, Nekhbet was the vulture goddess and supposed protector of Upper Egypt and its city of Nekhed (aka Elkab, El-Kab, El Kab) on the Nile River’s east side

It is said that many royal Egyptian wives wore vulture crowns as a symbol of the goddess Nekhbet’s protection.

Chilling prophecy

Through His prophet Ezekiel, God warned the idolatrous people of the Kingdom of Judah of His coming judgment for their great wickedness.

“…the sons of Judah have done that which is evil in My sight,” declares Yahweh, “they have set their detestable things in the house, which is called by My name, to defile it. They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire…

The dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the sky and for the beasts of the earth; and no one will frighten them away. …the land will become a waste place.” —Jeremiah 7:30-34 LSB excerpt

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Article Version: January 8, 2025