The Bible references birds frequently, often using them as symbols of God’s care, provision, and teachings. From the sparrow to the eagle, birds remind us of the wondrous creation and the providence of God. Below are significant Bible verses that mention birds, revealing their importance and the lessons they convey throughout scripture.
Bible Verses About Birds
Matthew 6:26 – Trust in God’s Provision
“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” – Matthew 6:26
Related Verses:
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.” – Luke 12:6
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” – Psalm 23:1
“Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” – Matthew 6:8
Genesis 1:21 – Creation of Birds
“So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.” – Genesis 1:21
Related Verses:
“And God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” – Genesis 1:31
“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…” – Colossians 1:16
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” – Psalm 19:1
Isaiah 40:31 – Strength Like Eagles
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31
Related Verses:
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;” – Isaiah 40:30
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” – Deuteronomy 33:27
“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” – Exodus 15:2
Psalms 84:3 – A Home for the Sparrow
“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God.” – Psalms 84:3
Related Verses:
“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere…” – Psalm 84:10
“How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!” – Psalm 84:1
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves.” – Zephaniah 3:17
Luke 12:24 – Consider the Ravens
“Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” – Luke 12:24
Related Verses:
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.” – Matthew 6:25
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:19
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34
Psalm 50:11 – God’s Ownership of Creation
“I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine.” – Psalm 50:11
Related Verses:
“For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” – Psalm 50:10
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;” – Psalm 24:1
“For the world is mine, and all that is in it.” – Psalm 50:12
Proverbs 27:8 – A Bird Wandering from Its Nest
“Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home.” – Proverbs 27:8
Related Verses:
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way…” – Isaiah 53:6
“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;” – Psalm 95:6
“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways,” – Proverbs 23:26
Job 12:7 – Learning from the Birds
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;” – Job 12:7
Related Verses:
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.” – Psalm 96:11
“The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.” – Psalm 104:16
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…” – Romans 1:20
Canticles (Song of Solomon) 2:12 – Birds Singing a New Season
“Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” – Song of Solomon 2:12
Related Verses:
“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.” – Song of Solomon 2:11
“For behold, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.” – Song of Solomon 2:11
“The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance…” – Song of Solomon 2:13
Genesis 8:11 – Dove Brings Back an Olive Leaf
“When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.” – Genesis 8:11
Related Verses:
“He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark.” – Genesis 8:10
“The dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark.” – Genesis 8:9
“He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him.” – Genesis 8:12
Psalms 91:4 – Covered with Feathers
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” – Psalm 91:4
Related Verses:
“The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;” – Psalm 121:7
“The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.” – Psalm 121:6
“You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,” – Psalm 91:5
Psalms 103:5 – Renewed Like the Eagle
“who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” – Psalms 103:5
Related Verses:
“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—” – Psalm 103:2
“who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,” – Psalm 103:3
“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.” – Psalm 103:6
Deuteronomy 22:6 – Caring for Mother Birds
“If you come across a bird’s nest beside the road, either in a tree or on the ground, and the mother is sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young.” – Deuteronomy 22:6
Related Verses:
“Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” – Deuteronomy 25:4
“If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner.” – Deuteronomy 22:1
“Do not wear clothes of wool and linen woven together.” – Deuteronomy 22:11
Matthew 10:16 – Wise as Serpents, Innocent as Doves
“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” – Matthew 10:16
Related Verses:
“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:5
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” – Galatians 6:9
Matthew 23:37 – Longing to Gather as a Hen Gathers Chicks
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” – Matthew 23:37
Related Verses:
“How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.” – Luke 13:34
“When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build,” – Deuteronomy 6:10
“The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” – Proverbs 18:10
Leviticus 11:13 – Birds Forbidden as Food
“These are the birds you are to regard as unclean and not eat because they are unclean: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture,” – Leviticus 11:13
Related Verses:
“There are, however, some flying insects that walk on all fours that you may eat: those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground.” – Leviticus 11:21
“Do not eat any detestable thing.” – Deuteronomy 14:3
“But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to regard as unclean.” – Leviticus 11:10
Psalms 104:12 – Birds Nesting by the Waters
“The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.” – Psalm 104:12
Related Verses:
“He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains.” – Psalm 104:10
“The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” – Psalm 145:9
“You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly.” – Psalm 65:9
Hosea 7:12 – Birds Caught in a Net
“When they go, I will throw my net over them; I will pull them down like the birds in the sky. When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them.” – Hosea 7:12
Related Verses:
“For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.” – Psalm 91:3
“I spread out my net for you, and you were caught, O Babylon, and you did not know it; you were found and also caught, because you contended against the Lord.” – Jeremiah 50:24
“and he will say: ‘Now what do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?” – Matthew 18:12
Jeremiah 8:7 – Birds Aware of Timing
“Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.” – Jeremiah 8:7
Related Verses:
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” – Ecclesiastes 3:1
“So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” – Matthew 24:44
“Tell them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’” – Ezekiel 12:10
Deuteronomy 14:11 – Clean Birds to Eat
“You may eat any clean bird.” – Deuteronomy 14:11
Related Verses:
“Every animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud is ceremonially clean.” – Deuteronomy 14:6
“But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to regard as unclean.” – Leviticus 11:10
“Then he said to them, ‘Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master.’” – Genesis 24:56
Lamentations 3:52 – Hunted Like a Bird
“Those who were my enemies without cause hunted me like a bird.” – Lamentations 3:52
Related Verses:
“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” – Hebrews 12:3
“He saved me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.” – 2 Samuel 22:18
“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” – Psalm 27:1
Psalm 124:7 – Escaping the Bird Trap
“We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped.” – Psalm 124:7
Related Verses:
“Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” – Psalm 124:8
“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.” – Psalm 91:3
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—” – Ephesians 2:8
1 Kings 17:4 – Ravens Feed Elijah
“You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” – 1 Kings 17:4
Related Verses:
“So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there.” – 1 Kings 17:5
“The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.” – 1 Kings 17:6
“The senior official of Samaria was a high officer in the kingdom of Israel—Ishbaal, Ishboheth, Jeroboam, Baalim, Jehu…” – 1 Chronicles 10:12
Ezekiel 17:3 – Great Eagle and Vine Parable
“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: A great eagle with powerful wings, long feathers and full plumage of varied colors came to Lebanon. Taking hold of the top of a cedar,” – Ezekiel 17:3
Related Verses:
“He cut off its topmost shoot and carried it away to a land of merchants, where he planted it in a city of traders.” – Ezekiel 17:4
“Say to the house of rebellion, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?’ Say: ‘Look, the king of Babylon went to Jerusalem, took its king and officials, and brought them back with him to Babylon.” – Ezekiel 17:12
“Then say to them, ‘The Lord says: I am going to take the whole house of Israel back, each man by name.” – Hosea 3:5
Proverbs 1:17 – Warnings of a Bird Trap
“How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!” – Proverbs 1:17
Related Verses:
“Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7
“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—” – Proverbs 1:5
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
Psalms 55:6 – Longing for Wings
“I said, ‘Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” – Psalm 55:6
Related Verses:
“But I call to God, and the Lord saves me.” – Psalm 55:16
“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” – Psalm 55:22
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” – Philippians 4:4
Proverbs 26:2 – Cursing like a Fleeing Bird
“Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.” – Proverbs 26:2
Related Verses:
“A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare holds him fast.” – Job 18:9
“Whoever digs a pit will fall into it; if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.” – Proverbs 26:27
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the Lord.” – Isaiah 54:17
Isaiah 38:14 – Chattering Like a Swallow
“I cried like a swift or thrush, I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew weak as I looked to the heavens. I am being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!” – Isaiah 38:14
Related Verses:
“The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.” – Isaiah 51:3
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” – Isaiah 40:29
“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” – Isaiah 41:13
Job 39:26 – The Eagle’s Flight
“Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread its wings toward the south?” – Job 39:26
Related Verses:
“Does the eagle soar at your command and build its nest on high?” – Job 39:27
“It loves the cliffs as its home and point of safety to keep watch above its prey.” – Job 39:28
“He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.” – Job 26:7
Jeremiah 4:25 – Birds Fleeing from Disaster
“I looked, and there were no people; every bird in the sky had flown away.” – Jeremiah 4:25
Related Verses:
“I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty; and at the heavens, and their light was gone.” – Jeremiah 4:23
“I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; all the hills were swaying.” – Jeremiah 4:24
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1
Matthew 13:32 – Faith Like a Mustard Seed
“Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.” – Matthew 13:32
Related Verses:
“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.” – Matthew 13:31
“He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” – Matthew 17:20
“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ He replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” – Luke 17:5-6
Zechariah 5:9 – Vision of Women with Wings Like a Stork
“Then I looked up—and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings! They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.” – Zechariah 5:9
Related Verses:
“Where are they taking the basket? I asked the angel who was speaking to me.” – Zechariah 5:10
“In response to the Lord’s command, I prophesied the vision and the glory of the Lord appeared in the visions.” – Ezekiel 1:4
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” – John 16:13