Sparrow

Mentioned among the offerings made by the very poor. Two sparrows were sold for a farthing (Matt. 10:29), and five for two farthings (Luke 12:6). The Hebrew word thus rendered is tsippor, which properly denotes the whole family of small birds which feed on grain (Lev. 14:4; Ps. 84:3; 102:7). The Greek word of the New Testament is strouthion (Matt. 10:29-31), which is thus correctly rendered.

(Heb. tzippor, from a root signifying to “chirp” or “twitter,” which appears to be a phonetic representation of the call-note of any passerine (sparrow-like) bird). This Hebrew word occurs upwards of forty times in the Old Testament. In all passages except two it is rendered by the Authorized Version indifferently “bird” or “fowl.” and denotes any small bird, both of the sparrow-like species and such as the starling, chaffinch, greenfinch, linnet, goldfinch, corn-bunting, pipits, blackbird, song-thrush, etc. In (Psalms 84:3) and Psal 102:7 It is rendered “sparrow.” The Greek stauthion (Authorized Version “sparrow”) occurs twice in the New Testament, (Matthew 10:29; Luke 12:6,7) (The birds above mentioned are found in great numbers in Palestine and are of very little value, selling for the merest trifle and are thus strikingly used by our Saviour, (Matthew 10:20) as an illustration of our Father’s care for his children.—ED.) The blue thrush (Petrocossyphus cyaneus) is probably the bird to which the psalmist alludes in (Proverbs 102:7) as “the sparrow that sitteth alone upon the house-top.” It is a solitary bird, eschewing the society of its own species, and rarely more than a pair are seen together. The English tree-sparrow (Passer montanus, Linn.) is also very common, and may be seen in numbers on Mount Olivet and also about the sacred enclosure of the mosque of Omar. This is perhaps the exact species referred to in (Psalms 84:3) Dr. Thompson, in speaking of the great numbers of the house-sparrows and field-sparrows in troublesome and impertinent generation, and nestle just where you do not want them. They stop your stove— and water-pipes with their rubbish, build in the windows and under the beams of the roof, and would stuff your hat full of stubble in half a day if they found it hanging in a place to suit them.”

SPAR'ROW. The original word might properly have been always translated, as it is generally, "bird " or "fowl." It denotes, indefinitely, some of the sparrow-like (passerine) species, which in multitudes inhabit the Holy Land. In the East such little birds have Tree-Sparrow. (After Wood) always been sold at the merest trifle for food. Matt 10:29. The blue thrush of Palestine is peculiarly a solitary species, and in all its habits exactly meets the description of Ps 102:7. Birds of the sparrow kind often build their nests in the mosques and public buildings of the East. The writer, during service in the English church at Nazareth, observed a house-sparrow enter through a broken pane of glass and fly to its nest, high overhead, illustrating Ps 84:3.

SPAR'ROW. The original word might properly have been always translated, as it is generally, "bird " or "fowl." It denotes, indefinitely, some of the sparrow-like (passerine) species, which in multitudes inhabit the Holy Land. In the East such little birds have Tree-Sparrow. (After Wood) always been sold at the merest trifle for food. Matt 10:29. The blue thrush of Palestine is peculiarly a solitary species, and in all its habits exactly meets the description of Ps 102:7. Birds of the sparrow kind often build their nests in the mosques and public buildings of the East. The writer, during service in the English church at Nazareth, observed a house-sparrow enter through a broken pane of glass and fly to its nest, high overhead, illustrating Ps 84:3.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. One of many species of small singing birds of the family Fringilligæ, having conical bills, and feeding chiefly on seeds. Many sparrows are called also finches, and buntings. The common sparrow, or house sparrow, of Europe (Passer domesticus) is noted for its familiarity, its voracity, its attachment to its young, and its fecundity. See House sparrow, under House.

2. Any one of several small singing birds somewhat resembling the true sparrows in form or habits, as the European hedge sparrow. See under Hedge. He that doth the ravens feed, Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, Be comfort to my age! Shak. Field sparrow, Fox sparrow, etc. See under Field, Fox, etc. -- Sparrow bill, a small nail; a castiron shoe nail; a sparable. -- Sparrow hawk. (Zoöl.) (a) A small European hawk (Accipiter nisus) or any of the allied species. (b) A small American falcon (Falco sparverius). (c) The Australian collared sparrow hawk (Accipiter torquatus).