Original Word: עָגוּר
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `aguwr
Pronunciation: ah-GOOR
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-goor')
NASB: crane, thrush
Word Origin: [passive part (but with active sense) of an unused root meaning to twitter]

1. swallow

swallow

Passive part (but with active sense) of an unused root meaning to twitter: probably the swallow -- swallow.

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
(a kind of bird) perhaps a crane
NASB Translation
crane (1), thrush (1).

עָגוּר noun [masculine] apparently understood by Masoretes as name of a bird; very uncertain; crane according to Saad (Isaiah), but note of crane not suitable (Tristr^{NHB 239 f.}); — וְתוֺר וְסוּס וְעָגוּר Jeremiah 8:7; כְּסוּס עָגוּר Isaiah 38:14 (but here gloss Klo Brd Di Dn Che^Hpt); Thes and (in Jeremiah) Hi Gf Gie strike out וְ and take ׳ע as adjective of סוס = twittering or the like; Thes assumes transpos. from גער, Ethiopic cry.

I, II, III. עַד see I. עדה. עֵד see עוד.

עֹד see עוֺד. עִדֹּא see עדד. below,

עדד (√ of following; compare Arabic count, reckon, number, period; Aramaic עִדָּנָא time).

Zoological Identity and Natural History

The Hebrew term עָגוּר (agur) designates the crane, a large migratory wading bird known for its long legs, elongated neck, and resonant voice. Cranes travel in disciplined V-shaped formations, covering great distances in their annual migrations between Africa and Eurasia. In the land of Israel they can be observed in spring and autumn, their arrival and departure announcing the change of seasons. Antiquity held the crane in regard for its faithfulness to mate, vigilance while roosting (one bird standing guard), and unerring sense of timing.

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Isaiah 38:14 describes King Hezekiah’s weakened state: “Like a crane or a swallow, I chirped; I moaned like a dove; my eyes grew weary looking upward”.
2. Jeremiah 8:7 employs the crane as a foil to Judah’s spiritual dullness: “Even the stork in the sky knows her seasons, and the turtledove, swift, and crane observe the time of their migration; but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD”.

Though limited to two verses, these references harness widely-recognized features of the crane—its voice and its punctual migration—to convey profound spiritual lessons.

Imagery of Lament and Frailty (Isaiah 38:14)

The cry of the crane, sharp and plaintive, becomes a poetic analogue for Hezekiah’s frail, quavering prayer from the sickbed. The king had once been vigorous, yet now his voice resembles that of a distressed bird. The simile underscores human helplessness apart from divine intervention and demonstrates that authentic lament, however feeble, is heard by God (Isaiah 38:5). In pastoral application, believers facing illness or adversity may find permission to pour out raw groans before the Lord, confident that He “inclines His ear” (Psalm 116:2).

Instinctive Obedience and Moral Indictment (Jeremiah 8:7)

The crane’s flawless adherence to migratory “appointment” exposes Judah’s refusal to heed God’s covenantal summons. The prophet’s logic is simple: if a bird with no moral faculties can keep divine schedule, how much more should the covenant people obey revealed instruction? The passage also affirms that the Creator embeds wisdom even in non-rational creatures, reminding readers that “in wisdom You have made them all” (Psalm 104:24). For the church today, the crane becomes a living parable of prompt obedience and seasonal discernment (see Romans 13:11–12).

Prophetic and Didactic Value

• Dependability of Creation: Seasonal rhythms observed in cranes confirm the Creator’s faithfulness (Genesis 8:22).
• Witness against Apostasy: Jeremiah leverages natural revelation to indict spiritual negligence, a pattern echoed by Jesus when He points to birds and lilies to teach trust (Matthew 6:26–30).
• Hope for Renewal: Just as cranes return after winter, exiles could hope for restoration, anticipating God’s promised “spring” of salvation (Jeremiah 31:17).

Historical Reception

Early Jewish commentators saw the crane as an exemplar of vigilance; Midrashic literature recounts cranes taking turns guarding the flock, a metaphor for watchfulness in prayer. Christian homilists (e.g., John Chrysostom) cited Jeremiah 8:7 to urge congregations toward timely repentance before the “acceptable time” passes (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Discipleship: Use the crane’s obedience to illustrate the discipline of walking “in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).
2. Counseling: Isaiah 38 encourages the suffering to articulate lament; the crane motif validates vulnerable expression.
3. Creation Care: Recognition that birds fulfill God-given roles supports stewardship that protects migratory pathways.
4. Missions: The crane’s long flights picture the gospel’s global reach (Acts 1:8), challenging believers to persevere across cultural and geographic boundaries.

Key Themes for Further Study

• Animal metaphors in prophetic literature (compare Hosea 11:10–11; Amos 3:8).
• Nature as moral instructor in wisdom texts (Proverbs 6:6–8; Job 12:7–10).
• The theology of seasons and divine appointments (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Acts 17:26).

The scriptural crane, though mentioned only twice, lifts its voice as a herald of God’s constancy, a mirror to human frailty, and a teacher in obedience—its sky-borne migrations silently declaring, “The word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

וְעָג֔וּר ועגור עָגוּר֙ עגור ‘ā·ḡūr ‘āḡūr aGur veaGur wə‘āḡūr wə·‘ā·ḡūrInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts