Original Word: עַיִט
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `ayit
Pronunciation: ah-yeet
Phonetic Spelling: (ah'-yit)
KJV: bird, fowl, ravenous (bird)
NASB: birds of prey, bird of prey, predatory
Word Origin: [from H5860 (עִיטּ - Bird of prey)]

1. a hawk or other bird of prey

bird, fowl, ravenous bird

From iyt; a hawk or other bird of prey -- bird, fowl, ravenous (bird).

see HEBREW iyt

Word Origin
from it
Definition
a bird of prey
NASB Translation
bird of prey (3), birds of prey (4), predatory (1).

עַ֫יִט noun masculine^{Jer 12:19} bird(s) of prey (from scream); — absolute ׳ע Genesis 15:11+, עָ֑יִט Job 28:7, with article (perhaps) ׳הַע Jeremiah 12:9b (compare Gie; ׳הַע interrogative v^a); construct עֵיט Isaiah 18:6; Ezekiel 39:4; — usually collective Genesis 15:11 (JE), Isaiah 18:6; Job 28:7, עֵיט הָרִים Isaiah 18:6, עֵיט צִמּוֺר כָּלכָּֿנָף Ezekiel 39:4; figurative of foes of Judah Jeremiah 12:9 b; of single bird Jeremiah 12:9 a (figurative of Judah), Isaiah 46:11 (figurative of invader, "" אִישׁ עֲצָתִי).

Meaning and Imagery

The Hebrew עַיִט (ʿayit) denotes a carrion-eating bird of prey in active flight or sudden descent upon a carcass or victim. Scripture employs the word literally for scavenging vultures and figuratively for nations, armies, or leaders who swoop in with unstoppable speed. The term thereby conveys vigilance, swiftness, and the certainty of God-ordained outcomes.

Occurrences in Scripture

Genesis 15:11 – “Then the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.” Abram’s vigilance foreshadows Israel’s later struggles to protect covenant promises.

Job 28:7 – “No bird of prey knows that path, no falcon’s eye has seen it.” Even the keenest creature cannot penetrate divine wisdom.

Isaiah 18:6 – “The birds of prey will feed on them all summer.” Vultures exact God’s judgment on Cush, portraying total desolation.

Isaiah 46:11 – “I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far country.” Cyrus is God’s appointed instrument, underlining divine sovereignty over empires.

Jeremiah 12:9 – “Is not My inheritance to Me like a speckled bird of prey that other birds of prey surround and attack?” Twice repeated, the word depicts Judah both victimized and chastened.

Ezekiel 39:4 – “I will give you as food to every kind of ravenous bird and beast of the field.” The defeat of Gog culminates in carrion birds cleansing the land.

Historical and Cultural Background

In the Ancient Near East, raptors symbolized keen sight, victorious conquest, and death. Egyptian art linked vultures with royal protection; Mesopotamian iconography paired eagles with conquering kings. Under Mosaic law such birds were unclean (Leviticus 11:13-19), reinforcing their association with impurity and judgment.

Theological Themes

1. Covenant Preservation – Abram’s contest with the birds (Genesis 15) illustrates human responsibility amid divine guarantee.
2. Sovereign Control – Through Cyrus (Isaiah 46:11) God directs history to accomplish redemptive purposes.
3. Judgment and Cleansing – In Isaiah 18:6 and Ezekiel 39:4 birds of prey execute judgment and purge the land of defilement.
4. Human Limitation – Job 28:7 underscores that even the sharp-sighted vulture cannot attain God’s wisdom.

Prophetic and Eschatological Significance

Ezekiel’s vision of carrion birds anticipates Revelation 19:17-18, where an angel summons “all the birds flying overhead” to the great supper of God. Likewise, Jesus’ saying in Matthew 24:28 echoes the imagery, linking עַיִט with end-times judgment and ultimate divine victory.

Ministry Applications

• Watchfulness: Like Abram, believers guard the gospel trust against corrupting influences.
• Assurance: Political upheavals, symbolized by God’s summoned bird of prey, advance divine purposes.
• Sobriety: The inevitability of judgment calls for repentance and holy living.
• Humility: True wisdom is accessible only by revelation, not by natural acuity.

Related Imagery

Other Hebrew terms for raptors—נֶשֶׁר (eagle), רָחָם (vulture), עָזְנִיָּה (buzzard)—share the theme of predation but lack the explicit focus on the swift, diving attack conveyed by עַיִט. Together they form a cohesive biblical portrait of judgment, cleansing, and divine authority.

Summary

Across eight passages, עַיִט illustrates the swift certainty of God’s actions—whether in safeguarding covenant promises, executing judgment, or directing world events. The recurring figure of the descending bird of prey assures readers that the Lord’s word never fails and that every purpose He declares will come to pass with unerring precision.

הַעַ֖יִט הַעַ֨יִט הָעַ֔יִט הָעַ֖יִט העיט לְעֵ֣יט לְעֵ֨יט לעיט עַ֔יִט עָ֑יִט עיט ‘a·yiṭ ‘ā·yiṭ ‘ayiṭ ‘āyiṭ Ayit ha‘ayiṭ hā‘ayiṭ ha·‘a·yiṭ hā·‘a·yiṭ haAyit lə‘êṭ lə·‘êṭ leEitInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts