Biblical Ornithology

Probably the best known example is in Lamentations 4:3.

3 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.

I suppose someone might also argue that this passage states that “sea monsters” must be mammals (because they nurse their young.) But here again that’s not the point. The Book of Lamentations is not only poetry (specifically “lamentation poetry”, a genre common to many cultures), many scholars believe it was sung, perhaps even in plaintive wails. Once again, genre matters.

Perhaps “Let the rivers clap their hands” (Psalms 98:8) is limnologically objectionable but not to a poet.

Thanks to @John_Harshman (and whoever helpfully moved these posts), we now have a new thread entitled “Biblical Ornithology”. Yes, folks, that’s why the crowds flock to Peaceful Science!


POSTSCRIPT: @John_Harshman, Lamentations 4:3 uses a different Hebrew word for ostriches but it is clearly the same animal with the same reputation.

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