What does the Bible say about…
ravens
Hebrew: 'orebh, from a root meaning “to be black” (compare Song of Songs 5:11)
A raven is first mentioned as “sent forth” by Noah from the ark (Genesis 8:7).
Three species of ravens exist in modern Israel. These are the brown-necked raven (Corvus ruficollis), fan-tailed raven (Corvus rhipidurus), and common raven (Corvus corax). They belong to the genus Corvus in the crow family (Corvidae). Ravens are distinguished from crows by their larger size, thicker bills, and wedge-shaped tails.
Ravens are mentioned in 8 Bible verses.
“Every raven after his kind” was forbidden as food (Leviticus 11:15; Deuteronomy 14:14).
Ravens feed mostly on carrion (flesh of dead animals), and hence their food is generally procured with difficulty except in times of much death.
Who prepares for the raven its provision
When its young cry for help to God
And wander about without food? —Job 38:41
Who gives to the animal its food,
And to the young ravens which call out. —Psalm 147:9
His head is like gold, fine gold;
His locks are like clusters of dates
And black as a raven. —Song of Songs 5:11
…owl and raven will dwell in it… —Isaiah 34:11 excerpt
Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! —Luke 12:24
When the prophet Elijah was concealed by the brook Cherith, God commanded the ravens to bring him “bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening” (1 Kings 17:3-6).
When they attack young goats or lambs or other weak animals, it is said that they first pick out the eyes of their victims.
The eye that mocks a father
And despises obedience to a mother,
The ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young eagles will eat it. —Proverbs 30:17
Israel also hosts crow species like the hooded crow (Corvus cornix) and rook (Corvus frugilegus), plus the introduced house crow (Corvus splendens), but these are not classified as ravens.
More information
- Birds in the Bible
- Who is Noah? and what is his significance? Discover his amazing life!
- What is Noah’s ark in the Bible?
- What is the Global Flood?
- Does the Bible claim that the Flood of Noah covered the entire Earth? Could the Flood have been a large, but localized flood? Discover 9 Biblical evidences that the Flood was global.
- Scientific answers to questions about the worldwide Flood
- What is “clean” and “unclean” in the Bible?
- Who is Elijah, the prophet? And what is his significance?
- Black in the Bible