Hebrew word · H84

אֶבְרָה

'evrah

pinion

The pinion or strong flight feathers of a wing, and by extension the wing as a whole. Related to the verb ʾavar, 'to fly' (Job 39:26). It is a word about power in flight, not soft down.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) pinion, wing

1a) of bird (ostrich, eagle, dove)

1b) of God (metaph)

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Psalm 91:4

Range of meaning

The pinion or strong flight feathers of a wing, and by extension the wing as a whole. Related to the verb ʾavar, 'to fly' (Job 39:26). It is a word about power in flight, not soft down.

Against the English

BSB, KJV, NIV and ESV say "feathers", which is acceptable but can suggest softness and fluff. YLT's "pinion" is closer: the big wing feathers a bird spreads over its young.

Used elsewhere in the period

Deut 32:11 is the key parallel: like an eagle (or vulture) that 'spreads its wings, takes them up, carries them on its pinion (ʾevrah)', the LORD led Israel. Job 39:13 uses it of the ostrich's plumage. The Greek translation (LXX Ps 90:4) oddly renders it 'with his back/shoulders' (metaphrena), and the Latin Vulgate follows with 'scapulis' (shoulders).

From the study of Deuteronomy 32:11

Range of meaning

Pinion: the long, strong flight feathers of a wing, or the wing as the instrument of flight. Only four times in the Bible: Deut 32:11; Job 39:13 (ostrich); Ps 68:13 (dove); Ps 91:4. The related masculine ʾever appears in Isa 40:31, 'they shall mount up with wings like eagles'.

Against the English

KJV 'wings' blurs it into the previous word. WEB 'feathers' is too soft. 'Pinions' (BSB, ESV, NASB, YLT) is precise, though an unfamiliar word to many readers. The Hebrew is singular, 'its pinion'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ps 91:4: 'He will cover you with his pinion (ʾevrato), and under his wings (kenafav) you will find refuge'. That is the same pair of words as here, almost certainly drawing on this verse or on shared language.

Where it appears

Deuteronomy · 1

  1. Deuteronomy 32:11 אֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃ pinion its

    As an eagle stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, He spread His wings to catch them and carried them on His pinions.

    Here: 'Its pinion': the strong outer flight feathers that actually carry a bird through the air. The Hebrew is singular. Ps 91:4 uses the same word: 'with his pinion he will cover you'.

Job · 1

  1. Job 39:13 אֶ֝בְרָ֗ה a pinion

    The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but cannot match the pinions and feathers of the stork.

Psalms · 2

  1. Psalm 68:13 וְ֝אֶבְרוֹתֶ֗יהָ and pinions its

    Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.”

    Here: 'And her pinions', the long flight feathers. It is a poetic word used of the eagle (Deut 32:11), the ostrich (Job 39:13) and God's sheltering wings (Ps 91:4). It pairs with 'wings' in the usual Hebrew poetic echo, where the second line restates the first.

  2. Psalm 91:4 בְּאֶבְרָת֨וֹ׀ with pinion his

    He will cover you with His feathers; under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and rampart.

    Here: "With his pinion": the strong flight feathers of a bird's wing, used collectively for the outspread wing. Placed first in the sentence for emphasis: it is God's own wing that does the covering.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.