Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 104:17
Where the birds make their nests: [as for] the stork, the fir trees [are] her house.
17. the stork ] Chs dh, the Heb. name for the stork, is connected with chsd, “lovingkindness, and it was so called from its affection for its young, a trait often noticed by Greek and Latin writers. Thus it is called by Babrius (Fab. 13), and ‘avis pia’ or ‘pietaticultrix’ (Petron. 55. 6). Though in Western Europe the stork commonly builds its nest on houses, and in the East selects ruins where they are to be found, “where neither houses nor ruins occur, it selects any trees tall and strong enough to provide a platform for its huge nest, and for this purpose none are more convenient than the fir tree.” Tristram, Nat. Hist. of Bible, p. 248.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Where the birds make their nests – Furnishing a home for the birds where they may breed their young. In Psa 104:12, the birds are introduced as singing among the foliage of trees and shrubs by the water-courses; here they are introduced as having their home in the lofty cedars in places which God had made for them. The word rendered birds here is the word which in Psa 84:3 is translated sparrow, and which is commonly used to denote small birds. Compare Lev 14:4 (margin), and Lev 14:5-7, Lev 14:49-53. It is used, however, to denote birds of any kind. See Gen 7:14; Psa 8:8; Psa 11:1; Psa 148:10.
As for the stork – See the notes at Job 39:13.
The fir trees are her house – Her retreat; her abode. The stork here is used to represent the larger class of birds. The meaning is, that they build their nests among the fir-trees or cypresses. See the notes at Isa 14:8; notes at Isa 41:19. So Milton says:
The eagle and the stork
On cliffs and cedar-tops their eyries build.
They build their nests, however, not only on fir and pine trees, but on houses and castles. Dr. Thomson (Land and the Book, vol. i. p. 504), says of them, These singular birds do not breed in Syria, but pass over it to Asia Minor, and into Northwestern Europe, where they not only build in fir and pine trees upon the mountains, but also enter cities and villages, and make their nests on houses, castles, and minarets.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. Where the birds make their nests] tsipporim signifies swallows, sparrows, and small birds in general; here opposed to the chasidah or stork. Perhaps the heron may be understood, which is said to be the first of all birds to build her nest, and she builds it on the very highest trees. The general meaning is, that God has provided shelter and support for the greatest and smallest birds; they are all objects of his providential regard.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The stork; which make their nests not only in the tops of houses, but also in the field and in high trees, as Varro and others have noted.
The fir trees; which also are trees of great height and bigness; and which, being here said to afford the storks a house, are thereby supposed to be preserved and nourished by the rain water.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Where the birds make their nests,…. As they do in large, tall, spreading trees: not any particular “birds”, as the sparrow, to which the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, and Apollinarius, restrain it: but birds in general are intended; and especially such as build in large trees, as before and after mentioned. Jarchi applies it to the Israelites dwelling among the trees in the garden of Eden: and it may be much better applied to the saints dwelling in the churches, among the trees of righteousness, under the shadow of Gospel ordinances; see Eze 17:23.
As for the stork, the fir trees are her house; where she makes her nest, and brings up her young. Kimchi says it is a large bird, and builds its nest in high trees, as in cedars; but the bird which goes by the name of “pelargus” with the Greeks, and of “ciconia” with the Latins, and of “stork” with us, for the most part builds its nest on the tops of towers and temples w, and the roofs of high houses, and seldom in trees; and when it does, it is in such that are not far from the habitations of men, which it loves to be near: perhaps the reason of its not building on houses in Palestine might be because their roofs were flat and frequented, and therefore built on high trees there, as fir trees and cedars. And Olympiodorus x says it does not lay its eggs on the ground, but on high trees; and Michaelis on the text attests, that he himself had seen, in many places in Germany, storks nests on very high and dry oaks. It has its name in Hebrew from a word y which signifies “holy”, “merciful”, and “beneficent”; because of the great care which it takes of its dam when grown old z: and a like behaviour among men is called piety by the apostle, 1Ti 5:4. But in the Chaldee tongue, and so in the Targum, it has its name from its whiteness; for though its wings are black, the feathers of its body are white: and so Virgil a describes it as a white bird, and as an enemy to serpents; for which reason the Thessalians forbad the killing them, on pain of banishment b. It was an unclean bird, according to the ceremonial law,
Le 11:19. Good men are called by the same name, holy and beneficent; and though they are unclean by nature, yet Christ, the green fir tree, Ho 14:8 is the house of their habitation; in him they dwell by faith, who receives sinners, and eats with them,
Lu 15:2. It is usual with the Latin poets to call the nests of birds their houses c.
w Vid. Turnebi Adversar. l. 8. c. 18. & Praetorii Disp. Histor. Physic. de Crotalistria, c. 6. Heldelin. in ibid. c. 11. x Apud Bachart. Hierozoic. par. 2. l. 2. c. 29. col. 330. y a Buxtorf. Lexic. fol. 247. z Solinus, c. 53. Aelian. de Animal. l. 3. c. 23. a “Candida venit avis longis invisa colubris”, Georgic. l. 2. b Plutarch. de Iside et Osir. prope finem. c “Frondiferasque domos avium”, Lucret. l. 1. v. 19. “Antiquasque domos avium”, Virgil. Georgic. l. 2. v. 209.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(17) Stork.The LXX. give heron, but Dr. Tristram has shown that there is no need to prefer heron here, on account of the nesting in fir trees, since if near its feeding-grounds the stork readily selects a fir as the tallest and most convenient tree for its nest (Nat. Hist. of the Bible, p. 244).
The eagle and the stork
On cliffs and cedar-tops their eyries build.MILTON.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. Birds make their nests For which, as a subordinate reason, the “trees” (Psa 104:16) were prepared.
Stork A large, wide-winged, (Zec 5:9,) migratory bird, of high flight, and noted for its
affection toward its young, its family life, and its sagacity in observing its time of passage. Jer 8:7.
Fir trees Probably the Aleppo pine. “This tree fulfils all the conditions which a stork would require in nest building. It is lofty, and its boughs are sufficiently horizontal to form a platform for the nest, and strong enough to sustain it.” Wood.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Here again we are taught that as the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field, had food and shelter in those provisions which their bountiful Creator hath made for them; so the souls of the redeemed find every suited grace in Jesus, their rest, their portion, and refuge forever.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 104:17 Where the birds make their nests: [as for] the stork, the fir trees [are] her house.
Ver. 17. Where the birds make their nests ] Each, according to their natural instinct, with wonderful art.
As for the stork
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the birds: Psa 104:12, Jer 22:23, Eze 31:6, Dan 4:21, Oba 1:4, Mat 13:32
as for: Lev 11:19, Jer 8:7
the stork: The stork is a species of the ardea or heron genus, about the size of a goose in its body, but when erect, about three or four feet high; its general colour is white; extremity of the wings, and small part of the head, black; legs, very long, red, and naked a great way up; the toes four, long and connected, with flat nails like those of a man; beak long, jagged, red, and somewhat compressed; the upper and under chaps both of a length, with a furrow from the nostrils. It feeds on serpents, frogs, and insects, on which account it might be deemed unclean; lays four eggs, and sits thirty days; migrates about August, and returns in spring; and is remarkable for its love to its parents, whom it never forsakes, but feeds and cherishes when old; whence it had the name chaseedah, which denotes kindness or piety, and stork, from the Greek , natural affection.
Reciprocal: Job 39:13 – wings and feathers unto the Mat 8:20 – and
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 104:17. Where the birds make their nests Taught by the wisdom and understanding imparted to them by the great Creator, which is indeed most wonderful, enabling them to distinguish times and seasons, choose the most proper places, construct their nests with an art and exactness unattainable by man, and secure and provide for their young. What master (inquires Mr. Wesley in the fore-mentioned work, pp. 312 and 313) has taught birds that they have need of nests? Who has warned them to prepare them in time, and not to suffer themselves to be prevented by necessity? Who hath shown them how to build? What mathematician has given the figure of them? What architect has taught them to choose a firm place, and to lay a solid foundation? What tender mother has advised them to cover the bottom with a soft and delicate substance, such as cotton or down; and when these fail, who has suggested to them that ingenious charity, to pluck off as many feathers from their own breasts as will prepare a soft cradle for their young? And what wisdom has pointed out to each kind a peculiar manner of building? Is it for the birds, O Lord, who have no knowledge thereof, that thou hast joined together so many miracles? Is it for the men, who give no attention to them? Is it for those who admire them, without thinking of thee? Rather, is it not thy design, by all these wonders, to call us to thyself? To make us sensible of thy wisdom, and fill us with confidence in thy bounty, who watchest so carefully over those inconsiderable creatures, two of which are sold for one farthing?