sparrow

While the Greek word strouthion is certainly the name for the sparrow, the Hebrew tsippor is actually an inclusive word that refers to sparrow-sized birds in general. These small birds, especially sparrows, were caught in nets and traps and were an important part of the diet of poor people.

There are three types of sparrow that are common in Israel, the House Sparrow Passer domesticus, the Spanish Sparrow Passer hispaniolensis, and the Dead Sea Sparrow Passer moabiticus. All three are small speckled brown birds. Additional small birds that abound around towns and settlements are members of the bunting, finch, and tit families. Sparrows in particular are usually found in fairly large numbers roosting and nesting together. All are seed eaters and live mainly on grass seeds and grain.

Sparrows were considered clean birds and were associated with the poor.

Sparrows or sparrow-like small birds are found all over the world. Finding a local word is not usually difficult. The reference to “a lonely bird on the housetop” in Psalms 102:7 takes on additional meaning if the sparrow was intended, since it is a bird that is seldom seen alone. It would then indicate the psalmist’s sense of loneliness at being separated from those with whom he belongs.

Source: All Creatures Great and Small: Living things in the Bible (UBS Helps for Translators)

complete verse (Proverbs 27:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Proverbs 27:8:

  • Kupsabiny: “A person who is away from home is like
    a cow that feels loneliness.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “A person far from home
    is like a bird that has lost its nest.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “A man who strayed from his home/house is like a bird who strayed from his nest.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “The person who is far from his house is like a bird that has gone-far from its nest.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • English: “Anyone who wanders far from his home/family
    is like a bird that is far from its nest.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Proverbs 27:8

“Like a bird that strays from its nest”: “A bird” translates the same word as used in 6.5. See there for comments. “Strays” or “wanders” is taken by Whybray to mean exile or banishment in contrast with willful departure. Birds, however, may fly great distances from their nests and return. They do not send themselves into exile. The comparison is clear without requiring a forced leaving of the nest.

“Is a man who strays from his home”: “Strays” translates the same verb as used in line 1. “His home” is literally “his place” and probably refers to the place where the person has a sense of belonging. “Home” is quite accurate for English. In some languages this is expressed as “his fireside,” “his garden plot,” or “his river bend.” The point of comparison in the simile is probably that those who are away from the place where they belong are cut off (or, cut themselves off) from the security of family and from their family responsibilities. This may need to be expressed in translation if it is not clear to readers from a literal rendering.

Translators may find it more natural to reverse the order of the lines in this simile and say, for example, “A person who wanders far from his home is like a bird that wanders far from its nest.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .