The elegant white egret, with its pure white plumage, long slender neck, and stately stance, is a striking symbol that appears several times in the Bible. Though the specific species of heron is not named, it seems clear from context that the “egret” refers to a type of white heron. The white color and graceful form of these birds give them rich symbolic meaning in scripture.
Purity and Holiness
The brilliant white plumage of egrets symbolizes purity, holiness, and divine blessing in the Bible. White is the color associated with righteousness, virtue, and angels throughout scripture. When egrets are mentioned, it is often in reference to their bright white feathers, conveying an image of spotless purity before God.
For example, in Psalm 68, David praises God’s mighty deliverance and provision for His people. He declares in verse 13, “Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, you will be like the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with glistening gold.” The reference to dove-like wings covered in shining silver calls to mind the bright whiteness of an egret’s wings.
The psalmist compares the radiance and purity of the egret to the righteousness of God’s people. Though they once dwelt in dark places, now they shine brilliantly, reflecting God’s redemption and glory. The white wings depict the people restored to holiness and purity through God’s salvation.
Beauty and Grace
In addition to purity, the elegant appearance and movement of egrets also symbolize beauty, grace, and blessing in scripture. Several verses use the heron’s striking plumage and slow, stately gait as poetic imagery to convey beauty, dignity, and peace.
The long, ornamental plumes of the egret were prized decorations in ancient Israel. In the Song of Songs 4:1-3, the man describes the flowing dark hair of the woman like “a flock of goats descending from Mount Gilead” and her teeth like “a flock of newly shorn ewes.” Her temples behind her veil are “like the halves of a pomegranate.”
Then in verse 4, he exclaims, “Your neck is like the tower of David, built with elegance; on it hang a thousand shields, all of them shields of warriors.” The image of an elegant, towering neck calls to mind the upright stance and long slender neck of a heron. The egret’s gracefully curved neck symbolizes beauty, dignity, and blessing.
Later in Song of Songs 6:4-7, the man uses the egret again to poetically praise the beauty of his beloved, saying “Your neck is like an ivory tower…like the halves of a pomegranate behind your veil.” The woman’s neck is “stately as a palm tree,” evoking the elegant stance of a heron. Egrets symbolize grace and blessing in these poetic passages.
Abundance and Provision
In addition to purity and beauty, the egret’s presence near water also gives it the symbolic meaning of abundance and God’s provision in the Bible. The birds thrive around marshes, rivers, and lakes teeming with fish, conveying an image of plentiful food and resources.
This symbolism appears in Psalm 105, which praises God’s faithful provision for Israel in the exodus from Egypt. Verse 41 says God “opened up the rock, and waters gushed out; they flowed like a river in the desert.” The next verse continues:
For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham. He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy; he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for— that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws. Praise the Lord.
The reference to flowing rivers in the desert connects back to the egret’s habitat near water. It points to the abundance of resources God provided His people in the barren wilderness. The accompanying description of rejoicing and inheritance conveys the symbolic meaning of blessing and prosperity associated with the egret.
Dependence on God’s Provision
Egrets were classified as unclean birds under Levitical law, so they were not eaten. However, their presence near water still gave the egret symbolic meaning in passages about God’s provision.
In the Sermon on the Mount recorded in Matthew 6, Jesus teaches His followers not to be anxious about food and clothing. He says in verse 26:
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
The birds Jesus refers to are likely egrets and herons often seen feeding along the Sea of Galilee. Despite their lack of food production, God provides for them. This points to how much more God values and provides for His children.
Trusting God’s Care
A similar reference appears in Luke 12:22-24, again using egrets to teach dependence on God:
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!
Jesus reminds His followers that if God provides for the birds like egrets, who neither work nor gather food, how much more will He provide for His precious children. The egrets exemplify natural dependence on God’s daily provision.
Conclusion
With its elegant white plumes, graceful neck, and stately pose, the egret is a memorable bird image that conveys rich symbolism in scripture. The pure white feathers represent holiness, righteousness, and divine blessing. The long slim neck symbolizes dignity and beauty. Their presence near water signifies plentiful provision from God. And their natural feeding patterns illustrate dependence on God’s care. When we see the white egret soaring through the air or wading in shallow waters, we can be reminded of God’s purity, beauty, provision, and care for His people.