Wings

Limbs which enable flight. In Scripture these are mainly used either of angelic beings or in various symbolic senses, especially of God's protection.

Wings of birds or insects

Genesis 7:14; Leviticus 1:17; Job 39:13, Job 39:26; Isaiah 18:1

Clean and unclean winged creatures

Leviticus 11:13–25; Deuteronomy 14:11–20; Acts 10:12–15

Wings of angelic beings

Cherubim

Exodus 25:20 See also Exodus 37:9; 1 Kings 8:6–7 parallel 2 Chronicles 5:7–8; 1 Chronicles 28:18; 2 Chronicles 3:11–13; Ezekiel 1:5–25, Ezekiel 3:13, Ezekiel 10:5–22

And the cherubim are to have wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the mercy seat.

Other angelic beings

Isaiah 6:2 See also Isaiah 6:6; Revelation 4:8

Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

Wings as a metaphor of protection

Birds protect their young

Deuteronomy 32:11; Isaiah 34:15; Matthew 23:37 parallel Luke 13:34

God's protection likened to a bird's wings

Psalm 91:4 See also Exodus 19:4; Ruth 2:12; Psalm 17:8, Psalm 36:7, Psalm 57:1, Psalm 61:4, Psalm 63:7; Isaiah 31:5

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

Egypt's protection likened to an eagle's wings

Ezekiel 17:7 Zedekiah's fruitless appeal to Egypt for help against Babylon

Wings as a metaphor for God's judgment

Judgment on Israel

Deuteronomy 28:49 See also Isaiah 8:7–8; Ezekiel 17:3–4; Hosea 8:1; Habakkuk 1:8; Zechariah 5:9

The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle — a nation whose language you will not understand,

Judgment on others

Jeremiah 48:40, Jeremiah 49:22; Revelation 9:9

Other figurative uses of wings

God rides on the wings of the wind

2 Samuel 22:11 parallel Psalm 18:10 See also Psalm 104:3

He mounted a cherub and flew; He soared on the wings of the wind.

God renews his people's strength

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

Israel described as a winged bird

See also Psalm 68:13; Isaiah 10:14

Wings symbolise the ability to escape

Psalm 55:6 See also Revelation 12:14

I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest.

Wings symbolise instability

Proverbs 23:5 See also Ecclesiastes 10:20

When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Wings symbolise strength

Daniel 7:6 See also Daniel 7:4

Next, as I watched, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.