The phoenix is a mystical bird (like an eagle or a peacock) whose legend has inspired people across all countries from generation to generation.
Most accounts relate the phoenix's life span as 500yrs. As the time of it's death neared, it made a nest of frankincense, myrrh, and other spices. It set the nest (and itself) afire and an egg was brought forth from the ashes. Similar accounts say a worm was formed from the decomposing body of the dead phoenix, which fed and grew on the juices within. Only one phoenix existed at a time.
Voltaire described the phoenix as about the size of an eagle, with eyes as mild and tender as the eagles are fierce and threatening. It's beak was rose colored, it's neck was like a brilliantly colored rainbow, it's plumage was thousands of shades of glistening gold (the Greeks and Romans described it as more purple/red or crimson), it's feet a purple/silver, and a tail more beautiful than that of all the most beautiful birds.
Early Church Fathers (most notably Tertullian and Clement) used the symbolism of the phoenix as an allegorical witness of the new life which one can find in Christ.
In a commentary on Genesis, a Jewish rabbi (Osaia) tells of how every animal partook of the forbidden fruit with Eve but one, the phoenix. And another legend (noted by Keil & Delitzsch in their commentary on Job 29:18) states that in the ark, a bird quite similar to the phoenix, not wanting to further complicate Noah's efforts, remained quiet and didn't fuss about not getting fed or tended to. Noah favored the creature with the blessing of immortality.
Many Bible scholars have thought that Job was thinking of the phoenix when he thought, "I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand." Sand (chol in Hebrew) has been translated phoenix (or even palm tree) in the past, and the Septuagint, Vulgate, and Jewish interpretors favor a translation of 'phoenix'. In context it seems to fit more with what Job seems to be conveying.
Whether factual or not, the meaning most often taken from the phoenix is resurrection, or new life. And that is precisely the point behind Christ, future resurrection to eternal life, and current resurrection from a dead ultimately meaningless life to a new life filled with purpose and overcoming power.
Most accounts relate the phoenix's life span as 500yrs. As the time of it's death neared, it made a nest of frankincense, myrrh, and other spices. It set the nest (and itself) afire and an egg was brought forth from the ashes. Similar accounts say a worm was formed from the decomposing body of the dead phoenix, which fed and grew on the juices within. Only one phoenix existed at a time.
Voltaire described the phoenix as about the size of an eagle, with eyes as mild and tender as the eagles are fierce and threatening. It's beak was rose colored, it's neck was like a brilliantly colored rainbow, it's plumage was thousands of shades of glistening gold (the Greeks and Romans described it as more purple/red or crimson), it's feet a purple/silver, and a tail more beautiful than that of all the most beautiful birds.
Early Church Fathers (most notably Tertullian and Clement) used the symbolism of the phoenix as an allegorical witness of the new life which one can find in Christ.
In a commentary on Genesis, a Jewish rabbi (Osaia) tells of how every animal partook of the forbidden fruit with Eve but one, the phoenix. And another legend (noted by Keil & Delitzsch in their commentary on Job 29:18) states that in the ark, a bird quite similar to the phoenix, not wanting to further complicate Noah's efforts, remained quiet and didn't fuss about not getting fed or tended to. Noah favored the creature with the blessing of immortality.
Many Bible scholars have thought that Job was thinking of the phoenix when he thought, "I shall die in my nest, And I shall multiply my days as the sand." Sand (chol in Hebrew) has been translated phoenix (or even palm tree) in the past, and the Septuagint, Vulgate, and Jewish interpretors favor a translation of 'phoenix'. In context it seems to fit more with what Job seems to be conveying.
Whether factual or not, the meaning most often taken from the phoenix is resurrection, or new life. And that is precisely the point behind Christ, future resurrection to eternal life, and current resurrection from a dead ultimately meaningless life to a new life filled with purpose and overcoming power.
