Bible Dictionary
Cage
A cage was a woven container used to confine birds, either as pets, for their song, or for sale. Scripture also uses the image of a cage to portray confinement and, in Revelation, a place filled with unclean creatures.
Definition
A cage was a wickerwork basket or other container used to confine birds. Birds were kept for their song or beauty, as pets, or until they could be sold. The term may also refer more generally to a trap or a place of confinement.
Biblical Usage
Jeremiah compares Judah’s condition to a cage or crate full of birds. In Revelation, a related Greek term is rendered “cage” in the King James Version and refers properly to a prison or hold containing unclean and hateful birds. Scripture also reflects the keeping and sale of birds.
Historical Background
Early cages were made from willow or other pliable twigs; later examples were made of pottery, and eventually of wire. The biblical references indicate that confining prized birds and detaining them for market were familiar practices.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Heb. kelub’, Jer. 5:27, marg. “coop;” rendered “basket” in Amos 8:1), a basket of wicker-work in which birds were placed after being caught. In Rev. 18:2 it is the rendering of the Greek phulake, properly a prison or place of confinement.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
The term so rendered in (Jeremiah 5:27) is more properly a trap in which decoy birds were placed. In (Revelation 18:2) the (Greek term means a prison.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>kaj (kelubh; phulake): The earliest known form of cage made to confine a bird, for the pleasure of its song or the beauty of its coloring, was a crude affair of willows or other pliable twigs. Later cages were made of pottery, and now they are mostly made of wire. References in the Bible make it very clear that people were accustomed to confine in cages such birds as they especially prized for pets, or to detain them for market purposes. James indicated that cages were common when he wrote (Jam 3:7): "For every kind of beasts and birds .... is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind." In Job (Job 41:5) we find these lines "Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?" The only way to play with a bird is to confine it so that it grows accustomed to you and thus loses fear. Jeremiah compared the civil state of Judah to a "cage (crate) full of birds" (Jer 5:27), "the houses of the rich being stuffed with craftily-obtained wealth and articles of luxury" (HDB). The sale of sparrows as an article of food still continues in the eastern markets. Jesus referred to this (Mt 10:29) and it was He who entered the temple and overthrew "the seats of them that sold the doves" (Mt 21:12). In Re 18:2 we find a reference to "a hold (the King James Version "cage") of every unclean and hateful bird." See also Ecclesiasticus 11:30.</p><p>Gene Stratton-Porter</p>