Biblical Types, Symbols & Patterns
Hen
Claim-level biblical evidence review with contextual controls, canonical relationships, and preserved interpretive history.
How to read this entry
Evidence grades apply to individual claims, not to the headword as a whole. Strong biblical identification is kept separate from plausible or traditional interpretations, and unsupported proposals remain visible as negative evidence rather than being silently removed.
Hen gathering brood under wings
Jesus twice compares his desired gathering of Jerusalem's children with a hen gathering her brood under her wings.
Context control: The inspired comparison is specifically gathering/covering Jerusalem's children; it should not be expanded into a complete maternal code.
Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 explicitly use the hen gathering her brood under her wings as a simile for Jesus’ desired gathering of Jerusalem’s children.
Grade 1: Explicit biblical interpretationScope: The inspired comparison is specifically gathering/covering Jerusalem's children; it should not be expanded into a complete maternal code.
Residual uncertainty: No material residual uncertainty beyond the stated scope limitation.
Scripture
Evidence sources
- Canonical Scripture: MT/LXX/NA28 with NET/ESV comparison — Text loci verified for TSP-S0F Batch 1
Protection/motherhood scope control
The hen image naturally includes maternal gathering and shelter, but Scripture does not assign 'motherhood' as an intrinsic meaning of the animal.
Context control: The maternal feature belongs to the comparison's vehicle; the theological point is Jesus' desired gathering and Jerusalem's unwillingness.
The hen simile supports gathering and protective shelter in its immediate context, but Scripture does not establish “hen = motherhood” as a general symbolic equation.
Grade 4: Recurrent canonical motif or strong thematic patternScope: The maternal feature belongs to the comparison's vehicle; the theological point is Jesus' desired gathering and Jerusalem's unwillingness.
Residual uncertainty: No material residual uncertainty beyond the stated scope limitation.
Scripture
Evidence sources
- Canonical Scripture: MT/LXX/NA28 with NET/ESV comparison — Text loci verified for TSP-S0F Batch 1
Study-aid notice
This page is part of an AI-assisted conservative evangelical Bible-study project. It has passed structured research, review, and QA gates, but it is not inspired or infallible and does not replace Scripture, prayer, pastors, teachers, or local church discernment.
Claims should be tested against Scripture in context. Corrections and Review Policy.