The word 'stork' derives from the Heb. hasidah, meaning "kindness," indicating thus the character of the bird, which is noted for its affection for its young. Storks are harbingers of spring and enemies of snakes. The Stork Christian Symbol represents holiness and vigilance and is symbolic of the Annunciation to Mary that she would bear the Christ child.
The Easton Bible Dictionary provides the following definition, meaning and emblem for the Stork Christian Symbol in the Bible.
It is like the crane, but larger in size. Two species are found in Palestine, the white, which are dispersed in pairs over the whole country; and the black, which live in marshy places and in great flocks. They migrate to Palestine periodically (about the 22nd of March). Jeremiah alludes to this (Jer. 8:7). At the appointed time they return with unerring sagacity to their old haunts, and re-occupy their old nests.
In Job 39:13 (A.V.), instead of the expression "or wings and feathers unto the ostrich" (marg., "the feathers of the stork and ostrich"), the Revised Version has "are her pinions and feathers kindly" The object of this somewhat obscure verse seems to be to point out a contrast between the stork, as distinguished for her affection for her young, and the ostrich, as distinguished for her indifference.
Zechariah (5:9) alludes to the beauty and power of the stork's wings.
It is in the list of birds forbidden to be eaten by the Levitical law (Lev. 11:19; Deut. 14:18).
