A sparrow which hath lost its mate, and then is very sad and solitary, as some report; although that be uncertain and improbable. But this Hebrew word doth not only signify a sparrow, but in general any bird, as Lev_14:4Deu_14:11Dan_4:12,14,21. And so it may here design any one or more sort of birds which used to sit alone, watching and mourning upon house-tops.