Isaiah 13:21
Isaiah 13:21 in Multiple Translations
But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about.
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and ostriches shall dwell there, and wild goats shall dance there.
But the beasts of the waste land will have their holes there; and the houses will be full of crying jackals, and ostriches will have their place there, and evil spirits will be dancing there.
Only desert animals will make their homes there, and the ruined houses will be inhabited by wild dogs. Owls will live there, and wild goats will leap around.
But Ziim shall lodge there, and their houses shall be ful of Ohim: Ostriches shall dwel there, and the Satyrs shall dance there.
And Ziim have lain down there, And full have been their houses of howlings, And dwelt there have daughters of an ostrich, And goats do skip there.
But wild animals of the desert will lie there, and their houses will be full of jackals. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will frolic there.
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
But wild beasts shall rest there, and their houses shall be filled with serpents, and ostriches shall dwell there, and the hairy ones shall dance there:
Instead, animals that live in the desert will be there; jackals/wolves will live in the ruins of the houses. Owls (OR, Ostriches) will live in the ruins, and wild goats will romp/jump around there.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 13:21
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 13:21 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/רָבְצוּ
שָׁ֣ם
צִיִּ֔ים
וּ/מָלְא֥וּ
בָתֵּי/הֶ֖ם
אֹחִ֑ים
וְ/שָׁ֤כְנוּ
שָׁם֙
בְּנ֣וֹת
יַֽעֲנָ֔ה
וּ/שְׂעִירִ֖ים
יְרַקְּדוּ
שָֽׁם
וְ/רָבְצוּ
râbats
H7257
to stretch
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
שָׁ֣ם
shâm
H8033
there
Adv
צִיִּ֔ים
tsîyîy
H6728
wild beast
N-mp
וּ/מָלְא֥וּ
mâlêʼ
H4390
to fill
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
בָתֵּי/הֶ֖ם
bayith
H1004
place
N-mp | Suff
אֹחִ֑ים
ʼôach
H255
howling animal
N-mp
וְ/שָׁ֤כְנוּ
shâkan
H7931
to dwell
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
שָׁם֙
shâm
H8033
there
Adv
בְּנ֣וֹת
bath
H1323
Bath (Shua)
N-fp
יַֽעֲנָ֔ה
yaʻănâh
H3284
ostrich
N-fs
וּ/שְׂעִירִ֖ים
sâʻîyr
H8163
hairy
Conj | N-mp
יְרַקְּדוּ
râqad
H7540
to skip about
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp
שָֽׁם
shâm
H8033
there
Adv
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 13:21
וְ/רָבְצוּ
râbats
H7257
"to stretch"
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
To stretch or lie down, like an animal, and can imply resting or lurking, as in Exodus 23:5.
Definition: 1) to stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out 1a) (Qal) to lie down, lie 1b)(Hiphil) to cause to lie down 1b1) laying (stones)
Usage: Occurs in 30 OT verses. KJV: crouch (down), fall down, make a fold, lay, (cause to, make to) lie (down), make to rest, sit. See also: Genesis 4:7; Isaiah 11:7; Psalms 23:2.
שָׁ֣ם
shâm
H8033
"there"
Adv
The Hebrew word sham means there or then, often used to describe a location or point in time. It can also mean thither or thence, indicating movement or direction. This word is used frequently in the Bible to provide context and clarify the setting of a story.
Definition: 1) there, thither 1a) there 1b) thither (after verbs of motion) 1c) from there, thence 1d) then (as an adverb of time) Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)
Usage: Occurs in 732 OT verses. KJV: in it, [phrase] thence, there (-in, [phrase] of, [phrase] out), [phrase] thither, [phrase] whither. See also: Genesis 2:8; Exodus 21:33; Deuteronomy 19:4.
צִיִּ֔ים
tsîyîy
H6728
"wild beast"
N-mp
A wild beast or desert-dweller, like a nomad, is what this word describes, often found in the wilderness or desert areas of the Bible.
Definition: 1) a wild beast, desert-dweller, crier, yelper 1a) a specific wild beast but not certainly identified
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: wild beast of the desert, that dwell in (inhabiting) the wilderness. See also: Psalms 72:9; Isaiah 23:13; Psalms 74:14.
וּ/מָלְא֥וּ
mâlêʼ
H4390
"to fill"
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
To fill means to make something full or complete, like filling a container or fulfilling a promise. This word is used in many contexts, including being full of joy or having a job completed.
Definition: 1) to fill, be full 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be full 1a1a) fulness, abundance (participle) 1a1b) to be full, be accomplished, be ended 1a2) to consecrate, fill the hand 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be filled, be armed, be satisfied 1b2) to be accomplished, be ended 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to fill 1c2) to satisfy 1c3) to fulfil, accomplish, complete 1c4) to confirm 1d) (Pual) to be filled 1e) (Hithpael) to mass themselves against Aramaic equivalent: me.la (מְלָא "to fill" H4391)
Usage: Occurs in 242 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, confirm, [phrase] consecrate, be at an end, be expired, be fenced, fill, fulfil, (be, become, [idiom] draw, give in, go) full(-ly, -ly set, tale), (over-) flow, fulness, furnish, gather (selves, together), presume, replenish, satisfy, set, space, take a (hand-) full, [phrase] have wholly. See also: Genesis 1:22; 2 Chronicles 16:14; Psalms 10:7.
בָתֵּי/הֶ֖ם
bayith
H1004
"place"
N-mp | Suff
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
אֹחִ֑ים
ʼôach
H255
"howling animal"
N-mp
This Hebrew word refers to a howling animal, like a jackal or hyena, often found in desolate areas. In Isaiah 13:22, it describes the creatures that will inhabit a deserted Babylon.
Definition: 1) howling animal 1a) jackal 1b) hyena
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: doleful creature. See also: Isaiah 13:21.
וְ/שָׁ֤כְנוּ
shâkan
H7931
"to dwell"
Conj | V-Qal-3cp
This Hebrew word means to live or stay in a place, like when God dwells among his people. It appears in books like Exodus and Psalms, describing God's presence. It's about making a home or resting place.
Definition: 1) to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to settle down to abide 1a2) to abide, dwell, reside 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make settle down, establish 1b2) to make or cause to dwell 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to lay, place, set, establish, settle, fix 1c2) to cause to dwell or abide Aramaic equivalent: she.khan (שְׁכֵן "to dwell" H7932)
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: abide, continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-er), have habitation, inhabit, lay, place, (cause to) remain, rest, set (up). See also: Genesis 3:24; Psalms 55:7; Psalms 7:6.
שָׁם֙
shâm
H8033
"there"
Adv
The Hebrew word sham means there or then, often used to describe a location or point in time. It can also mean thither or thence, indicating movement or direction. This word is used frequently in the Bible to provide context and clarify the setting of a story.
Definition: 1) there, thither 1a) there 1b) thither (after verbs of motion) 1c) from there, thence 1d) then (as an adverb of time) Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)
Usage: Occurs in 732 OT verses. KJV: in it, [phrase] thence, there (-in, [phrase] of, [phrase] out), [phrase] thither, [phrase] whither. See also: Genesis 2:8; Exodus 21:33; Deuteronomy 19:4.
בְּנ֣וֹת
bath
H1323
"Bath (Shua)"
N-fp
The Hebrew word for daughter is used to describe a female child or a woman, and can also be used figuratively. In the Bible, it is used to describe women like Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and later of King David.
Definition: A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.38.2; daughter of: Shua (H7770); married to Judah (H3063); mother of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209) and Shelah (H7956) the wife of Uriah whom David had murdered, having had adulterous relations with her; subsequently wife of David and mother of Solomon, Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan (alternate spelling to 'Bathsheba')
Usage: Occurs in 498 OT verses. KJV: apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. See also: Genesis 5:4; Exodus 2:21; Ruth 1:13.
יַֽעֲנָ֔ה
yaʻănâh
H3284
"ostrich"
N-fs
This word refers to the ostrich or possibly another type of bird, and is considered unclean in the Bible. It is mentioned in Leviticus as an animal not to be eaten, and is also associated with the owl. The exact meaning is not certain.
Definition: 1) an unclean bird 1a) owl, ostrich, literally translated as "daughters of the owl" 1b) perhaps an extinct bird, exact meaning unknown
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] owl. See also: Leviticus 11:16; Isaiah 34:13; Isaiah 13:21.
וּ/שְׂעִירִ֖ים
sâʻîyr
H8163
"hairy"
Conj | N-mp
This word can refer to a wild goat or a satyr, a mythical creature. In the Bible, it may also describe a demon-possessed animal, like the ones in Matthew 8:30-32.
Definition: adj hairy
Usage: Occurs in 57 OT verses. KJV: devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr. See also: Genesis 27:11; Numbers 7:52; Isaiah 13:21.
יְרַקְּדוּ
râqad
H7540
"to skip about"
V-Piel-Imperf-3mp
This verb means to jump or dance around, often with joy or excitement. It is used in the Bible to describe celebrations and happy times, like the Israelites dancing after defeating their enemies.
Definition: 1) to skip about 1a) (Qal) to skip about 1b) (Piel) to dance, leap 1c) (Hiphil) to make to skip
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: dance, jump, leap, skip. See also: 1 Chronicles 15:29; Psalms 114:6; Psalms 29:6.
שָֽׁם
shâm
H8033
"there"
Adv
The Hebrew word sham means there or then, often used to describe a location or point in time. It can also mean thither or thence, indicating movement or direction. This word is used frequently in the Bible to provide context and clarify the setting of a story.
Definition: 1) there, thither 1a) there 1b) thither (after verbs of motion) 1c) from there, thence 1d) then (as an adverb of time) Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)
Usage: Occurs in 732 OT verses. KJV: in it, [phrase] thence, there (-in, [phrase] of, [phrase] out), [phrase] thither, [phrase] whither. See also: Genesis 2:8; Exodus 21:33; Deuteronomy 19:4.
Study Notes — Isaiah 13:21
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 13:21 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 13:21
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 13:21
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 13:21
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 13:21
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 13:21
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 13:21
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 13:21
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 13:21
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 13:21
- Sermons on Isaiah 13:21
Context — The Burden against Babylon
19And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.
20She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there.
21But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about.
22Hyenas will howl in her fortresses and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Babylon’s time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Revelation 18:2 | And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. |
| 2 | Isaiah 34:11–15 | The desert owl and screech owl will possess it, and the great owl and raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom a measuring line of chaos and a plumb line of destruction. No nobles will be left to proclaim a king, and all her princes will come to nothing. Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches. The desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and one wild goat will call to another. There the night creature will settle and find her place of repose. There the owl will make her nest; she will lay and hatch her eggs and gather her brood under her shadow. Even there the birds of prey will gather, each with its mate. |
Isaiah 13:21 Summary
This verse, Isaiah 13:21, describes what will happen to the city of Babylon after God judges it - it will become a desolate place where wild animals roam, a fulfillment of God's promise in Isaiah 13:19. The city, once full of people and activity, will be empty and still, like the desolate places described in Jeremiah 51:43. This shows us that God is powerful and can bring judgment on any nation or city that rejects Him, as seen in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:24-25. It also reminds us that our accomplishments and achievements are temporary and can be taken away in an instant, but God's kingdom is eternal, as stated in 1 Peter 1:24-25.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of creatures will inhabit the deserted city of Babylon?
According to Isaiah 13:21, desert creatures, howling creatures, ostriches, and wild goats will lie down, fill the houses, dwell, and leap about in the city, a fulfillment of God's judgment as seen in Isaiah 13:19.
Is this verse meant to be taken literally or figuratively?
This verse is meant to be taken literally, as it describes the actual state of desolation and abandonment that Babylon will experience, similar to the desolation described in Jeremiah 51:43 and Ezekiel 29:11.
What is the significance of the specific animals mentioned in this verse?
The animals mentioned, such as ostriches and wild goats, are often associated with desolate and uninhabited places, emphasizing the extent of God's judgment on Babylon, as seen in the desolation of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:24-25.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
This verse is part of a larger prophecy against Babylon, highlighting the city's coming destruction and desolation, as stated in Isaiah 13:19, and emphasizing God's judgment and power, similar to the prophecy against Edom in Isaiah 34:11-15.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about God's power and judgment?
- How can I apply the concept of God's judgment and desolation to my own life, recognizing the consequences of sin as seen in Romans 6:23?
- What does the image of wild animals inhabiting a once-great city say about the fleeting nature of human achievement, as compared to the eternal nature of God's kingdom in 1 Peter 1:24-25?
- In what ways can I trust in God's sovereignty and provision, even in the face of uncertainty and desolation, as seen in Psalm 23:4 and Jeremiah 29:11?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 13:21
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there,.... What sort of creatures are meant is not certain. The Targum renders it by a word which signifies monstrous, astonishing creatures; the Latin interpreter of it calls them apes.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 13:21
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 13:21
Wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; the land being forsaken by men, shall be possessed by wild beasts, which love solitary places. What the Hebrew words used here, and in the next verse, signify, the learned may see in my Latin Synopsis; and for others, it may suffice to know that in which all the learned agree, that these are frightful and solitary creatures; of which if I should particularly discourse, I should rather perplex than edify the vulgar reader.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 13:21
Isaiah 13:21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.Ver. 21. But wild beasts of the desert.] Heb., Ijim, Ochim, &c. These are names of wild creatures unknown to us in these parts. And satyrs.] Or, Devils in borrowed shapes and hideous apparitions.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 13:21
(21) Wild beasts of the desert . . .—The Hebrew term, which in Psalms 72:9, and perhaps in Isaiah 23:13, is used of men, has been rendered by “wild cats,” but is probably generic, the ferœ naturœ that haunt such desolate regions. The “doleful creatures” (literally groaners) are probably “horned owls;” while the word rendered “owls (literally, daughters of screaming) may be taken as ostriches (Job 39:13-18). In the “satyrs” (literally, hairy or shaggy ones) we may find either “goats (as in Leviticus 4:24; Leviticus 16:9), or, as the English version suggests, a mythical form of grotesque animal life (the “demons” or “devils” of Leviticus 17:7; 2 Chronicles 11:15, a goat-shaped form, like that of the Greek Pan), or more probably (with Tristram), the species of baboon (Macacus Arabicus) still found in Babylonia.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 13:21
Verse 21. Satyrs] A kind of beast like to man, which is called מרמוטש marmots, a monkey. - Rabbi Parchon.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 13:21
20–22. Babylon, after its overthrow, shall be a perpetual desolation.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 13:21
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there - Hebrew, (ציים tsı̂yı̂ym).
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 13:21
20, 21. Never be inhabited — This is a statement of certainty of the event, not its nearness, not its occurrence immediately after the capture by Cyrus. It did not become a perfect desert for five hundred years.
Sermons on Isaiah 13:21
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(The Word for Today) Isaiah 20:1 - Part 3 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of standing up for righteousness in a fallen world. He introduces his new book, "Standing Up in a Fallen World," which i |
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The Word in a Recession by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of placing our confidence solely in God, rather than in worldly possessions or external factors. He warns against being foole |
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(Isaiah) Judgment of the Nations by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the fall of Babylon as described in the book of Isaiah. He emphasizes the vividness and power of God's word, which conveys the panic and terr |
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Are You One of the Chosen Ones? by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of understanding the influence of ideas and philosophy in shaping our society. He points out that in today's generation, ther |
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Church of Vidor Saturday by David Ravenhill | David Ravenhill emphasizes the urgent need for the church to undergo a cleansing process, drawing parallels between the spiritual state of the church today and the historical clean |
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Crucified Unto Me by Watchman Nee | Watchman Nee emphasizes the necessity of separation from the world and dedication to God as foundational principles of Christian living. He illustrates the stark contrast between B |
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America Is Finished, unless... by Pierre Bynum | Pierre Bynum preaches about the impending judgment on America due to its sins and departure from God, emphasizing the need for national repentance and a God-sent Awakening to avert |