Isaiah 13 22

Isaiah 13:22 kjv

And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

Isaiah 13:22 nkjv

The hyenas will howl in their citadels, And jackals in their pleasant palaces. Her time is near to come, And her days will not be prolonged."

Isaiah 13:22 niv

Hyenas will inhabit her strongholds, jackals her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.

Isaiah 13:22 esv

Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged.

Isaiah 13:22 nlt

Hyenas will howl in its fortresses,
and jackals will make dens in its luxurious palaces.
Babylon's days are numbered;
its time of destruction will soon arrive.

Isaiah 13 verses

Isaiah 13 22 meaning

Isaiah 13:22 vividly portrays the complete and irreversible desolation of Babylon, stating that once magnificent human habitations—from ordinary houses to grand palaces—will become haunted ruins. Instead of bustling with life, these places will echo with the mournful cries of wild beasts like hyenas and jackals. The verse emphatically declares that the fulfillment of this catastrophic judgment is not only certain but also imminent, emphasizing that Babylon's downfall will occur swiftly and without any possibility of delay or reprieve from God's decree.

Isaiah 13 22 Context

Isaiah chapter 13 is part of a series of oracles (chapters 13-23) foretelling judgment against various nations. This particular chapter specifically targets Babylon, the formidable superpower of Isaiah's time, known for its immense wealth, military might, and the future oppressor of Judah. The prophecy of Babylon's fall would have offered profound comfort and assurance to God's people during their exile and bondage, affirming God's sovereignty over history and nations.

Verse 22 caps off a detailed description (beginning in verse 19) of Babylon's transformation from the "glory of kingdoms" and "beauty of the Chaldees' excellency" into utter ruin. This context emphasizes a dramatic reversal, where the symbols of human arrogance and power become stark monuments to divine wrath. The immediate downfall highlighted in the verse stands in polemic contrast to Babylon's (and many ancient empires') belief in their own eternal dominion and the effectiveness of their idolatry and divination to secure their future. The Lord alone determines history.

Isaiah 13 22 Word analysis

• And the wild beasts of the islands (אִיִּים, iyyim): This Hebrew term most often refers to desolate creatures like hyenas, jackals, or general wild animals that inhabit arid, wilderness, or desolate places. The term can also carry a connotation of "islanders" or those from remote coasts, metaphorically associating their dwelling in ruins with distant, wild regions. Their presence signifies absolute abandonment and return to a primitive, untamed state.
• shall cry (עָנָה, anah): While typically meaning "to answer" or "to respond," in this context, when referring to wild animals, it signifies howling, wailing, or shrieking. This evokes an eerie, mournful sound, filling the silence of former human dwellings with the calls of predators, further underscoring the desolation.
• in their desolate houses (אַלְמְנֹתָיו, almonothav): Derived from the word for "widow" (almanah), this term paints a powerful picture of structures left bereaved, empty, and devoid of their rightful inhabitants, much like a widow mourns for her lost husband. These were once homes of families and domestic life, now forsaken.
• and dragons (תַּנִּים, tannim): In most ancient Near Eastern contexts and later biblical translations, tannim often refers to large serpents or sea monsters. However, in wasteland contexts like this and its parallel with iyyim, it is frequently translated as "jackals" or "wild dogs," creatures common in ruins and deserts. This highlights the presence of scavenging, untamed animals in places once of human delight, emphasizing the ultimate abandonment.
• in their pleasant palaces (הֵיכְלֹת עֹנֶג, hekhaloth ‘oneg): hekhaloth are grand palaces, temples, or magnificent halls—symbols of imperial power, luxury, and human achievement. ‘oneg signifies "delight" or "luxury." The phrase literally means "palaces of delight." The contrast between these once magnificent, joyful structures and their new inhabitants—desolate creatures—is stark and powerful, emphasizing the complete downfall.
• and her time is near to come: "Her time" refers to the appointed time of Babylon's judgment and destruction. This phrase emphasizes the divinely ordained timing and imminence of the prophesied events. It signals a definitive, nearing moment for Babylon's fate.
• and her days shall not be prolonged: This clause reinforces the certainty and swiftness of the impending judgment. It means there will be no delay, no extension of mercy, and no opportunity for reprieve or escape. Babylon's destruction is sealed and will be executed precisely according to God's plan.

Isaiah 13 22 Bonus section

The Hebrew word iyyim (אִיִּים), translated as "wild beasts of the islands" (KJV) or "hyenas" (ESV), appears only a few times in the Old Testament, almost exclusively in prophecies of desolation (e.g., Isa 34:14; Jer 50:39). Its precise biological identification is debated, but the consistent context is animals of desolate, wild, often ruinous places, emphasizing the uninhabitable nature of the cursed locations. Similarly, tannim (תַּנִּים), though sometimes translated as "sea monsters" or "serpents," in contexts depicting the desolation of cities (like Isa 13:22; Jer 51:37; Mic 1:8), is consistently understood by many scholars as "jackals" due to their tendency to haunt ruins and their mournful cries, reinforcing the theme of utter abandonment. This shift from magnificent human constructions to lairs for these particular creatures signifies a return to chaos, a biblical motif illustrating the consequences of rebellion against the divine order.

Isaiah 13 22 Commentary

Isaiah 13:22 serves as the chilling conclusion to the prophecy against Babylon, offering a stark reversal of its imperial grandeur. The verse moves beyond a general promise of destruction to paint a hyper-realistic, yet metaphorically rich, picture of ruin. It prophesies that human civilization in Babylon will be so utterly obliterated that not only will it be abandoned, but it will be overrun by creatures symbolic of desolation and wildness. The mournful sounds of iyyim (wild beasts, perhaps hyenas or jackals) and tannim (jackals/wild dogs) replace human activity in places once brimming with life—from common almonothav (desolate houses) to luxurious hekhaloth ‘oneg (palaces of delight). This vividly communicates Babylon's transformation into an eerie, desolate wasteland, a powerful indictment of human pride and idolatry. Furthermore, the declaration that "her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged" underscores the divine precision and unstoppable nature of God's judgment. It communicates comfort to Israel, knowing their oppressor's fate is sealed by an omnipotent God who orchestrates history with unfailing purpose.