Isaiah 34:14 kjv
The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
Isaiah 34:14 nkjv
The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the jackals, And the wild goat shall bleat to its companion; Also the night creature shall rest there, And find for herself a place of rest.
Isaiah 34:14 niv
Desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and wild goats will bleat to each other; there the night creatures will also lie down and find for themselves places of rest.
Isaiah 34:14 esv
And wild animals shall meet with hyenas; the wild goat shall cry to his fellow; indeed, there the night bird settles and finds for herself a resting place.
Isaiah 34:14 nlt
Desert animals will mingle there with hyenas,
their howls filling the night.
Wild goats will bleat at one another among the ruins,
and night creatures will come there to rest.
Isaiah 34 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 34:14 | Beasts shall meet with satyrs; and the wild goat shall cry to his fellow; yea, the night monster shall settle there... | Describes a desolate place |
| Isaiah 13:21-22 | ...but wild animals will lie down there, and the houses will be full of howling creatures; ostriches will dwell there... | Similar depiction of desolation and wild beasts |
| Jeremiah 50:39 | It shall be inhabited no more forever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. | Emphasizes permanent emptiness and desolation |
| Jeremiah 51:37 | And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment, and a hissing, without an inhabitant. | Likens Babylon's ruin to a haunt for desolate creatures |
| Revelation 18:2 | And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils... | Echoes the theme of fallen cities becoming dwelling places for demonic or wild creatures |
| Psalms 107:34 | That turneth the rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground. | Connects divine judgment to making places barren |
| Joel 2:3 | A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them... | Depicts a destructive force that leaves land desolate |
| Zephaniah 2:15 | This is the rejoicing city that dwelled carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me; how is she become a desolation... | Describes a once-proud city brought to ruin |
| Ezekiel 29:10 | Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and will give the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate... | God's judgment resulting in utter desolation |
| Isaiah 35:7 | And the parched ground shall become a pool, and thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons... | Contrast to the desolation in 34:14, future restoration |
| Matthew 12:43 | When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. | Connects spiritual uncleanliness with dry, desolate places |
| Luke 11:24 | When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. | Repetition of the connection between spiritual defilement and barrenness |
| Revelation 17:16 | And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked... | A prophecy of desolation and destruction inflicted on a corrupt entity |
| Jeremiah 49:13 | For I have sworn by Myself, says the LORD, that Bozrah shall become an astonishment, a reproach, a waste, and a curse... | Similar prophetic judgment on a city |
| Jeremiah 50:40 | As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring cities thereof, says the LORD; no man shall there inhabit... | Compares destruction to cities of great wickedness |
| Genesis 19:28 | For he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the land went up as the smoke of a furnace. | Describes the immediate aftermath of divine judgment on sinful cities |
| Isaiah 1:31 | And the mighty man shall become as tow, and his work as a spark, and they shall burn together, and none shall quench it. | Describes a comprehensive and unquenchable destruction |
| Isaiah 14:23 | I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, says the LORD of hosts. | A strong image of complete removal and ruin |
| Ezekiel 32:23 | They are hidden in the midst of them that be gone down into the pit, they have set their faces against all the multitude of them that go down to the pit. | Describes inhabitants of the netherworld or the utterly vanquished |
| Malachi 1:3 | And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. | Another instance of divine judgment leading to wilderness desolation |
Isaiah 34 verses
Isaiah 34 14 Meaning
This verse describes a desolate and barren land inhabited by wild beasts and screeching creatures. It paints a picture of utter destruction and uninhabited emptiness.
Isaiah 34 14 Context
Isaiah chapter 34 pronounces judgment against the nations, particularly Edom. It speaks of a widespread and thorough destruction to befall them as a consequence of their violence and opposition to God's people. This verse, coming within this broader prophetic denunciation, vividly portrays the aftermath of that judgment. The land, once perhaps inhabited or strategically significant, will be so thoroughly devastated that it becomes a habitat for wild and repulsive creatures, symbolizing absolute desolation and abandonment by humanity. The "night monster" and "satyr" are indicative of supernatural or demonic presences often associated with ruins and places utterly devoid of divine presence and human order.
Isaiah 34 14 Word Analysis
- וְ (və) - And. A common conjunction, linking this verse to the preceding description of God's wrath and judgment.
- נִפְגְּשׁוּ (nifgəšû) - shall meet. From the root פגש (pāgáš), meaning to meet, encounter, or come upon. Here it suggests a regular occurrence in this desolate state.
- שְׁאִירִים (šə’îrîm) - remnants, wild beasts, satyrs. The plural of שָׂעִיר (śā‘îr), which can refer to a hairy person, a wild goat, or even a goat-like demon or satyr, a creature of the desert, often associated with illicit worship or unclean places. The meaning here implies uncivilized, wild inhabitants of this ruined land. This word itself carries the imagery of roughness and untamed nature.
- וְשָׂעִיר (wəśā‘îr) - and the wild goat. Another instance of שָׂעִיר (śā‘îr), emphasizing the presence of wild goats, further illustrating the wild and uncultivated state of the land.
- יִקְרָא (yiqrā’) - shall cry. From the root קרא (qārā’), meaning to call or cry out. It conveys a vocalization, possibly a plaintive or wild sound.
- לְרֵעֵהוּ (lərē‘ēhû) - to his companion, to his fellow. Indicates that these wild creatures will be interacting with each other in this desolated domain, a common characteristic of untamed animals.
- גַּם (gam) - also, yea. A particle adding emphasis to the following statement.
- שָׂם (śām) - also there. (Less direct analysis for 'śām', often found in specific constructions. Likely here meaning 'also in this place' or similar emphasis.)
- לַיִל (layil) - night. Referring to darkness or a nocturnal creature.
- יַצְגִּיחַ (yaṣgīḥa) - shall settle, make its lair. From the root צוח (ṣūḥ), to cry out, or perhaps related to נְצִיץ (neṣîṣ) or שׁוּק (šûq) meaning to inhabit, to dwell. Other interpretations lean towards the meaning "to pant" or "to be seen." However, the sense here is that of a dwelling place. Scholars link it to the LXX's rendering of "monster of the night."
- קִיר (qîr) - settling place, habitation. Used with the preceding 'Layil' to create "night monster" or a creature that inhabits the night.
- שָׁם (šām) - there. Refers back to the place of destruction, confirming that these entities will inhabit this specific ruined locale.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Satyrs and wild goats shall meet; and the wild goat shall cry to its fellow": This imagery vividly describes a place where civilized order has ceased and only wild, possibly even demonic, creatures remain. The repeated mention of "wild goat" (śā‘îr) underscores the wilderness and the absence of human dominion. It also alludes to the biblical concept of the satyr, often associated with abandoned, ruined places.
- "Yea, the night monster shall settle there": This further intensifies the sense of horror and desolation. The "night monster" (layil yaṣgīḥa) suggests a terrifying, perhaps supernatural, being that finds refuge in the deep darkness and emptiness left by judgment. The combined effect of these descriptions is that of a place thoroughly forsaken by God and claimed by primal, terrifying forces.
Isaiah 34 14 Bonus Section
The specific mention of "satyrs" (שְׁאִירִים) reflects contemporary understanding and the influence of surrounding pagan mythologies. The Hebrew word sa'ir can refer to a "shaggy goat" or a hairy demon, akin to the Greek satyr or Roman faun. Its inclusion suggests a specific spiritual desolation accompanying the physical ruin. This kind of imagery also serves as a polemic against idolatrous practices which often involved worshipping or invoking such entities in wild or desolate places. The complete emptiness and the inhabitation by such creatures underscore that this land is not merely uninhabited by man but reclaimed by powers that stand in opposition to the Lord. The prophecy of such utter devastation on Edom is seen by some interpreters as a prelude to the larger theme of eschatological judgment on all God's enemies.
Isaiah 34 14 Commentary
Isaiah 34:14 depicts a land so utterly ruined and forsaken that its inhabitants are no longer people but wild, and possibly demonic, creatures. This is the consequence of severe divine judgment described in the chapter, meant to fall upon Edom for its relentless enmity towards Israel. The language emphasizes a complete reversal of order and a pervasive sense of desolation and horror. The wild beasts and "night monsters" signifies the absence of God's presence and blessing, replaced by what is wild, chaotic, and fearsome. This verse serves as a potent symbol of judgment leading to absolute emptiness.