Isaiah 34 14

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 verses

Isaiah 34 14 meaning

Isaiah 34:14 vividly describes a scene of utter desolation and judgment, where a previously inhabited land is abandoned and given over to wild, often malefic, creatures. It portrays a return to primeval chaos and an undoing of creation's order, signifying the depth of God's vengeance against nations opposed to Him. This land becomes a dwelling place for animals of the wilderness and enigmatic spiritual entities, emphasizing its absolute abandonment by humanity and the prevalence of unclean and dangerous elements.

Isaiah 34 14 Context

Isaiah 34 focuses on God's "Day of Vengeance" against Edom, but also extends to all nations that oppose His people. This chapter is a dramatic prophecy portraying the catastrophic destruction that awaits those who resist God. The previous verses (Is 34:1-13) detail the slaughter of armies, the drenching of the earth with blood, and the subsequent ruin of the land. Edom's fertile plains will become barren, filled with thorns and thistles, eventually collapsing into an abyss of nothingness. Verse 14 intensifies this picture by depicting the type of inhabitants that will take over such a desolate, cursed land. It stands in stark contrast to the subsequent chapter, Isaiah 35, which describes the glorious restoration of Zion and the joyous return of God's redeemed people to a fruitful and safe homeland, devoid of these terrifying creatures. The immediate context, therefore, is divine judgment leading to ultimate desolation, effectively reversing the order of creation for the judged land.

Isaiah 34 14 Word analysis

• וּפָגְשׁוּ (ū-phāḡšū) – "And they will meet" or "and they will encounter." This verb suggests a purposeful gathering, a meeting, emphasizing the intentional congregating of these wild creatures in the ruined land. It implies that this desolation is their natural habitat.
• צִיִּים (tsiyyim) – "Desert creatures" or "wild beasts." This term broadly refers to various animals that inhabit desolate places, emphasizing their connection to ruin and wilderness. It typically denotes denizens of the arid, uninhabited lands.
• אֶת־אִיִּים (’eṯ-’îyyîm) – "with hyenas" or "with howling creatures/jackals." These are carnivores associated with ruins and places of death, known for their eerie nocturnal sounds. Their presence signifies total abandonment and danger.
• וְשָׂעִיר (wə-śā‘îr) – "And the goat-demon" or "hairy one." This word refers to wild goats but is often used in the Old Testament to denote a "satyr" or a "goat-demon" (Lev 17:7, 2 Chr 11:15). In ancient Near Eastern thought, such beings were associated with wild, desolate places and sometimes with pagan worship. Its inclusion here indicates a deeper, perhaps spiritual, layer of desolation, hinting at demonic activity or unclean spiritual presences in the ruins.
• עַל־רֵעֵהוּ (‘al-rē‘ēhū) – "will cry to its fellow" or "calls to its mate." This phrase humanizes the demonic entity, making its presence more unsettling and active. It reinforces the idea that these desolate places become a community for such beings.
• אַךְ (’aḵ) – "Indeed" or "surely." An intensifier, emphasizing the certainty and absolute nature of what follows.
• שָׁם (šām) – "There." Points directly to the desolate land, underscoring its designated status as a dwelling for these creatures.
• הִרְגִּיעָה (hirggî‘āh) – "she will settle down" or "she will quiet herself/find rest." Implies finding a permanent dwelling, a sense of belonging and peace for these otherwise restless entities in this place of ruin.
• לִילִית (lîlîṯ) – "Lilith" or "night hag." This is a singular occurrence of this word in the Bible. In Mesopotamian mythology, a lilītu was a female night demon. Later Jewish folklore developed "Lilith" as Adam's first wife and a demonic figure associated with child death and sexual mischief. In the biblical context here, it most likely refers to a nocturnal bird, an owl, or a bat (like the Septuagint and some early English versions) – a creature of darkness and ill omen, symbolizing complete desolation and eerie silence where human life is extinguished. However, its inclusion can also be understood as a direct reference to a malevolent night spirit, further solidifying the spiritual depravity of the abandoned land.
• וּמָצְאָה (ū-māṣə’āh) – "and will find." Further confirms the intention of settlement and discovery of suitable habitat.
• לָהּ (lāh) – "for herself." Emphasizes the personal and designated nature of this dwelling.
• מָנוֹחַ (mānôaḥ) – "a resting place" or "a place of rest." For the lilith, this ruined land offers not chaos, but a place of peace and habitation, reinforcing its complete takeover by these ominous elements.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "The desert creatures will meet with the hyenas" (וּפָגְשׁוּ צִיִּים אֶת־אִיִּים): This grouping highlights the confluence of diverse wild animals typical of the wasteland. Their meeting in the land signifies a collective claiming of territory, symbolizing its complete abandonment by humans and its reclamation by wild, potentially hostile, nature. It paints a picture of primal disorder.
• "And the goat-demon will cry to its fellow" (וְשָׂעִיר עַל־רֵעֵהוּ): This phrase intensifies the supernatural and eerie element. The śā‘îr, a term for a goat-demon, and its interaction with a "fellow" (rē‘ēhū) suggests a community of such entities. It indicates not just physical desolation but also a spiritual emptiness, where these malevolent spirits are at home and actively communicate, reinforcing their dominion over the cursed land.
• "Indeed, Lilith will settle there and find herself a resting place" (אַךְ שָׁם הִרְגִּיעָה לִילִית וּמָצְאָה לָהּ מָנוֹחַ): This powerful conclusion specifies an entity associated with night and dread taking up permanent residence. Whether interpreted as a specific night demon or a bird of darkness (owl), Lilith signifies the ultimate degree of desolation, terror, and spiritual uncleanness. Finding "a resting place" implies that this utter ruin becomes its tranquil home, solidifying the land's transition from a place of human habitation to one controlled by dark, ancient, or uncanny forces. This final clause seals the fate of the land as perpetually cursed and uninhabited by God's creation in good order.

Isaiah 34 14 Bonus section

The specific inclusion of "Lilith" in Isaiah 34:14 is quite significant as it's the only occurrence in the biblical text. While scholarly debate continues on whether it refers to an owl/night bird or a mythological demon, its presence undeniably adds to the eerie and ominous atmosphere. From a biblical perspective, this choice of wording for the post-judgment landscape subtly aligns with the understanding that ultimate rebellion against God leads to a form of un-creation or reversion to a primeval, chaotic state, now dominated by dark spiritual forces or creatures of desolation, mirroring the "formless and void" state of Genesis 1:2. The presence of such entities underscores a profound spiritual abandonment by God's protective presence, inviting powers often associated with darkness and anti-divine order. It can be seen as God handing over the land, not just to nature, but to elements of spiritual ruin as a complete and decisive act of judgment.

Isaiah 34 14 Commentary

Isaiah 34:14 culminates a prophetic decree of absolute devastation against the nations that defy God, particularly Edom, but representing all His adversaries. The land, once possibly teeming with life, is rendered utterly barren, fit only for the wild. The passage's strength lies in its use of vivid imagery: tsiyyim (desert creatures) and iyyim (howling animals/hyenas) represent the breakdown of human order and the return to primeval wilderness. More profound are sa'ir (goat-demon) and Lilith. The sa'ir, likely alluding to an idol worshipped in ancient Israel (Lev 17:7), signifies spiritual perversion and demonic habitation. Lilith, an enigmatic figure unique to this verse in the biblical canon, whether a screech owl, night bird, or a literal night demon of ancient Near Eastern lore, signifies utter desolation and an eerie, spiritually charged darkness. The verse means that the land will be so thoroughly judged and abandoned by God's providence that it will revert to an "anti-creation," becoming a sanctuary for chaos, danger, and entities associated with spiritual uncleanness. These creatures not only inhabit the ruins but thrive there, finding "resting places," emphasizing their dominion. This divine judgment reverses order, where once God created and called things good, now a desolate landscape serves as a testament to His consuming wrath. This picture stands in stark contrast to the restored paradise described in Is 35, highlighting God's dual nature as judge and redeemer.