Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.
21. wild beasts of the desert ] The word used means strictly “dwellers in the desert” and is applied to men in Psa 72:9. In ch. Isa 34:14 it seems to denote a particular kind of desert creature.
doleful creatures ] Probably “howlers,” but what kind of howlers are meant is altogether uncertain. Some render “owls,” others “jackals,” &c. The word does not occur elsewhere. Owls should undoubtedly be ostriches. The Heb. name ( bnth ya‘nah), as explained by Wetzstein (see Delitzsch, Comm. on Job , 2 nd Ed., Eng. Tr., vol. II., p. 340) means “daughters of the desert.” The Arabs have a similar designation for the bird, abu e-ar, “father of the desert.”
satyrs shall dance there ] The noun also means “goats,” as in Gen 37:31; but the old translations have mostly perceived that goatshaped demons are here intended (so also in ch. Isa 34:14), the same beings to which Jewish superstition offered sacrifices (Lev 17:7; 2Ch 11:15 A.V. “devils”). The transition from the natural to the supernatural seems strange to our minds, but in the East the belief in weird creatures ( jinn) inhabiting waste places and dangerous spots is a commonplace.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
21, 22. It shall be haunted by wild beasts and creatures of demon kind, like the jinn of the Arabs. See ch. Isa 34:11-15; Zep 2:14 f.; Jer 50:39; Jer 51:37.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there – Hebrew, ( tsyym). This word denotes properly those animals that dwell in dry and desolate places, from tsy a waste, a desert. The ancient versions have differed considerably in the interpretation. The Septuagint in different places renders it, Theria – Wild animals; or daimonia – Demons. The Syriac, Wild animals, spirits, sirens. Vulgate, Beasts, demons, dragons. Abarbanel renders it, Apes. This word is applied to people, in Psa 72:9; Psa 74:14; to animals, Isa 23:13; Isa 34:14; Jer 50:39. Bochart supposes that wild cats or catamounts are here intended. He has proved that they abound in eastern countries. They feed upon dead carcasses, and live in the woods, or in desert places, and are remarkable for their howl. Their yell resembles that of infants. (See Bocharts Hieroz. i. 3. 14. pp. 860-862.)
And their houses shall be full of doleful creatures – Margin, Ochim, or Ostriches. ‘ochym. The Septuagint renders this Clamours, or Howlings, without supposing that it refers to any particular animals. The Hebrew word is found nowhere else. Bochart supposes that the yell or howl of wild animals is intended, and not animals themselves (Hieroz. i. 3. 15).
And owls shall dwell there – Hebrew, Daughters of the owl or ostrich. The owl is a well-known bird that dwells only in obscure and dark retreats, giving a doleful screech, and seeking its food only at night. It is not certain, however, that the owl is intended here. The Septuagint renders it, Seirenes – Sirens. The Chaldee, The daughter of the ostrich. Bochart has gone into an extended argument to prove that the ostrich is intended here (Hieroz. xi. 2. 14). The Hebrew does not particularly denote the kind of bird intended, but means those that are distinguished for their sound – the daughters of sound or clamor. The ostrich is a sly and timorous creature, delighting in solitary barren deserts. In the night they frequently make a very doleful and hideous noise; sometimes groaning as if they were in the greatest agonies. (Shaws Travels, vol. ii. p. 348, 8vo; Taylors Heb. Con.; see Job 30:29; Isa 34:13; Isa 43:20; Jer 50:39; Mic 1:8; Lev 11:16; Deu 14:15; Lam 4:3.) The word does not elsewhere occur.
And satyrs shall dance there – ( s’erym). A satyr, in mythology, was a sylvan deity or demigod, represented as a monster, half man and half goat, having horns on his head, a hairy body, with the feet and tail of a goat (Webster). The word used here properly denotes that which is hairy, or rough, and is applied to goats in Gen 25:25; Psa 68:21; Lev 13:10, Lev 13:25-26, Lev 13:30, Lev 13:32. It is often rendered hair. (see Taylor). In Isa 34:14, it is rendered satyr; in Deu 32:2, it is rendered the small ram; in Lev 17:7, and 2Ch 11:15, it is rendered the devils, meaning objects of worship, or idols. Bochart supposes that it refers to the idols that were worshipped among the Egyptians, who placed goats among their gods. Doderlin supposes that it means either fawns, or a species of the monkey tribe, resembling in their rough and shaggy appearance the wild goat.
They are here represented as dancing; and in Isa 34:14, as crying to each other. It is evident that the prophet intends animals of a rough and shaggy appearance; such as are quick and nimble in their motions; such as dwell in deserts, in forests, or in old ruins; and such as answer to each other, or chatter. The description would certainly seem more applicable to some of the simia or monkey tribe than to any other animals. It is possible, indeed, that he means merely to make use of language that was well known, as describing animals that the ancients supposed had an existence, but which really had not, as the imaginary beings called satyrs. But it is possible, also, that he means simply wild goats (compare Bocharts Hieroz. xi. 6. 7). The Septuagint renders it Daimonia – Demons, or devils. The Vulgate, Pilosi – Shaggy, or hairy animals. The Chaldee, Demons. The essential idea is, that such wild animals as are supposed to dwell in wastes and ruins, would hold their revels in the forsaken and desolate palaces of Babylon. The following remarks of Joseph Wolff may throw light on this passage: I then went to the mountain of Sanjaar, which was full of Yezeedes. One hundred and fifty years ago, they believed in the glorious doctrine of the Trinity, and worshipped the true God; but being severely persecuted by the neighboring Yezeedes, they have now joined them, and are worshippers of the devil.
These people frequent the ruins of Babylon, and dance around them. On a certain night, which they call the Night of Life, they hold their dances around the desolate ruins, in honor of the devil. The passage which declares that satyrs shall dance there, evidently has respect to this very practice. The original word translated satyr, literally means, according to the testimony of the most eminent Jewish rabbis, devil worshippers. It is a curious circumstance, says Mr. Rich, in his Memoir on the Ruins of Babylon, p. 30, in describing the Mujelibe, that here I first heard the oriental account of satyrs. I had always imagined the belief of their existence was confined to the mythology of the west; but a Choadar who was with me when I examined this ruin, mentioned by accident, that in this desert an animal is found resembling a man from the head to the waist, but having the thighs and legs of a sheep or a goat; he said also that the Arabs hunt it with dogs, and eat the lower parts, abstaining from the upper on account of their resemblance to the human species. The Arabians call them Sied-as-sad, and say that they abound in some woody places near Semava on the Euphrates.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 21. Satyrs] A kind of beast like to man, which is called marmots, a monkey. – Rabbi Parchon.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
21. wild beastsHebrew,tsiyim, animals dwelling in arid wastes. Wild cats, remarkablefor their howl [BOCHART].
doleful creatures“howlingbeasts,” literally, “howlings” [MAURER].
owlsrather,”ostriches”; a timorous creature, delighting in solitarydeserts and making a hideous noise [BOCHART].
satyrssylvandemi-godshalf man, half goatbelieved by the Arabs to hauntthese ruins; probably animals of the goat-ape species [VITRINGA].Devil-worshippers, who dance amid the ruins on acertain night [J. WOLFF].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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. Jarchi and Kimchi say such are intended as are called martens or sables, a creature of the weasel kind. The Hebrew word does not much differ from the Arabic one used for “wild cats”:
and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; whose voices are very mournful and unpleasant. Aben Ezra says such creatures are meant, that those that see them are amazed at them. Jarchi declares they are a kind of creatures he was ignorant of; and Kimchi thinks they are the same with “furon”, or “ferrets”: and the Latin interpreter of the Targum renders the word that uses by “weasels”:
and owls shall dwell there; or “the daughters of the owl”, or “of the ostriches”, as the Targum and Syriac version; with which agrees the Vulgate Latin, rendering the word “ostriches”, as it is in La 4:3; the Septuagint version translates it “sirens”, or “mermaids”:
and satyrs shall dance there; a sort of monstrous creatures with the ancients, painted half men and half goats; the upper part of them like men, except the horns on their heads, and the lower parts like goats, and all over hairy; and the word here used signifies hairy; and is used for goats, and sometimes for devils, either because they have appeared in this form, as Kimchi says, to them that believe them; or because they, by their appearance, inject such horror in men, as cause their hair to stand upright: hence the Targum, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret it of devils here; and so the Septuagint version, and those that follow it, the Syriac and Arabic, render it, “and demons shall dance there”: with this agrees the account of mystical Babylon,
Re 18:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
21. But the Ziim shall lie there. (209) He continues the description of a desert place, and alludes to what he had formerly said, that Babylon will be destitute of inhabitants. In what way ציים ( tziim) ought to be translated I cannot easily say, on account of the diversity in the opinions of translators, who differ in this, as in various names of animals and herbs. The use of these things did not continue among them; and the Jews, who are themselves ignorant and unskilful, do not retain the knowledge of these things, though there are some of them who know nothing about either herbs or animals, and yet have the impudence to boast of being physicians. Of those who think that ציים ( tziim) is the name of a wild animal, some will have it to be a quadruped, and others, a bird; but that is a matter of little importance. For my own part, I have no doubt that the Prophet means either wild beasts which cannot be tamed, or birds which build their nests in distant forests.
It will not be amiss to explain what follows about Satyrs or Pans, who are called by the French, according to the various dialects of the provinces, sometimes Luittons , sometimes Follets , and sometimes Loups-garouz (210) As Satan deludes men by various tricks, so he gives to them various names. It is certain that ציים ( tziim) is often used in Scripture for devils; and it is derived from ציה, ( tziyah,) which means dryness, or, a desert, as איים ( iyim) is derived from אים, ( ayam,) which means to terrify. The Devil performs strange tricks by means of Fauns and Satyrs, and on that account their names are given to him.
The design of the Prophet is to show that the solitude will be so great, that not only will the place be deserted by men, but even the devils will there deceive by their tricks; for the devils avail themselves of the tendency of solitary places to produce terror. As enemies and robbers, by sallying forth from concealed lurking-places, frighten men the more, so devils take advantage of the night and the darkness, and of places distant from the view of men, that they may be able to excite greater terror in those who are naturally timorous.
(209) Bogus footnote
(210) Bogus footnote
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(21) Wild beasts of the desert . . .The Hebrew term, which in Psa. 72:9, and perhaps in Isa. 23:13, is used of men, has been rendered by wild cats, but is probably generic, the fer natur 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 Lev. 4:24; Lev. 16:9), or, as the English version suggests, a mythical form of grotesque animal life (the demons or devils of Lev. 17:7; 2Ch. 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.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 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.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
doleful creatures. Probably hyenas.
satyrs = goat-shaped demons worshipped by the Seirites (Edom). Compare Lev 17:7. 2Ch 11:15; 2Ch 25:14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
But: Isa 34:11-15, Rev 18:2
wild beasts: Heb. Ziim
doleful creatures: Heb. Ochim, owls. or, ostriches. Heb. daughters of the owl.
Reciprocal: Lev 11:16 – General Job 30:29 – a brother Isa 14:23 – make Isa 34:13 – an habitation Isa 34:14 – The wild beasts of the desert Mal 1:3 – the Act 28:4 – beast
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 13:21-22. The wild beasts of the desert shall lie there Which was literally fulfilled, as we have just seen, in Jeromes time, when it was a forest for breeding wild beasts, or a royal chase for hunting. And their houses shall be full of doleful creatures This likewise has been exactly accomplished. Benjamin of Tudela, a Jew, in his Itinerary, written above seven hundred years ago, asserts, Babylon is now laid waste, excepting the ruins of Nebuchadnezzars palace, which men are afraid to enter, on account of the serpents and scorpions that have taken possession of it.
This account is confirmed by Rauwolf, who informs us, that the supposed ruins of the tower of Babylon are so full of venomous creatures, that no one dares approach nearer to them than half a league. It must be observed, however, that interpreters are not agreed as to the precise meaning of the word , here rendered, doleful creatures. Some connect this clause with the preceding, and read it, And shall fill (namely, the wild beasts shall fill) their houses with their howlings. It is more probable, however, that some living creatures are intended, but whether reptiles, quadrupeds, or fowls, is uncertain. It is also doubtful what creatures are meant by several of the other Hebrew words here used, particularly by the word , seirim, translated satyrs. The term indeed signifies goats. And many have supposed that evil spirits often appeared, of old time, in the shape of goats. Upon which account, says Lowth, the word is sometimes taken for devils, and is so translated, Lev 17:7, (where see the note,) and in 2Ch 11:15. But here, and Isa 34:14, it is rendered satyrs. The expression may be taken from a vulgar opinion, that desolate and forlorn places are inhabited by evil spirits. See Bar 4:35; Rev 18:2. Accordingly our Saviour, in his parable of an unclean spirit, says, that he walks through dry, or uninhabited places, Mat 12:43. And dragons in their pleasant places The word , rendered dragons, signifies any large creature of the creeping kind, whether upon land or in the sea. Here it seems to be taken for a great serpent, such as are usually found in deserts and desolate places. But instead of wasting time in a fruitless attempt to ascertain what kind of creatures are meant by the different Hebrew words here used, which would only perplex and not edify the reader, we shall present him with Bishop Lowths translation of these two verses.
But there shall the wild beasts of the deserts lodge;
And howling monsters shall fill their houses:
And there shall the daughters of the ostrich dwell;
And there shall the satyrs hold their revels.
And wolves shall howl to one another in their palaces;
And dragons in their voluptuous pavilions.
What makes the present desolate condition of Babylon the more wonderful is, that Alexander the Great intended to have made it the seat of his empire, and actually set men to work to rebuild the temple of Belus, to repair the banks of the river, and to reduce the waters again to their own channel; but he met with too many difficulties to proceed with the work. And now, how justly may we reflect with Bishop Newton, (Dissert. xth.,) How is Babylon become a desolation! How wonderful are such predictions, compared with the events! And what a convincing argument of the truth and divinity of the Holy Scriptures! Well might God allege this as a memorable instance of his prescience, and challenge all the false gods, and their votaries, to produce the like, Isa 45:21; Isa 46:10. And indeed where can be found a similar instance, but in Scripture, from the beginning of the world to this day?
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
13:21 But {p} 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.
(p) Who were either wild beasts or fools, or wicked spirits, by which Satan deluded man, as by the fairies, goblins, and such like fantasies.