Satyr
Satyr
See Goat; Owl
Fuente: Plants Animals Of Bible
Satyr
The rendering in Isa 13:21; Isa 34:14, of the Hebrews word , sair’, which properly means hairy; hence a goat, especially a he-goat (comp. Lat. hircus, from hirsutus, hirtus), and is so rendered in Lev 4:24; 2Ch 29:23, and often. The Sept. has, in the passages in Isaiah, , demon; and so the Eng. A.V., in 2Ch 11:15, devil.’ These beings are mentioned in Isaiah as the inhabitants of desert places, but particularly the ruins of Babylon and Petra, where they dance and call to each other. The Greeks probably derived their belief in the existence of beings half men and half goats from the Eastern nations, whose mythology abounds with such fabulous animals, but there is no reason to believe that they formed any part of the Jewish superstitions. Yet it has been supposed by some that Isaiah alludes to the spectral beings which the ancient Persians, the Jews, and the Mohammedans believe to haunt the ruins of Babylon. SEE SUPERSTITION.
But in those passages where the prophet predicts the desolation of Babylon, there is probably no allusion to any species of goat, whether wild or tame. According to the old versions, and nearly all the commentators, our own translation is correct, and satyrs that is, daemons of woods and desert places, half men and half goats are intended. Comp. Jerome (Comment. ad Isaiah xiii): Seirim vel incubones vel satyros vel sylvestres quosdam homines quos nonnulli fatuos ficarios vocant, aut daemonum genera intelligunt.’ This explanation receives confirmation from a passage in Lev 17:7, They shall no more offer their sacrifices unto seirim,’ and from a similar one in 2Ch 11:15. The Israelites, it is probable, had become acquainted with a form of goat worship from the Egyptians (see Bochart, Hieroz. 3, 825; Jablonski, Pant. Egypt. 1, 273 sq.). The opinion held by Michaelis (Supp. p. 23-42) and Lichtenstein (Commentat. de Simiarum, etc. 4, p. 50 sq.), that the seirim probably denote some species of ape, has been sanctioned by some modern scientists from a few passages in Pliny (Hist. Nat. 5, 8; 7, 2; 8, 54). SEE APE. That some species of cynocephalus (dog-faced baboon) was an animal that entered into the theology of the ancient Egyptians is evident from the monuments and from what Horapollo (1, 14-16) has told us. The other explanation, however, has the sanction of Gesenius, Bochart, Rosenmller, Parkhurst, Maurer, Frst, and others. As to the dancing’ satyrs, comp. Virgil, Ecl. 5, 73. SEE GOAT.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Satyr
hairy one. Mentioned in Greek mythology as a creature composed of a man and a goat, supposed to inhabit wild and desolate regions. The Hebrew word is rendered also “goat” (Lev. 4:24) and “devil”, i.e., an idol in the form of a goat (17:7; 2 Chr. 11:15). When it is said (Isa. 13:21; comp. 34:14) “the satyrs shall dance there,” the meaning is that the place referred to shall become a desolate waste. Some render the Hebrew word “baboon,” a species of which is found in Babylonia.
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Satyr
SATYR.The Heb. word sr means primarily he-goat, but the plur. srm is tr. [Note: translate or translation.] in Lev 17:7 and 2Ch 11:15, AV [Note: Authorized Version.] devils, RV [Note: Revised Version.] he-goats; in Isa 13:21; Isa 34:14 EV [Note: English Version.] satyrs, RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] he-goats. Probably too in 2Ki 23:3 shrm (gates) should be srm, and tr. [Note: translate or translation.] as in Lev 17:7. In these passages some hairy demon is to be Inferred to whom sacrifices were made (Lev 17:7), high places erected (2Ki 23:8), and priests set apart (2Ch 11:15). The association of these creatures with the mythological Lilith (wh. see) in Isa 34:14 is specially noticeable.
E. W. G. Masterman.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Satyr
sater, sater (, sar, literally he-goat; , sair, hairy (Gen 27:11, of Esau), and Arabic sha’r, hair; plural , serm): For serm in Lev 17:7 and 2Ch 11:15, the King James Version has devils, the Revised Version (British and American) he-goats, the English Revised Version margin satyrs, the Septuagint has , tos mataois, vain things. For serm in Isa 13:21, the King James Version and the English Revised Version have satyrs, the English Revised Version margin he-goats, the American Standard Revised Version wild goats, Septuagint , daimonia, demons. For sair in Isa 34:14, the King James Version and the English Revised Version have satyr, the English Revised Version margin he-goat, the American Standard Revised Version wild goat. Septuagint has , heteros pros ton heteron, one to another, referring to daimonia, which here stands for cym, wild beasts of the desert.
The text of the American Standard Revised Version in these passages is as follows: Lev 17:7, And they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices unto the he-goats, after which they play the harlot; 2Ch 11:15, And he (Jeroboam) appointed him priests for the high places, and for the he-goats, and for the calves which he had made; Isa 13:21 f (of Babylon), But wild beasts of the desert (cym) shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures (‘ohm); and ostriches (benoth yaanah) shall dwell there, and wild goats (serm) shall dance there And wolves (‘ym) shall cry in their castles, and jackals (tannm) in the pleasant palaces; Isa 34:11, Isa 34:13, Isa 34:14, Isa 34:15 (of Edom), But the pelican (ka’ath) and the porcupine (kippodh) shall possess it; and the owl (yanshoph) and the raven (orebh) shall dwell therein:… and it shall be a habitation of jackals (tannm), a court for ostriches (benoth yaanah). And the wild beasts of the desert (cym) shall meet with the wolves (‘ym), and the wild goat (sar) shall cry to his fellow; yea, the night monster (llth) shall settle there … There shall the dart-snake (kippoz) make her nest … there shall the kites (dayyoth) be gathered, every one with her mate.
The question is whether sar and serm in these passages stand for real or for fabulous animals. In Lev 17:7 and 2Ch 11:15, it is clear that they are objects of worship, but that still leaves open the question of their nature, though it may to many minds make devils or demons or satyrs seem preferable to he-goats. In Isa 13:20 we read, neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall shepherds make their flocks to lie down there. This may very likely have influenced the American Committee of Revisers to use wild goat in Isa 13:21 and Isa 34:14 instead of the he-goat of the other passages. In the American Standard Revised Version, no fabulous creatures (except perhaps night-monster) are mentioned here, but the Septuagint employs daimonia, demons in Isa 13:21 for serm and in Isa 34:14 for cym; , onokentauroi, from , onos, ass, and , kentauros, centaur, in Isa 13:22 and Isa 34:14 for ‘ym, and again in Isa 34:14 for llth; , seirenes, sirens, in Isa 13:21 for benoth yaanah, and in Isa 34:13 for tannm. We must bear in mind the uncertainty regarding the identity of cym, ‘ym,’ohm and tannm, as well as of some of the other names, and we must recall the tales that are hung about the name llth (the King James Version screech owl, the King James Version margin and the Revised Version (British and American) night-monster, the Revised Version margin Lilith). While sar is almost alone among these words in having ordinarily a well-understood meaning, i.e. he-goat, there is good reason for considering that here it is used in an exceptional sense. The translation satyr has certainly much to be said for it. See GOAT; JACKAL.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Satyr
Fig. 312Macacus Arabicus
There is much to suggest the probability that the ‘satyr’ of Isa 13:21; Isa 34:14, if not also the ‘hairy ones’ (rendered ‘devils’) of Lev 17:7, were no other than a species of ape or baboon. The only species of ape of the baboon form known in Arabia is the Macacus Arabicus, remarkable for stature and aspect, having the doglike nose and approximating eyes of baboons; the skin of the face of a reddish color; the snout, lips, and chin black; the forehead low, and the sides of the head furnished with bushy, long, white hair; the breast, arms and shoulders similarly covered, but the loins and lower extremities of a fine chestnut; the tail of the same color, of no great length, tufted at the end, and all the hands black. It is found from the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb, through Southern Arabia to the Euphrates, and even beyond the junction of that river with the Tigris. Like other large and formidable Simiad, it is less solicitous about the vicinity of trees, because it is armed with powerful canines; holds its enemy firmly grasped, and fights, not singly, but assisted by the whole troop: it frequents scrubby underwood near water, but becomes more rare eastward of Yemen. Comparing the characters of this species, we find it by configuration, colors, and manners peculiarly adapted to the purposes of idolatry in its grossest and most debasing aspect. The Hebrew people, already familiar with a similar worship in Egypt, may have copied the native tribes in the wilderness, and thus drawn upon themselves the remonstrance in Lev 17:7, where the allusion to these animals is very descriptive, as is that in Isa 13:21; and again, Isa 34:14, where the image is perfect, when we picture to ourselves the ‘hairy ones’ lurking about the river in the juniper and liquorice jungle, as described by Mr. Rich in his Memoir on the Ruins of Babylon.
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Satyr
The word is sair , which signifies ‘hairy one,’ and hence a ‘he goat.’ It is translated ‘goat’ and ‘kid’ many times. In Lev 17:7 and 2Ch 11:15 it is translated ‘devils,’ but would have been better ‘demons,’ referring to the gods which the heathen unconsciously worshipped: cf. 1Co 10:20. The word is translated ‘satyr’ in Isa 13:21; Isa 34:14, both passages referring to places brought to utter desolation, so that they are inhabited by wild beasts, owls, and perhaps ‘wild goats’ are intended; or that the desolation would be such that men would shun them as if haunted by unearthly beings. Such a dread is often expressed by dwellers in the East.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Satyr
A mythological creature, represented as half man and half goat.
Lev 17:7; 2Ch 11:15; Isa 13:21; Isa 34:14
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Satyr
Satyr (sat’ir). A fabled creature of Greek mythology, part man and part goat, and supposed to be the deity of forests and rural places. The expression “satyrs shall dance there,” Isa 13:21 (the R. V. margin reads “he goats,” comp. also Isa 34:14), denotes that the place shall become a rude, wild, uncultivated waste.
Fuente: People’s Dictionary of the Bible
Satyr
Sa’tyr or Sat’yr. A sylvan deity or demigod of Greek mythology, represented as a monster, part man and part goat. Isa 13:21; Isa 34:14. The Hebrew word signifies “hairy” or “rough”, and is frequently applied to “he-goats.” In the passages cited, it probably refers to demons of woods and desert places. Compare Lev 17:7; 2Ch 11:15.