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Selected Verse: Isaiah 34:13 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 34:13	Strong Concordance	And thorns [05518] shall come up [05927] in her palaces [0759], nettles [07057] and brambles [02336] in the fortresses [04013] thereof: and it shall be an habitation [05116] of dragons [08577], and a court [02681] for owls [01323] [03284].
	King James	And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
dragons--(See on Isa 13:21; Isa 13:22). court for owls--rather, "a dwelling for ostriches."

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

dragons--(See on Isa 13:21; Isa 13:22).

court for owls--rather, "a dwelling for ostriches."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And thorns ... - (see the note at Isa 5:6) It shall be an habitation of dragons - On the meaning of the word 'dragons,' see the note at Isa 13:22. Court for owls - A place of resort, a residence of owls. The word rendered 'court' (חציר châtsı̂yr) means a dwelling-place, a habitation, as well as an enclosure or court. The margin is, 'Daughters of the owl,' or 'ostriches' (see the note at Isa 13:21). 'I would,' says Stephens, when standing amidst the ruins of Petra, the capital of Idumea (see the note at Isa 16:1), and with this passage of Isaiah in his eye, 'I would that the sceptic could stand as I did, among the ruins of this city among the rocks, and there open the sacred book, and read the words of the inspired penman, written when this desolate place was one of the greatest cities in the world. I see the scoff arrested, his cheek pale, his lip quivering, and his heart quaking with fear, as the ancient city cries out to him in a voice loud and powerful as one risen from the dead; though be would not believe Moses and the prophets, he believes the hand-writing of God himself, in the desolation and eternal ruin around him.' (Incidents of Travel in Egypt, etc., vol. ii. p. 76.)

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The allusion to the monarchy and the lofty electoral dignity leads the prophet on to the palaces and castles of the land. Starting with these, he carries out the picture of the ruins in Isa 34:13-15. "And the palaces of Edom break out into thorns, nettles and thistles in its castles; and it becomes the abode of wild dogs, pasture for ostriches. And martens meet with jackals, and a wood-devil runs upon its fellow; yea, Liiliith dwells there, and finds rest for itself. There the arrow-snake makes its nest, and breeds and lays eggs, and broods in the shadow there; yea, there vultures gather together one to another." The feminine suffixes refer to Edom, as they did in the previous instance, as בּת־אדום or אדום ארץ. On the tannı̄m, tsiyyı̄m, and 'iyyı̄m, see at Isa 13:21-22. It is doubtful whether châtsı̄r here corresponds to the Arabic word for an enclosure (= חצר), as Gesenius, Hitzig, and others suppose, as elsewhere to the Arabic for green, a green field, or garden vegetable. We take it in the latter sense, viz., a grassy place, such as was frequented by ostriches, which live upon plants and fruits. The word tsiyyim (steppe animals) we have rendered "martens," as the context requires a particular species of animals to be named. This is the interpretation given by Rashi (in loc.) and Kimchi in Jer 50:39 to the Targum word tamvân. We do not render 'iyyı̄m "wild cats" (chattūilin), but "jackals," after the Arabic. קרא with על we take in the sense of קרה (as in Exo 5:3). Lı̄lı̄th (Syr. and Zab. lelitho), lit., the creature of the night, was a female demon (shēdâh) of the popular mythology; according to the legends, it was a malicious fairy that was especially hurtful to children, like some of the fairies of our own fairy tales. There is life in Edom still; but what a caricature of that which once was there! In the very spot where the princes of Edom used to proclaim the new king, satyrs now invite one another to dance (Isa 13:21); and there kings and princes once slept in their palaces and country houses, the lı̄lı̄th, which is most at home in horrible places, finds, as though after a prolonged search, the most convenient and most comfortable resting-place. Demons and serpents are not very far distant from one another. The prophet therefore proceeds in Isa 34:15 to the arrow-snake, or springing-snake (Arabic qiffâze, from qâphaz, related to qâphats, Sol 2:8, to prepare for springing, or to spring; a different word from qippōd, which has the same root). This builds its nest in the ruins; there it breeds (millēt, to let its eggs slide out) and lays eggs (bâqa‛, to split, i.e., to bring forth); and then it broods in the shade (dâgar is the Targum word in Job 39:14 for chimmēm (ithpael in Lam 1:20 for חמרמר), and is also used in the rabbinical writings for fovere, as Jerome renders it here). The literal sense of the word is probably to keep the eggs together (Targum, Jer 17:11, בּעין מכנּשׁ, lxx συνήγαγεν), since דּגר (syn. חמּר) signifies "to collect." Rashi has therefore explained it in both passages as meaning glousser, to cluck, the noise by which a fowl calls its brood together. The dayyâh is the vulture. These fowls and most gregarious birds of prey also collect together there.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The allusion to the monarchy and the lofty electoral dignity leads the prophet on to the palaces and castles of the land. Starting with these, he carries out the picture of the ruins in Isa 34:13-15. "And the palaces of Edom break out into thorns, nettles and thistles in its castles; and it becomes the abode of wild dogs, pasture for ostriches. And martens meet with jackals, and a wood-devil runs upon its fellow; yea, Liiliith dwells there, and finds rest for itself. There the arrow-snake makes its nest, and breeds and lays eggs, and broods in the shadow there; yea, there vultures gather together one to another." The feminine suffixes refer to Edom, as they did in the previous instance, as בּת־אדום or אדום ארץ. On the tannı̄m, tsiyyı̄m, and 'iyyı̄m, see at Isa 13:21-22. It is doubtful whether châtsı̄r here corresponds to the Arabic word for an enclosure (= חצר), as Gesenius, Hitzig, and others suppose, as elsewhere to the Arabic for green, a green field, or garden vegetable. We take it in the latter sense, viz., a grassy place, such as was frequented by ostriches, which live upon plants and fruits. The word tsiyyim (steppe animals) we have rendered "martens," as the context requires a particular species of animals to be named. This is the interpretation given by Rashi (in loc.) and Kimchi in Jer 50:39 to the Targum word tamvân. We do not render 'iyyı̄m "wild cats" (chattūilin), but "jackals," after the Arabic. קרא with על we take in the sense of קרה (as in Exo 5:3). Lı̄lı̄th (Syr. and Zab. lelitho), lit., the creature of the night, was a female demon (shēdâh) of the popular mythology; according to the legends, it was a malicious fairy that was especially hurtful to children, like some of the fairies of our own fairy tales. There is life in Edom still; but what a caricature of that which once was there! In the very spot where the princes of Edom used to proclaim the new king, satyrs now invite one another to dance (Isa 13:21); and there kings and princes once slept in their palaces and country houses, the lı̄lı̄th, which is most at home in horrible places, finds, as though after a prolonged search, the most convenient and most comfortable resting-place. Demons and serpents are not very far distant from one another. The prophet therefore proceeds in Isa 34:15 to the arrow-snake, or springing-snake (Arabic qiffâze, from qâphaz, related to qâphats, Sol 2:8, to prepare for springing, or to spring; a different word from qippōd, which has the same root). This builds its nest in the ruins; there it breeds (millēt, to let its eggs slide out) and lays eggs (bâqa‛, to split, i.e., to bring forth); and then it broods in the shade (dâgar is the Targum word in Job 39:14 for chimmēm (ithpael in Lam 1:20 for חמרמר), and is also used in the rabbinical writings for fovere, as Jerome renders it here). The literal sense of the word is probably to keep the eggs together (Targum, Jer 17:11, בּעין מכנּשׁ, lxx συνήγαγεν), since דּגר (syn. חמּר) signifies "to collect." Rashi has therefore explained it in both passages as meaning glousser, to cluck, the noise by which a fowl calls its brood together. The dayyâh is the vulture. These fowls and most gregarious birds of prey also collect together there.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
And thorns shall come up in her palaces - ועלו בארמנותיה vealu bearmenotheyha; so read all the ancient versions. A court for owls - יענה yaanah, the ostrich, from ענה anah, to cry, because of the noise it makes. "They roar, "says Dr. Shaw, "sometimes like a lion - sometimes like a bull. I have often heard them groan as if in the utmost distress."

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²² And the wild beasts of the islands [0338] shall cry [06030] in their desolate houses [0490], and dragons [08577] in their pleasant [06027] palaces [01964]: and her time [06256] is near [07138] to come [0935], and her days [03117] shall not be prolonged [04900].

¹ Send [07971] ye the lamb [03733] to the ruler [04910] of the land [0776] from Sela [05554] to the wilderness [04057], unto the mount [02022] of the daughter [01323] of Zion [06726].

⁶ And I will lay [07896] it waste [01326]: it shall not be pruned [02168], nor digged [05737]; but there shall come up [05927] briers [08068] and thorns [07898]: I will also command [06680] the clouds [05645] that they rain [04305] no rain [04306] upon it.

¹¹ As the partridge [07124] sitteth [01716] on eggs, and hatcheth [03205] them not; so he that getteth [06213] riches [06239], and not by right [04941], shall leave [05800] them in the midst [02677] of his days [03117], and at his end [0319] shall be a fool [05036].

²⁰ Behold [07200], O LORD [03068]; for I am in distress [06887]: my bowels [04578] are troubled [02560]; mine heart [03820] is turned [02015] within [07130] me; for I have grievously [04784] rebelled [04784]: abroad [02351] the sword [02719] bereaveth [07921], at home [01004] there is as death [04194].

¹⁴ Which leaveth [05800] her eggs [01000] in the earth [0776], and warmeth [02552] them in dust [06083],

⁸ The voice [06963] of my beloved [01730]! behold, he cometh [0935] leaping [01801] upon the mountains [02022], skipping [07092] upon the hills [01389].

¹⁵ There shall the great owl [07091] make her nest [07077], and lay [04422], and hatch [01234], and gather [01716] under her shadow [06738]: there shall the vultures [01772] also be gathered [06908], every one [0802] with her mate [07468].

³ And they said [0559], The God [0430] of the Hebrews [05680] hath met [07122] with us: let us go [03212], we pray thee, three [07969] days [03117]' journey [01870] into the desert [04057], and sacrifice [02076] unto the LORD [03068] our God [0430]; lest he fall [06293] upon us with pestilence [01698], or with the sword [02719].

³⁹ Therefore the wild beasts of the desert [06728] with the wild beasts of the islands [0338] shall dwell [03427] there, and the owls [01323] [03284] shall dwell [03427] therein: and it shall be no more inhabited [03427] for ever [05331]; neither shall it be dwelt [07931] in from generation [01755] to generation [01755].

²¹ But wild beasts of the desert [06728] shall lie [07257] there; and their houses [01004] shall be full [04390] of doleful creatures [0255]; and owls [01323] [03284] shall dwell [07931] there, and satyrs [08163] shall dance [07540] there.
²² And the wild beasts of the islands [0338] shall cry [06030] in their desolate houses [0490], and dragons [08577] in their pleasant [06027] palaces [01964]: and her time [06256] is near [07138] to come [0935], and her days [03117] shall not be prolonged [04900].

¹³ And thorns [05518] shall come up [05927] in her palaces [0759], nettles [07057] and brambles [02336] in the fortresses [04013] thereof: and it shall be an habitation [05116] of dragons [08577], and a court [02681] for owls [01323] [03284].
¹⁴ The wild beasts of the desert [06728] shall also meet [06298] with the wild beasts of the island [0338], and the satyr [08163] shall cry [07121] to his fellow [07453]; the screech owl [03917] also shall rest [07280] there, and find [04672] for herself a place of rest [04494].
¹⁵ There shall the great owl [07091] make her nest [07077], and lay [04422], and hatch [01234], and gather [01716] under her shadow [06738]: there shall the vultures [01772] also be gathered [06908], every one [0802] with her mate [07468].