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Isaiah 13:21

19 And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

20 She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there.

But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about.

22 Hyenas will howl in her fortresses and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Babylon’s time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.

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This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about.
KJV
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.
WEB
But wild animals of the desert will lie there, and their houses will be full of jackals. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will frolic there.
ASV
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and ostriches shall dwell there, and wild goats shall dance there.
DARBY
But beasts of the desert shall lie there, and their houses shall be full of owls; and ostriches shall dwell there, and wild goats shall dance there.
BLB
And desert creatures will stretch out there, and their houses will be full of howling creatures, and daughters of the ostrich will dwell there, and wild goats will skip about there,
ÅB
Men ørkenens dyr skal hvile der, og dets hus skal være fulle av ugler, og strutser skal bo der, og raggete troll hoppe omkring der.
OTB
Men ørkendyr vil ligge der, og deres hus vil være fulle av ugler; strutser vil bo der, og villgeiter vil leke der.
B1930
Men ørkenens dyr skal hvile der, og dets hus skal være fulle av ugler, og strutser skal bo der, og raggete troll hoppe omkring der.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Revelation 18:2

    And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 34:11–15

    The desert owl and screech owl will possess it, and the great owl and raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom a measuring line of chaos and a plumb line of destruction.

    Read in context