The desert creatures will meet with hyenasThis phrase paints a picture of desolation and abandonment, often associated with divine judgment. In biblical times, desert creatures and hyenas were seen as symbols of wilderness and desolation. The meeting of these creatures suggests a place devoid of human habitation, reflecting the judgment pronounced on Edom in the broader context of
Isaiah 34. This imagery is consistent with other biblical passages where desolate lands are inhabited by wild animals (e.g.,
Jeremiah 50:39). The presence of hyenas, scavengers by nature, underscores the idea of a land left to ruin and decay.
and one wild goat will call to another.
The wild goat, or "satyr" in some translations, is often associated with desolate places. In ancient Near Eastern culture, wild goats were considered elusive and untamed, symbolizing the chaotic and uninhabited nature of the wilderness. The calling of one wild goat to another suggests a communication or gathering in a place that is now their domain, further emphasizing the absence of human life. This imagery can be linked to the idea of spiritual barrenness and the consequences of turning away from God.
There the night creature will settle
The "night creature" is sometimes translated as "Lilith" or "screech owl," a figure associated with night and darkness. In Jewish folklore, Lilith is a demoness, but in the biblical context, it represents a creature of the night, symbolizing fear and the unknown. The settling of the night creature in this desolate place indicates a complete transformation from a once-thriving area to one dominated by darkness and spiritual desolation. This transformation serves as a warning of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God.
and find her place of repose.
The phrase "place of repose" suggests a finality and permanence to the desolation described. It indicates that the judgment is complete and irrevocable, with the land now serving as a resting place for creatures of the night. This imagery can be seen as a metaphor for the ultimate fate of those who reject God's ways, finding themselves in a state of spiritual death and separation from God. The idea of repose also contrasts with the rest and peace promised to those who follow God, highlighting the stark difference between the outcomes of faithfulness and rebellion.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Desert CreaturesThese are symbolic of desolation and abandonment, often representing unclean animals in biblical literature.
2.
HyenasKnown for scavenging, they symbolize destruction and the aftermath of divine judgment.
3.
Wild GoatsOften associated with wilderness and desolation, they represent the chaotic and untamed aspects of nature.
4.
Night CreatureSometimes translated as "Lilith" or "screech owl," this figure is often associated with darkness and desolation.
5.
Place of ReposeThis indicates a place of rest or dwelling, highlighting the permanence of desolation in the context of divine judgment.
Teaching Points
Understanding Divine JudgmentThe imagery in
Isaiah 34:14 serves as a vivid portrayal of God's judgment. It reminds us that God's justice is thorough and complete, leaving no room for sin to flourish.
Symbolism of DesolationThe presence of wild and unclean animals symbolizes the total abandonment and desolation that results from turning away from God. It serves as a warning to remain faithful and obedient.
Spiritual VigilanceJust as the night creature finds a place of repose in desolation, spiritual complacency can lead to a life devoid of God's presence. We must remain vigilant in our faith to avoid spiritual desolation.
Hope in RestorationWhile the passage speaks of judgment, it also implicitly calls us to seek God's mercy and restoration. God's ultimate plan includes redemption and renewal for those who turn back to Him.
Reflecting on Our Spiritual StateThis passage encourages us to examine areas of our lives that may be spiritually desolate and seek God's guidance to restore them to a place of spiritual vitality.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 34:14?
2.How does Isaiah 34:14 illustrate God's judgment against sinful nations?
3.What is the significance of "desert creatures" and "wild goats" in Isaiah 34:14?
4.How can Isaiah 34:14 deepen our understanding of God's holiness and justice?
5.What other scriptures highlight God's sovereignty over creation like Isaiah 34:14?
6.How should Isaiah 34:14 influence our response to God's warnings today?
7.What is the significance of "Lilith" in Isaiah 34:14 within biblical theology?
8.How does Isaiah 34:14 fit into the broader context of God's judgment in the Bible?
9.Why are wild animals and creatures mentioned in Isaiah 34:14?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 34?
11.Who is Lilith in the Bible?
12.What do owls symbolize in the Bible?
13.Did Jesus come to bring peace or division? (Luke 2:14 vs. Matthew 10:34)
14.How could a nomadic people in the desert, as described in Exodus, realistically sustain the large-scale animal sacrifices outlined in Leviticus 1?What Does Isaiah 34:14 Mean
The desert creatures will meet with hyenas• Isaiah pictures Edom’s cities so utterly ruined that only wild beasts remain, echoing earlier warnings that disobedient lands become “a haunt for jackals” (Isaiah 13:22).
• The meeting of normally solitary scavengers underlines total abandonment by people; asJeremiah 50:39 records of fallen Babylon, “wild animals will live there… no human will dwell in it.”
• God’s judgment is not partial; when He withdraws blessing, the land reverts to chaos, fulfilling His vowed curses inDeuteronomy 28:26.
•Revelation 18:2 shows the same pattern in future judgment: “Babylon the great… a prison for every unclean spirit and bird.” The consistency across Scripture confirms the certainty of divine retribution.
One wild goat will call to another• The cry of wild goats (Isaiah 13:21) replaces the bustle of human voices, dramatizing how sin silences communities.
• Such eerie calls testify that what once bustled with trade and culture now hosts only creatures of the wasteland, exactly asZephaniah 2:13–15 foretold about Nineveh.
• God’s warnings are both moral and literal: real places become ruins when nations defy Him. The audible evidence—the goats’ bleats—stands as a living sermon to anyone who passes by (Psalm 107:33–34).
There the night creature will settle• The “night creature” (often linked to owls inIsaiah 13:21) embodies spiritual as well as physical darkness.Psalm 91:5–6 speaks of “the terror by night,” reminding us that when God’s light is removed, fear and evil thrive.
• Her settling shows permanence; evil finds a foothold only where God’s presence is rejected. CompareMatthew 12:43–45, where unclean spirits seek “rest” in empty hearts—a personal parallel to a forsaken land.
• The verse reinforces that rejection of the Lord does not create neutral ground; it opens space for forces that oppose Him.
And find her place of repose• “Repose” for unclean creatures means perpetual unrest for humanity; once judgment falls, the land no longer offers peace to people (Isaiah 34:10).
•Revelation 14:11 contrasts the rest of the redeemed with “no rest day or night” for the wicked. The night creature’s “repose” is ironic—it rests because sinners will not.
• The finality is sobering: Edom’s fate foreshadows the ultimate destiny of every kingdom that sets itself against God (Obadiah 10).
summaryIsaiah 34:14 paints a literal, post-judgment landscape where only scavengers and nocturnal creatures remain. Their presence proves that God’s warnings come true: human rebellion invites desolation, while even the animal kingdom testifies to His justice. The verse calls us to heed divine authority now, lest our own lives or communities become spiritual wastelands where darkness finds its “repose.”
(14)
The wild beasts of the desert . . .--Better,
wild catsor
hyenas shall meet wolves.The nouns that follow belong, apparently, to the region of mythical zoology. The English "satyr" expresses fairly enough the idea of a "demon-brute" haunting the waste places of the palaces of Edom, while the "screech-owl" is the
Lilith,the she-vampire, who appears in the legends of the Talmud as having been Adam's first wife, who left him and was turned into a demon. With the later Jews,
Lilith,as sucking the blood of children, was the bugbear of the nursery.
Night-vampirewould, perhaps, be the best rendering.
Verse 14. -
Wild beasts of the desert... wild beasts of the island. In the original,
tsiyim and '
iyim - "wailers" and "howlers" - probably jackals and wolves, or wolves and hyenas."
The satyr (see the comment on Isaiah 13:21).
The screech owl The word here used,
lilith, occurs only in this place. It may be doubted whether any bird, or other animal, is meant.
Lilit was the name of a female demon, or wicked fairy, in whom the Assyrians believed - a being thought to vex and persecute her victims in their sleep. The word is probably a derivative from
leilah, night, and designates" the spirit of the night" - a mischievous being, who took advantage of the darkness to play fantastic tricks. A Jewish legend made Lilith the first wife of Adam, and said that, having pronounced the Divine Name as a charm, she was changed into a devil. It was her special delight to murder young children (Buxtorf, 'Lex. Rabbin.,'
ad roe.). The prophets, when they employ poetic imagery, are not tied down to fact, but are free to use the beliefs of their contemporaries in order to heighten the force of their descriptions.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
The desert creaturesצִיִּים֙(ṣî·yîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6728:Wild beast of the desert, that dwell in inhabiting the wildernesswill meetוּפָגְשׁ֤וּ(ū·p̄ā·ḡə·šū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6298:To come in contact with, to concurwith hyenas,אִיִּ֔ים(’î·yîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 338:A howler, any solitary wild creatureand one wild goatוְשָׂעִ֖יר(wə·śā·‘îr)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8163:Shaggy, a he-goat, a faunwill callיִקְרָ֑א(yiq·rā)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121:To call, proclaim, readtoעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstanother.רֵעֵ֣הוּ(rê·‘ê·hū)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453:Friend, companion, fellowThereשָׁם֙(šām)Adverb
Strong's 8033:There, then, thitherthe nocturnal creatureלִּילִ֔ית(lî·lîṯ)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3917:A female night-demonwill settleהִרְגִּ֣יעָה(hir·gî·‘āh)Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7280:To toss violently and suddenly, to settle, quiet, to winkand findוּמָצְאָ֥ה(ū·mā·ṣə·’āh)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 4672:To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be presentherלָ֖הּ(lāh)Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's Hebrewplace of repose.מָנֽוֹחַ׃(mā·nō·w·aḥ)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4494:A resting place, state or condition of rest
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 34:14 The wild animals of the desert will (Isa Isi Is) 
