But wild animals will lie down there, and their houses will be full of howling creatures; there ostriches will dwell, and there wild goats will dance.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophecy paints a picture of total desolation by listing specific wild creatures inhabiting the ruins of Babylon: the "wild beasts of the desert," "howling creatures," "ostriches," and "wild goats." These aren't just random animals; they represent the utter absence of human life and the dominion of chaos and the unnatural over what was once a center of human civilization.
But wild animals will lie down there, and their houses will be full of howling creatures; there ostriches will dwell, and there wild goats will dance.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Isaiah is painting a stark picture of desolation for Babylon, a city once known for its grandeur and bustling human activity. Following verses that describe its impending destruction and utter abandonment, this passage emphasizes the complete emptiness that will follow. It foretells how the former habitations of people will become desolate, overrun by wild, untamed creatures instead of its proud inhabitants.
Imagine a once-bustling city, filled with the sounds of people, now echoing with the cries of the wild. What does this dramatic shift signify?
Isaiah 13:21 paints a vivid picture of Babylon's complete destruction and abandonment. The verse contrasts the former glory of the city, implied by 'houses,' with its future state of utter desolation.
A City Forsaken
The prophecy foretells that instead of human inhabitants, 'wild beasts of the desert' will inhabit Babylon. These creatures, described by terms like 'doleful creatures,' 'owls,' and 'satyrs' (often translated as wild goats or even demonic figures), represent the complete absence of human life and order.
The Sound of Ruin
These animals are associated with desolate places, howling, and screeching – sounds that signify emptiness, decay, and a loss of the vibrant life that once characterized the city. This imagery emphasizes that Babylon will not merely be conquered but will become a habitat for creatures of the wild, a place where the sounds of nature reclaim what was once a center of human power and pride.
The specific creatures named are more than just animals; they carry symbolic weight. What do 'howling creatures' and 'dancing satyrs' tell us about Babylon's fate?
The specific animals mentioned in Isaiah 13:21 are not random; they serve as powerful symbols of Babylon's complete downfall and abandonment.
Creatures of the Wasteland
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The 'wild beasts of the desert' (often translated with terms like 'Ziim') are creatures that thrive in arid, empty, and dangerous places. Their presence signifies that Babylon will become a wasteland, devoid of the life and order that humans brought.
The Sound of Despair and Chaos
'Doleful creatures' (or 'Ochim') are associated with mournful sounds, amplifying the sense of sorrow and despair that will fill the ruins. The 'owls' (or 'daughters of the owl') and 'ostriches' (or 'daughters of the ostrich') are birds often linked to desolate, nocturnal, or screeching sounds, further painting a picture of eerie emptiness. The 'satyrs' (or 'shaggy ones,' possibly wild goats or even demons) 'dancing' suggests a grotesque and chaotic celebration in the absence of human society, a testament to the complete inversion of the city's former status.
This collection of creatures highlights that the city will be utterly forsaken, a place where only the wild, the mournful, and the seemingly demonic will reside.
Understand the original words
tsiyim · Hebrew Noun
Refers to beasts of the wilderness that inhabit desolate or ruined places, often used in prophetic literature to symbolize divine judgment and the reversal of human civilization.
bayith · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the place of abode or the ruinous state of a dwelling place left abandoned, representing the complete collapse of human society or city structures under divine judgment.
ochim · Hebrew Noun
A term used for desert creatures or owls, often evoking the sound of mourning or wailing, symbolizing the desolation of a place once full of human life.
ya'anah · Hebrew Noun
A large bird of the desert, associated in biblical literature with the wasteland and places abandoned by God's people due to judgment.
sa'ir · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting 'hairy ones' or satyrs, often associated in biblical imagery with demonic entities or wild, unkempt desert creatures that inhabit ruins.
Isaiah's prophecy vividly describes the utter desolation that would befall Babylon after its fall, emphasizing its complete abandonment by humanity and its transformation into a habitat for wild creatures, a stark contrast to its former glory.
745-738 BC
Assyrian expansion under Tiglath-Pileser III
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, under Tiglath-Pileser III, embarked on a period of aggressive expansion, conquering vast territories and exerting significant influence over the Near East. This era of Assyrian dominance set the stage for future imperial powers.
626-605 BC
Neo-Babylonian Empire rises
Following the collapse of the Assyrian Empire, the Neo-Babylonian Empire emerged as a major power, with Babylon becoming its capital. This marked a shift in regional dominance.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar II's reign begins
Nebuchadnezzar II ascended the throne of Babylon, a period that would see the empire reach its zenith of power and influence, marked by extensive building projects and military campaigns.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Nebuchadnezzar II conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled a significant portion of the Jewish population to Babylon. This event deeply impacted Jewish history and prophecy.
539 BC— this verse
Fall of Babylon to the Persians
The Neo-Babylonian Empire fell to Cyrus the Great of Persia. This conquest marked the end of Babylonian independence and ushered in the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
c. 480 BC
Herodotus visits Babylon
The Greek historian Herodotus visited Babylon and described its immense size, its fortifications, and its subsequent state of decay, offering a contemporary account of the city's decline.
This passage also speaks of the desolation of a great city (Babylon), stating that wild animals and creatures will inhabit it, echoing the imagery of Isaiah 13:21. It highlights how God's judgment renders formerly proud cities uninhabitable by humans and filled with wild things.
Ezekiel 29:10This verse describes the complete desolation of Egypt, stating it will not be inhabited by man nor frequented by beasts, but will be a place for the lowest creatures. It shares the theme of utter ruin where even wild animals avoid habitation, underscoring the totality of divine judgment.
Revelation 18:2This New Testament passage describes Babylon as a place where 'demons, and every foul spirit, and every unclean and hateful bird' have taken up residence. It directly parallels the idea of a fallen, powerful city becoming a dwelling for unclean and monstrous creatures, fulfilling the prophetic pronouncements.
Zephaniah 2:14This verse describes the judgment on Nineveh, stating that 'both the wild animals and the beasts of the desert shall lie down in its temple... their calls from the windows, devastation in the doorways.' It shares the imagery of ruined cities becoming habitats for wild creatures, emphasizing the thoroughness of God's judgment.
barnesIsaiah 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."
But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there - Hebrew, (ציים tsı̂yı̂ym). This word denotes properly those animals that dwell in dry and desolate places, from צי tsı̂y "a waste, a desert." The ancient versions have differed considerably in the interpretation. The Septuagint in different places renders it, Θηριά Thēria…
gillIsaiah 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."
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…
The prophecy paints a picture of total desolation by listing specific wild creatures inhabiting the ruins of Babylon: the "wild beasts of the desert," "howling creatures," "ostriches," and "wild goats." These aren't just random animals; they represent the utter absence of human life and the dominion of chaos and the unnatural over what was once a center of human civilization.
Isaiah is painting a stark picture of desolation for Babylon, a city once known for its grandeur and bustling human activity. Following verses that describe its impending destruction and utter abandonment, this passage emphasizes the complete emptiness that will follow. It foretells how the former habitations of people will become desolate, overrun by wild, untamed creatures instead of its proud inhabitants.
Isaiah is painting a stark picture of desolation for Babylon, a city once known for its grandeur and bustling human activity. Following verses that describe its impending destruction and utter abandonment, this passage emphasizes the complete emptiness that will follow. It foretells how the former habitations of people will become desolate, overrun by wild, untamed creatures instead of its proud inhabitants.
"But wild animals will lie down there, and their houses will be full of howling creatures; there ostriches will dwell, and there wild goats will dance." — The prophecy paints a picture of total desolation by listing specific wild creatures inhabiting the ruins of Babylon: the "wild beasts of the desert," "howling creatures," "ostriches," and "wild goat…
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Last reviewed October 2026