Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse paints a stark picture of judgment, not just by listing animals, but by highlighting the contrast between their presence and the former glory—wild creatures howling in "pleasant palaces" signifies the complete inversion of order and the utter ruin of once-luxurious spaces. This isn't just about decay; it's about the sacred being defiled and the opulent becoming dens for the wild, a profound sign of divine reversal.
Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prophecy is part of a larger oracle against Babylon, describing its impending destruction and desolation. The verses leading up to this passage detail the devastating invasion by the Medes and the ensuing chaos and slaughter within the city. After recounting the city's complete ruin and abandonment, this verse emphasizes the finality of its fall, picturing it as a haunt for wild animals rather than human habitation.
Imagine walking through the grandest palace you've ever seen. Now, picture it silent, empty, and filled with the sounds of wild creatures. What does that image tell you?
Isaiah 13:22 paints a stark picture of Babylon's future: 'Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in its pleasant palaces.' This isn't just poetic language; it's a profound statement about utter desolation.
From Luxury to Lair
This imagery emphasizes that Babylon, so full of human grandeur, would become a habitat for uncivilized, wild things. It signifies a complete reversal – the powerful and luxurious reduced to utter ruin, a place where only the most basic, untamed creatures can find refuge.
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We often feel like time is slipping away, or sometimes, that it drags on forever. But what if there's a divine clock ticking down for nations and empires?
The second half of Isaiah 13:22 delivers a powerful, unambiguous message: 'its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged.' This isn't a suggestion; it's a divine decree.
Certainty in God's Timing
This speaks volumes about God's sovereignty over history. Empires rise and fall according to His timetable, not their own perceived strength or permanence. Even the most formidable powers are subject to a divine deadline, a day of reckoning when their allotted time runs out.
Understand the original words
iyim · Hebrew Noun
Wild canines or scavenging animals that dwell in abandoned ruins, serving as a sign of the total abandonment and degradation of a city or nation.
almanah · Hebrew Noun
A structure associated with city defenses, which, when empty and inhabited by wild beasts, signals the complete failure of human protection and the triumph of God's sovereign judgment.
tannim · Hebrew Noun
A scavenger animal often found in deserted or ruined places, representing the final state of destruction and the removal of human glory.
hekhal · Hebrew Noun
Magnificent residences or palaces, which in prophetic judgment represent the pride and worldly power of a nation that will be reduced to ruin.
eth · Hebrew Noun
The ordained moment or season determined by God for judgment to occur, emphasizing that historical events are under His sovereign control.
This prophecy, spoken by Isaiah long before Babylon's imperial might was fully realized and even before its final destruction, paints a vivid picture of utter desolation. It speaks to the fate of the city that would later become the oppressor of God's people, promising a future where its once-grand palaces would be inhabited by wild creatures. The imagery underscores that no human power, no matter how magnificent, can ultimately stand against God's judgment.
c. 715 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry in Judah, likely during the reigns of Jotham and Ahaz, and continuing into Hezekiah's reign. His prophecies often addressed the looming threat of Assyria and later Babylon.
c. 689 BC
Sennacherib Destroys Babylon
The Assyrian king Sennacherib brutally sacks and destroys Babylon, a devastating event that would have been a stark warning about the fragility of even great empires.
626 BC
Neo-Babylonian Empire Rises
Nabopolassar establishes the Neo-Babylonian Empire, rebelling against Assyria and laying the foundation for Babylon's resurgence as a major world power.
605 BC
Battle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar II, leading the Babylonian army, decisively defeats the Egyptians and Assyrians at Carchemish, solidifying Babylonian dominance in the region.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem, destroys the Temple, and deports many Judeans to Babylon. This event marks a profound turning point for the people of Judah.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
Cyrus of Persia captures Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This conquest fulfills prophecies about Babylon's destruction and marks a new era for the region.
This passage echoes the desolation of Babylon, describing how its former splendor will be replaced by wild creatures, directly paralleling Isaiah's imagery of hyenas and jackals inhabiting its palaces.
Zephaniah 2:14-15Similar to Isaiah's prophecy, Zephaniah foretells the utter ruin of Nineveh, describing it as a place where wild animals will dwell and where those who pass by will be astonished at its desolation.
Luke 21:20-21Jesus uses the imagery of destruction and flight when speaking about the coming destruction of Jerusalem, referencing an Old Testament prophetic pattern of a city's downfall leading to abandonment and desolation.
Revelation 18:2This New Testament passage directly quotes Isaiah's prophecy about Babylon, declaring its fall and predicting that it will become 'a dwelling place for demons, and a prison for every unclean spirit,' reinforcing the theme of a once-great city becoming a desolate haunt for wild creatures.
barnesIsaiah 13:22: "And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged."
And the wild beasts of the islands - (איים 'ı̂yı̂ym); see the notes at Isaiah 11:11 ; Isaiah 41:1 , on the word rendered 'islands.' The word denotes islands, or coasts, and as those coasts and islands were unknown and unexplored, the word seems to have denoted unknown and uninhabited regions in general.…
cambridgeIsaiah 13:22: "And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged."
22 . the wild beasts of the islands ] R.V. wolves . The word has certainly nothing to do with that for “island.” It probably comes from another root meaning “to howl”; but again it is impossible to specify the particular animal. their desolate houses ] The word is ’almânôth , “widows,” which A.V. followin…
The verse paints a stark picture of judgment, not just by listing animals, but by highlighting the contrast between their presence and the former glory—wild creatures howling in "pleasant palaces" signifies the complete inversion of order and the utter ruin of once-luxurious spaces. This isn't just about decay; it's about the sacred being defiled and the opulent becoming dens for the wild, a profound sign of divine reversal.
This prophecy is part of a larger oracle against Babylon, describing its impending destruction and desolation. The verses leading up to this passage detail the devastating invasion by the Medes and the ensuing chaos and slaughter within the city. After recounting the city's complete ruin and abandonment, this verse emphasizes the finality of its fall, picturing it as a haunt for wild animals rather than human habitation.
This prophecy is part of a larger oracle against Babylon, describing its impending destruction and desolation. The verses leading up to this passage detail the devastating invasion by the Medes and the ensuing chaos and slaughter within the city. After recounting the city's complete ruin and abandonment, this verse emphasizes the finality of its fall, picturing it as a haunt for wild animals rather than human habitation.
"Hyenas will cry in its towers, and jackals in the pleasant palaces; its time is close at hand and its days will not be prolonged." — The verse paints a stark picture of judgment, not just by listing animals, but by highlighting the contrast between their presence and the former glory—wild creatures howling in "pleasant palaces"…
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Last reviewed October 2026