for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Lamentations 5:18
What does Lamentations 5:18 mean?
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Lamentations 5:18
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The mention of jackals isn't just about describing ruins; it's a subtle, chilling indicator that a profound passage of time has elapsed since the city's destruction. These wild animals only inhabit places that have been long abandoned and where human presence has completely ceased.
for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse follows a lament over Jerusalem's suffering and the loss of joy. It emphasizes the desolate state of Mount Zion, the holy hill where the Temple once stood, now overrun by wild animals like jackals. This stark image highlights the profound ruin and abandonment that has befallen God's sacred place and His people's worship.
Imagine the bustling Temple courts, the joyous shouts of worship. Now, picture that same sacred place utterly silent, save for the echo of nature reclaiming it. What does this stark contrast reveal about God's people's deepest pain?
Lamentations 5:18 paints a heartbreaking picture of Mount Zion's desolation. The prophet uses the image of 'jackals prowling' to convey a profound sense of abandonment and loss.
A City Uninhabited
Jackals are wild animals that typically avoid human settlements. Their presence on Mount Zion signifies that the once-vibrant heart of Israel, where God’s presence dwelled and His people gathered, has become a deserted wasteland. It’s not just a political or physical ruin; it’s a spiritual emptiness.
More Than Just Rubble
While the physical destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was devastating, the true sorrow for the faithful lay in what it represented: the apparent withdrawal of God’s presence and the cessation of public worship. The loss of civil life was secondary to the loss of communion with God.
The prophets spoke of judgment, but did they foresee the chilling details? How does the image of scavenging animals on sacred ground serve as a fulfillment of divine word?
The desolate state of Mount Zion, with jackals roaming freely, wasn't just a random tragedy; it was a fulfillment of prophetic warnings. This stark reality spoke volumes about God’s judgment.
A Sign of Abandonment
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When wild animals inhabit places meant for human dwelling or worship, it signals that those places have been abandoned by God and man. The jackals' unfettered movement over Mount Zion served as a potent symbol that the divine protection had been withdrawn due to the people's disobedience.
A Reminder of Promises Kept
Interestingly, the fulfillment of judgment prophecies also held a hidden hope. As noted in the commentaries, figures like Rabbi Akiba later rejoiced that the prophecy of judgment being fulfilled meant that prophecies of restoration would also come to pass. The jackals on Zion were a somber sign of God’s faithfulness to His word, even in judgment.
Understand the original words
Tsiyyon · Hebrew Proper Noun
The prominent mountain in Jerusalem where the Temple of the LORD was located. Symbolically, it represents the dwelling place of God, the site of His covenant presence, and the spiritual center of Israel.
shamem · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
A state of being uninhabited, ruined, or laid waste. It often describes the judgment of God upon land or cities that have abandoned His covenant.
The imagery of jackals roaming desolate Zion powerfully conveys the profound emptiness and desolation that followed the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC. It highlights a significant passage of time, where the once vibrant heart of Israel had become a haunt for wild animals, a stark symbol of God's judgment.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Captivity
The northern kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people and the repopulation of the land with foreigners. This event marked a significant decline in the region's stability and foreshadowed future calamities.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah, deporting some of the royal family and elite, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon. This began the period of Babylonian dominance over Judah.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a Judean revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Judah's population, including the prophet Ezekiel, and installs a puppet king. Jerusalem remains under Babylonian control but is severely weakened.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar destroy Jerusalem, burn the Temple, and deport the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This is the catastrophic event that Lamentations primarily addresses.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonian Empire. This marks a turning point, eventually leading to the return of Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
After returning from exile, the Jewish people complete and dedicate the Second Temple in Jerusalem. While a joyous occasion, the Temple is a shadow of its former glory compared to Solomon's.
This Psalm reflects a similar desolate imagery, where the enemies of God are given over to the power of jackals, emphasizing the complete ruin and abandonment of those who oppose Him.
Isaiah 34:13This passage vividly describes the desolation of Edom, where it becomes a haunt for jackals and other wild creatures, mirroring the fate of Zion described in Lamentations.
Matthew 12:43Jesus uses the imagery of an unclean spirit returning to find a house swept and empty, but now inhabited by even worse spirits. This speaks to a desolation that is not merely empty, but has become a dwelling for evil, reflecting the fallen state of Zion.
Jeremiah 51:37Jeremiah prophesies the destruction of Babylon, stating it will become a dwelling place for jackals and a desolate wasteland, reinforcing the common ancient Near Eastern understanding of wild animals inhabiting ruined cities.
barnesLamentations 5:18: "Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it."
The foxes - Or, jackals. As these animals live among ruins, and shun the presence of man, it shows that Zion is laid waste and deserted.
ellicottLamentations 5:18: "Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it."
(18) Foxes. —Better, jackals, who are thought of as haunting the ruins of Jerusalem. (Comp. Psalm 63:10 .)
The mention of jackals isn't just about describing ruins; it's a subtle, chilling indicator that a profound passage of time has elapsed since the city's destruction. These wild animals only inhabit places that have been long abandoned and where human presence has completely ceased.
This verse follows a lament over Jerusalem's suffering and the loss of joy. It emphasizes the desolate state of Mount Zion, the holy hill where the Temple once stood, now overrun by wild animals like jackals. This stark image highlights the profound ruin and abandonment that has befallen God's sacred place and His people's worship.
This verse follows a lament over Jerusalem's suffering and the loss of joy. It emphasizes the desolate state of Mount Zion, the holy hill where the Temple once stood, now overrun by wild animals like jackals. This stark image highlights the profound ruin and abandonment that has befallen God's sacred place and His people's worship.
"for Mount Zion which lies desolate; jackals prowl over it." — The mention of jackals isn't just about describing ruins; it's a subtle, chilling indicator that a profound passage of time has elapsed since the city's destruction. These wild animals only inhabit p…
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Last reviewed October 2026