I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's so striking here is that the psalmist isn't just feeling lonely, he's comparing himself to birds that actively seek out desolate, abandoned places. He sees himself not just as someone in hardship, but as a creature drawn to and embodying ruin and emptiness.
I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;
English Standard Version (ESV)
The psalmist is in deep despair, feeling utterly forsaken and physically wasting away due to illness or intense suffering. He has just described his agonizing prayer and lament, comparing his own life to fleeting smoke and brittle bones. In this state of isolation and hopelessness, he uses vivid imagery of solitary creatures in desolate places to express the profound loneliness and desolation he feels.
Have you ever felt utterly alone, like you're the only one left in a vast, empty space? The Psalmist paints a vivid picture of this feeling using ancient imagery.
In Psalm 102:6, the Psalmist declares, "I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places." This isn't just about feeling sad; it's about identifying with creatures that embody desolation.
Creatures of Loneliness
The specific birds mentioned, the pelican and the owl, were known in the ancient world for their solitary habits and their association with lonely, desolate, or ruined places.
By comparing himself to these birds, the Psalmist communicates a profound sense of isolation and emptiness, like being a solitary figure in a vast, uncaring landscape.
The Psalmist uses two phrases that sound similar but carry slightly different weight. What do they reveal about the depth of his despair?
The verse paints a picture of the Psalmist's state by comparing him to birds found in two kinds of desolate environments:
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The Wilderness and the Waste Places
"Wilderness" (Midbar): This word often refers to a wide, open, uncultivated, or sparsely populated area. It evokes a sense of vastness and exposure.
"Waste Places" (Shiymamah): This term carries a stronger sense of ruin, emptiness, and devastation. It speaks of places that are not just uncultivated but are actively desolate, perhaps like ruined cities or abandoned settlements.
By moving from the general 'wilderness' to the more specific and severe 'waste places,' the Psalmist intensifies his expression of loneliness and despair. He's not just in a lonely place; he feels like he's become a symbol of utter ruin and abandonment.
Understand the original words
midbar · Hebrew Noun
In the Bible, the wilderness is often a place of isolation, testing, and divine encounter, contrasted with the security of inhabited land. It represents a desolate environment where one is removed from human comfort and community.
chorbah · Hebrew Noun
In poetic and prophetic literature, this refers to areas devoid of life or cultivation, often symbolizing desolation, judgment, or the absence of God's blessing. It stands in sharp contrast to the promised land of abundance.
The imagery of the pelican and owl in desolate places vividly captures the profound sense of isolation and ruin experienced by the psalmist during the Babylonian exile, a period of national catastrophe and spiritual desolation.
c. 1000 BC
Kingdom Divided
Following the death of King Solomon, the united Kingdom of Israel fractured into two distinct kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This division led to political instability and ongoing conflict.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants. This event served as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience and political entanglement.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Under King Sennacherib, the Assyrian army besieged Jerusalem. Although the city was not ultimately conquered, the devastating Assyrian campaigns in Judah caused widespread destruction and displacement.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and exiled a significant portion of the population. This marked a profound crisis for Jewish identity and faith.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus Cylinder Issued
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon. The subsequent decree, known as the Cyrus Cylinder, allowed exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Completed
Exiles returned from Babylon and, after considerable difficulty, completed the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. This marked a significant step in the restoration of Jewish religious life.
Job also uses imagery of desolate creatures and mournful cries to express his profound suffering and isolation, mirroring the psalmist's self-description.
Isaiah 13:22This prophetic passage uses imagery of wild animals and desolate creatures inhabiting ruins to describe the utter destruction and emptiness of a fallen city, echoing the sense of desolation in the psalm.
Jeremiah 50:39Similar to the psalm, this verse prophesies the downfall of a nation, describing its ruined cities as inhabited by wild beasts and desolate creatures, highlighting themes of abandonment and ruin.
Matthew 8:20Jesus uses the imagery of the fox and the bird of the air having nests to illustrate his own lack of a permanent dwelling, a contrast that emphasizes the profound homelessness and desolation the psalmist feels.
clarkePsalms 102:6: "I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert."
I am like a pelican of the wilderness - It may be the pelican or the bittern. The original, קאת kaath, is mentioned Leviticus 11:18 (note), and is there described. See the note. Owl of the desert - כוש cos, some species of owl; probably the night raven. See the notes referred to above.
ellicottPsalms 102:6: "I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert."
(6) Pelican. —See Leviticus 11:18 . “It has been objected that the pelican is a water-bird, and cannot, therefore, be the kâath of the Scriptures—“the pelican of the wilderness”—as it must of necessity starve in the desert; but a midbar (wilderness) is often used to denote a wide open space, cultivated or uncultivated, and is not to be restricted to barren spots destitute of water; moreover, as a matter of fa…
What's so striking here is that the psalmist isn't just feeling lonely, he's comparing himself to birds that actively seek out desolate, abandoned places. He sees himself not just as someone in hardship, but as a creature drawn to and embodying ruin and emptiness.
The psalmist is in deep despair, feeling utterly forsaken and physically wasting away due to illness or intense suffering. He has just described his agonizing prayer and lament, comparing his own life to fleeting smoke and brittle bones. In this state of isolation and hopelessness, he uses vivid imagery of solitary creatures in desolate places to express the profound loneliness and desolation he feels.
The psalmist is in deep despair, feeling utterly forsaken and physically wasting away due to illness or intense suffering. He has just described his agonizing prayer and lament, comparing his own life to fleeting smoke and brittle bones. In this state of isolation and hopelessness, he uses vivid imagery of solitary creatures in desolate places to express the profound loneliness and desolation he feels.
"I am like a desert owl of the wilderness, like an owl of the waste places;" — What's so striking here is that the psalmist isn't just feeling lonely, he's comparing himself to birds that actively seek out desolate, abandoned places. He sees himself not just as someone in har…
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Last reviewed October 2026