Isaiah 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.
Original Language Analysis
וְעָנָ֤ה
shall cry
H6030
וְעָנָ֤ה
shall cry
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
1 of 12
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
אִיִּים֙
And the wild beasts of the islands
H338
אִיִּים֙
And the wild beasts of the islands
Strong's:
H338
Word #:
2 of 12
a howler (used only in the plural), i.e., any solitary wild creature
בְּאַלְמנוֹתָ֔יו
in their desolate houses
H490
בְּאַלְמנוֹתָ֔יו
in their desolate houses
Strong's:
H490
Word #:
3 of 12
a widow; also a desolate place
וְתַנִּ֖ים
and dragons
H8577
וְתַנִּ֖ים
and dragons
Strong's:
H8577
Word #:
4 of 12
a marine or land monster, i.e., sea-serpent or jackal
בְּהֵ֣יכְלֵי
palaces
H1964
בְּהֵ֣יכְלֵי
palaces
Strong's:
H1964
Word #:
5 of 12
a large public building, such as a palace or temple
עִתָּ֔הּ
and her time
H6256
עִתָּ֔הּ
and her time
Strong's:
H6256
Word #:
9 of 12
time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc
וְיָמֶ֖יהָ
and her days
H3117
וְיָמֶ֖יהָ
and her days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
10 of 12
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
Cross References
Isaiah 35:7And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.Isaiah 25:2For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.Jeremiah 51:33For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come.
Historical Context
Though written ~700 BC when Babylon wasn't yet dominant, this predicted its limited duration. Babylon's Neo-Babylonian Empire lasted less than a century (626-539 BC) before falling to Persia. The 'pleasant palaces' (Nebuchadnezzar's hanging gardens, etc.) eventually housed only animals. The prophecy that 'her time is near' proved accurate—God's timeline for nations is exact. No empire lasts beyond its divinely-appointed span.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the certainty and timing of Babylon's fall demonstrate God's precise control of history?
- What does the contrast between past glory and future desolation teach about earthly kingdoms?
- How should awareness that all earthly powers have limited days affect our ultimate allegiances?
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Analysis & Commentary
Wild beasts will 'cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces.' The timing: 'her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.' This emphasizes imminence—judgment approaches rapidly. The contrast between 'pleasant palaces' (past glory) and wild beasts crying there (future desolation) highlights the dramatic reversal. 'Days shall not be prolonged' indicates that Babylon's extension is limited—God has set an expiration date. This warns that apparent stability doesn't guarantee longevity when judgment is decreed.