Isaiah 34:13
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
Original Language Analysis
וְעָלְתָ֤ה
shall come up
H5927
וְעָלְתָ֤ה
shall come up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
1 of 12
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
סִירִ֔ים
And thorns
H5518
סִירִ֔ים
And thorns
Strong's:
H5518
Word #:
3 of 12
a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication, a hook
בְּמִבְצָרֶ֑יהָ
in the fortresses
H4013
בְּמִבְצָרֶ֑יהָ
in the fortresses
Strong's:
H4013
Word #:
6 of 12
a fortification, castle, or fortified city; figuratively, a defender
וְהָיְתָה֙
H1961
וְהָיְתָה֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
7 of 12
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
נְוֵ֣ה
thereof and it shall be an habitation
H5116
נְוֵ֣ה
thereof and it shall be an habitation
Strong's:
H5116
Word #:
8 of 12
(adjectively) at home; hence (by implication of satisfaction) lovely; also (noun) a home, of god (temple), men (residence), flocks (pasture), or wild
תַנִּ֔ים
of dragons
H8577
תַנִּ֔ים
of dragons
Strong's:
H8577
Word #:
9 of 12
a marine or land monster, i.e., sea-serpent or jackal
Cross References
Jeremiah 9:11And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.Jeremiah 10:22Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.Psalms 44:19Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.Malachi 1:3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
Historical Context
Edomite palaces, once symbols of wealth and power, became archaeological ruins. The transformation from human habitation to wild animal dens was a common ancient Near Eastern curse formula.
Questions for Reflection
- How does nature reclaiming human civilization illustrate the futility of building without God?
- What does the inhabitation by unclean creatures teach about spiritual desolation?
- How should this affect our investment in earthly kingdoms versus God's kingdom?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thorns and nettles overtaking palaces reverses the cultivated garden ideal, recalling Eden's curse (Genesis 3:18). Dragons (jackals) and owls represent desolation and demonic associations in Scripture. The habitation becoming a dwelling for unclean creatures illustrates how sin's consequences include spiritual defilement. This imagery foreshadows Babylon's fall in Revelation 18:2, where demons inhabit the ruined city.