King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.
Complete Jewish Bible:
There the hoot owl will nest, lay her eggs, hatch and gather her young in its shade. There the vultures will assemble, every one with its mate.
Berean Standard Bible:
There the owl will make her nest; she will lay and hatch her eggs and gather her brood under her shadow. Even there the birds of prey will gather, each with its mate.
American Standard Version:
There shall the dart-snake make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shade; yea, there shall the kites be gathered, every one with her mate.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
There shall the great owl{H7091} make her nest{H7077}, and lay{H4422}, and hatch{H1234}, and gather{H1716} under her shadow{H6738}: there shall the vultures{H1772} also be gathered{H6908}, every one{H802} with her mate{H7468}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 14:13
- And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind,
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Isaiah 34:15
Isaiah 34:15 is a part of a prophetic oracle found in the Book of Isaiah, specifically within a section often referred to as the "Little Apocalypse" (Isaiah 34-35). This section is characterized by vivid imagery of divine judgment against the nations, particularly Edom, which is symbolic of all those who oppose God's people. In the historical context, Edom was a perennial enemy of Israel and Judah, and the animosity between them was deep-rooted, fueled by historical grievances and territorial disputes.
The verse itself uses the imagery of desolation to convey the complete overthrow of the land. The mention of the great owl (or "pelican" in some translations) and vultures making their nests and gathering signifies a land that has been turned into a wasteland, uninhabited by humans and instead overtaken by wild animals and birds of prey. This imagery is typical of ancient Near Eastern prophecies, where the presence of such birds in a region signified desolation and abandonment, often as a result of divine judgment.
The specific mention of these birds gathering "every one with her mate" emphasizes the thoroughness of the devastation—even the natural order of mating and nurturing offspring is taking place amidst the ruins, indicating a permanent and irreversible change in the land's status. The shadow cast by the owl's nest symbolizes the darkness and despair that have befallen the land due to God's judgment.
In summary, Isaiah 34:15 reflects the themes of divine retribution and the desolation that comes upon those who stand against God and His people. It uses the powerful and evocative imagery of nature to illustrate the consequences of defying the divine will, painting a picture of a land that has been utterly forsaken and left to the wild creatures that thrive in desolate places. This verse is part of a larger narrative within the Book of Isaiah that speaks to the hope of restoration for God's faithful while warning of the dire consequences for those who persist in opposition to God's purposes.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7091
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קִפּוֹז
Transliteration: qippôwz
Pronunciation: kip-poze'
Description: from an unused root meaning to contract, i.e.; spring forward; an arrow-snake (as darting on its prey); great owl. - Strong's Number: H7077
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָנַן
Transliteration: qânan
Pronunciation: kaw-nan'
Description: a primitive root; to erect; but used only as denominative from קֵן; to nestle, i.e. build or occupy as anest; make...nest. - Strong's Number: H4422
There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָלַט
Transliteration: mâlaṭ
Pronunciation: maw-lat'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to be smooth, i.e. (by implication) to escape (as if by slipperiness); causatively, to release or rescue; specifically, to bring forth young, emit sparks; deliver (self), escape, lay, leap out, let alone, let go, preserve, save, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H1234
There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּקַע
Transliteration: bâqaʻ
Pronunciation: baw-kah'
Description: a primitive root; to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open; make a breach, break forth (into, out, in pieces, through, up), be ready to burst, cleave (asunder), cut out, divide, hatch, rend (asunder), rip up, tear, win. - Strong's Number: H1716
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּגַר
Transliteration: dâgar
Pronunciation: daw-gar'
Description: a primitive root,; to brood over eggs or young; gather, sit. - Strong's Number: H6738
There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צֵל
Transliteration: tsêl
Pronunciation: tsale
Description: from צָלַל; shade, whether literal or figurative; defence, shade(-ow). - Strong's Number: H1772
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דַּיָּה
Transliteration: dayâh
Pronunciation: dah-yaw'
Description: intensive from דָּאָה; a falcon (from its rapid flight); vulture. - Strong's Number: H6908
There are 121 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָבַץ
Transliteration: qâbats
Pronunciation: kaw-bats'
Description: a primitive root; to grasp, i.e. collect; assemble (selves), gather (bring) (together, selves together, up), heap, resort, [idiom] surely, take up. - Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H7468
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רְעוּת
Transliteration: rᵉʻûwth
Pronunciation: reh-ooth'
Description: from רָעָה in the sense of רֵעַ; a female associate; generally an additional one; [phrase] another, mate, neighbour.