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.

And the wild beasts of the islands {H338} shall cry {H6030} in their desolate houses {H490}, and dragons {H8577} in their pleasant {H6027} palaces {H1964}: and her time {H6256} is near {H7138} to come {H935}, and her days {H3117} shall not be prolonged {H4900}.

Jackals will howl in their palaces and wild dogs in their temples of delight. Its time is close at hand, its days will not last long.

Hyenas will howl in her fortresses and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Babylonโ€™s time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.

And wolves shall cry in their castles, and jackals in the pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

Commentary

Context of Isaiah 13:22

Isaiah chapter 13 serves as a powerful prophetic "burden" against Babylon, a mighty empire that would eventually rise to prominence and oppress God's people, Israel. While the full extent of Babylon's power and its destruction of Jerusalem was still in the future during Isaiah's time, this prophecy speaks with certainty about its ultimate downfall. The chapter vividly portrays the "day of the Lord" as a time of fierce divine judgment, leading to complete desolation. Verse 22 concludes a series of descriptions of Babylon's ruin, emphasizing its transformation from a glorious city into an uninhabitable wasteland, illustrating the completeness of God's judgment on prideful nations.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Desolation: The primary message is the complete and irreversible destruction of Babylon. What were once "pleasant palaces" will become "desolate houses," inhabited only by wild creatures. This highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His justice against pride and wickedness.
  • Reversal of Order: The imagery of "wild beasts of the islands" and "dragons" (likely jackals or howling desert animals) inhabiting former human dwellings signifies a dramatic reversal of natural order. It illustrates the utter abandonment and ruin, where civilization gives way to wilderness. This motif is common in prophecies of judgment, showing a return to chaos and a state of primal desolation.
  • Inescapable Fate: The phrase "her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged" underscores the certainty and swiftness of Babylon's judgment. There will be no reprieve or delay; its destruction is divinely decreed and imminent. This serves as a warning against human arrogance and defiance of God's will.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version uses evocative language to describe the coming desolation. The "wild beasts of the islands" translates the Hebrew tsiyyim (ืฆึดื™ื™ื), often referring to desert dwellers or wild animals, and iyyim (ืึดื™ึผึดื™ื), which can mean islands, coastlands, or desolate regions. In this context, it emphasizes creatures of the wild or wilderness taking over. The word "dragons" comes from the Hebrew tannim (ืชึทึผื ึดึผื™ื), which can refer to large serpents, mythical sea monsters, or more commonly in prophetic literature concerning desolation, to jackals or howling wild dogs. These creatures are symbolic of utter ruin and abandonment, replacing human habitation with the sounds of the wild. For example, similar imagery of desolate places being inhabited by such creatures can be found in Isaiah 34:14.

Practical Application

While a specific prophecy against ancient Babylon, Isaiah 13:22 carries timeless spiritual lessons for all generations:

  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: This verse reminds us that God is ultimately in control of all nations and empires. No power, however mighty or secure it seems, can defy His will indefinitely. This offers comfort to those oppressed by seemingly invincible forces, knowing that divine justice will prevail.
  • Consequences of Pride and Wickedness: Babylon's fall is a stark warning against pride, idolatry, and oppression. It illustrates that unchecked power and wickedness will eventually lead to divine judgment, as seen in other biblical accounts of judgment, such as the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
  • Hope in God's Justice: For those who trust in God, prophecies of judgment like this affirm His justice. Though evil may seem to triumph for a time, God's "time" for justice is certain and will not be prolonged. It encourages believers to place their hope not in fleeting earthly powers, but in the eternal King and His righteous reign.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 25:2

    For 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.

  • Isaiah 35:7

    And 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.

  • Jeremiah 51:33

    For 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.

  • Deuteronomy 32:35

    To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.

  • 2 Peter 2:3

    ยถ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

  • 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.

  • 2 Peter 3:9

    ยถ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.