Lexical Summary i: there is, there are Original Word: אִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance wild beast of the islands Probably identical with 'iy (through the idea of a doleful sound); a howler (used only in the plural), i.e. Any solitary wild creature; --wild beast of the islands. see HEBREW 'iy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom oy Definition a jackal NASB Translation Hyenas (1), jackals (1), wolves (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. [אִי] noun masculine jackal (howler, for *אָוִי see BaNB 188, compare Arabic  , whence  ) — plural אִיִּים, Isaiah 13:22; Isaiah 34:14; Jeremiah 50:39 (inhabitant of desert, ruin). Topical Lexicon Forms and Context of the WordThe singular אִי (’ī) appears only in poetic, prophetic settings and is consistently rendered in the Berean Standard Bible as “jackal(s)” or “wild beast.” Its three occurrences—Isaiah 13:22; Isaiah 34:14; Jeremiah 50:39—are all embedded in pronouncements of divine judgment upon proud, idolatrous powers. The term conjures the eerie howling of desert scavengers and functions as an audible emblem of desolation. Prophetic Imagery of Desolation When the prophets paint a picture of a city’s downfall, they often employ vivid contrasts: once-vibrant palaces now echo with the cries of nocturnal creatures. In Isaiah 13:22 the prophet declares concerning Babylon, “Hyenas will howl in her fortresses, and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.” The howl of the jackal signifies that human civilization has retreated and only the creatures of the waste remain. Isaiah 34:14 applies the same motif to Edom, while Jeremiah 50:39 returns to Babylon: “So desert creatures and hyenas will live there, and ostriches will dwell within her. It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation.” The recurring pattern underscores the certainty and completeness of God’s judgment. Geographical and Historical Setting Babylon and Edom were celebrated for wealth, fortifications, and cultural achievement. To predict that jackals would replace citizens was to announce total ruin—a threat almost unthinkable to the original audience. History confirms the prophetic word: both regions eventually became sparsely inhabited wastes where only nomads and wild animals roamed. Archaeological surveys of Mesopotamian tells and the Idumean wilderness reveal layers of abandonment consistent with the biblical vision. Theological Implications 1. Divine Sovereignty: The transformation of imperial capitals into haunts of jackals proclaims that no earthly power can resist God’s decrees (Daniel 4:34-35). Connections with Broader Biblical Imagery Jackals often symbolize emptiness (Psalm 63:10), mourning (Micah 1:8), and judgment (Malachi 1:3). In each case their presence marks a location as forsaken by human society and, by implication, by divine favor. The motif anticipates the “outer darkness” of Matthew 25:30, where joyless lament replaces festive life. Ministry Applications • Preaching: The אִי provides a concrete illustration of the eventual outcome of sin—what once glittered with self-exalting ambition will echo with hollow cries. Christological and Eschatological Overtones The downfall of the great empires prefigures the ultimate defeat of “Babylon the Great” (Revelation 18:2), where again unclean creatures stand as witnesses to final judgment. Yet amid desolation, Scripture promises restoration: “The wilderness and the land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose” (Isaiah 35:1). In Jesus Christ, the curse that yields jackal-infested ruins is reversed, culminating in the New Jerusalem where “nothing unclean will ever enter” (Revelation 21:27). Summary אִי serves as a potent prophetic symbol: the howling jackal haunting once-proud cities testifies to God’s righteous judgment, His faithfulness to His word, and His ability to humble the mighty. Its limited but strategic appearances in Scripture warn, instruct, and ultimately point toward the final triumph of the kingdom of God. Forms and Transliterations אִיִּ֔ים אִיִּים֙ איים ’î·yîm ’îyîm iYimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 13:22 HEB: וְעָנָ֤ה אִיִּים֙ בְּאַלְמנוֹתָ֔יו וְתַנִּ֖ים NAS: Hyenas will howl in their fortified KJV: And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry INT: shall cry Hyenas their fortified and dragons Isaiah 34:14 Jeremiah 50:39 3 Occurrences |
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