The hedgehog is a small, spiny mammal that is mentioned in some translations of the Bible, although the specific identification of the animal in the original Hebrew text is subject to scholarly debate. The Hebrew word often translated as "hedgehog" is "קִפּוֹד" (qippod), which appears in the context of desolation and judgment in the prophetic books of the Old Testament.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 14:23 : "I will make her a place for owls and swamplands; I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD of Hosts. In some translations, the word "hedgehog" is used instead of "owls," reflecting the desolate and uninhabitable state of Babylon as prophesied by Isaiah. The imagery suggests a place overrun by creatures that thrive in desolation, emphasizing the totality of God's judgment.

2. Isaiah 34:11 : "The desert owl and screech owl will possess it; the great owl and the raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom the measuring line of chaos and the plumb line of destruction." Here, the term "hedgehog" is again used in some translations, symbolizing the utter ruin and abandonment of Edom. The presence of such creatures underscores the fulfillment of divine retribution.

3. Zephaniah 2:14 : "Flocks and herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. The desert owl and the screech owl will roost on her columns. Their calls will echo through the windows; rubble will be in the doorways, and the beams of cedar will be exposed." In this passage, the desolation of Nineveh is depicted, with the "hedgehog" appearing in some translations as a symbol of the city's fall from grandeur to a state of wilderness.

Cultural and Symbolic Significance:

In the biblical context, the hedgehog, or the creature represented by "qippod," is associated with desolation and the aftermath of divine judgment. The presence of such animals in prophetic literature serves as a vivid illustration of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. The imagery of a land inhabited by hedgehogs and other creatures of the wild conveys a powerful message of the transformation from a place of human habitation and prosperity to one of abandonment and ruin.

Natural History:

The hedgehog is a nocturnal mammal known for its distinctive spines, which are modified hairs that provide protection from predators. Hedgehogs are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a diet of insects, worms, and other small invertebrates. They are found in a variety of habitats, including forests, grasslands, and deserts, which aligns with the biblical portrayal of them inhabiting desolate areas.

Interpretative Considerations:

The identification of "qippod" as a hedgehog is not universally accepted, with some scholars suggesting alternative translations such as "porcupine" or "owl." The choice of translation often depends on the context and the symbolic meaning intended by the biblical authors. Regardless of the specific animal, the underlying theme of divine judgment and the resulting desolation remains consistent across translations.

In summary, the hedgehog in the Bible serves as a symbol of desolation and divine judgment, reflecting the consequences of turning away from God's commandments. The prophetic use of this imagery underscores the seriousness of sin and the certainty of God's justice.1. (n.) A small European insectivore (Erinaceus Europaeus), and other allied species of Asia and Africa, having the hair on the upper part of its body mixed with prickles or spines. It is able to roll itself into a ball so as to present the spines outwardly in every direction. It is nocturnal in its habits, feeding chiefly upon insects.

2. (n.) The Canadian porcupine.

3. (n.) A species of Medicago (M. intertexta), the pods of which are armed with short spines; -- popularly so called.

4. (n.) A form of dredging machine.

HEDGEHOG

hej'-hog Septuagint echinos, "hedgehog," for qippodh, in Isaiah 14:23; Isaiah 34:11; Ze 2:14, and for qippoz, in Isaiah 34:15).

See PORCUPINE; BITTERN; OWL; SERPENT.

7090. qippod -- porcupine
qippod or qippod. 7089, 7090. qippod or qippod. 7091 . porcupine. Transliteration:
qippod or qippod Phonetic Spelling: (kip-pode') Short Definition: hedgehog ...
/hebrew/7090.htm - 6k

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke vii. 37, "And Behold, a Woman who ...
... One comes with supplication, a sinner covered over with thorns as a hedgehog,
and timid exceedingly as a hare. But the rock is the ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xlix on the words.htm

Psalm CIV.
... what of the hedgehog? The hare is a small and weak animal: the hedgehog is also
prickly: the one is a timid animal, the other is covered with prickles. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm civ.htm

Of the Loving Recollection of the Soul in Contemplation.
... The Blessed Mother (S.) Teresa of Jesus says: "He who has written that the prayer
of recollection is made as when a hedgehog or tortoise draws itself within ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter vii of the loving.htm

Of the Perfection of Prayer to which we Can Rise by the System ...
... being content with his own simple condition endeavours simply to defend himself
from being spoiled by his foes, and becomes a sort of spiritual hedgehog and is ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xi of the perfection.htm

The Tenth Commandment
... The hedgehog, in the fable, came to the cony-burrows, in stormy weather, and desired
harbour; but when once he had got entertainment, he set up his prickles ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 1 the tenth commandment.htm

On the Animals
... [Ps.103(104):18 Vulgate]. The hedgehog is as above; and the hedgehogs are
a weak nation, who make their homes among the rocks. The ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/iv on the animals.htm

To Sister Eugenia, Her Niece at the Convent of Saint Agnes of ...
... Then, hold thy head bowed, and be as savage as a hedgehog. Keep in thy mind the
manners which that glorious virgin Saint Agnes made her daughters observe. ...
/.../benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to sister eugenia her niece.htm

The Creation of Terrestrial Animals.
... by common consent? Studious observers have remarked that the hedgehog makes
an opening at the two extremities of his hole. If the ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily ix the creation of.htm

Psalm LXXI.
... my refuge Thou art." For I will confess mine infirmity, to the end that I may be
timid like a "hare," because I am full of thorns like a "hedgehog." And as in ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxi.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... Asha-vahista will condemn to hell the cruel man who has ill-treated the ox, or allowed
his flocks to suffer; and the killing of a hedgehog is no less severely ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

Hedgehog (3 Occurrences)
...HEDGEHOG. hej'-hog Septuagint echinos, "hedgehog," for qippodh, in Isaiah
14:23; Isaiah 34:11; Ze 2:14, and for qippoz, in Isaiah 34:15). ...
/h/hedgehog.htm - 8k

Porcupine (3 Occurrences)
... 34:11 Zephaniah 2:14) the King James Version "bittern," the Revised Version (British
and American) "porcupine"; Septuagint echinos "hedgehog"; qippoz (Isaiah 34 ...
/p/porcupine.htm - 11k

Serpent (40 Occurrences)
... The renderings "dart-snake" and "arrowsnake" rest on the authority of Bochert, but
Septuagint has echinos, "hedgehog," and Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390 ...
/s/serpent.htm - 46k

Zoology
... For further notices of animals in the following list, see the articles referring
to them: Mammals: PRIMATES: Ape INSECTIVORA: Hedgehog. ...
/z/zoology.htm - 18k

Owl (11 Occurrences)
... Revised Version, "arrow-snake;" LXX. and Vulgate, "hedgehog," reading in
the text, kippod, instead of kippoz. There is no reason ...
/o/owl.htm - 18k

Owls (7 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 14:23 And I will make you a heritage for the hedgehog, and pools of water:
and I will go through it with the brush of destruction, says the Lord of ...
/o/owls.htm - 8k

Goat (92 Occurrences)
... before them like two little flocks of kids." Next, frequently used is sa`ir, literally,
"hairy" (compare Arabic sha`r, "hair"; cher, "hedgehog"; Latin hircus ...
/g/goat.htm - 48k

Ferret (1 Occurrence)
... The LXX. translate it by a word meaning "shrew-mouse," of which there are three
species in Palestine. The Rabbinical writers regard it as the hedgehog. ...
/f/ferret.htm - 11k

Brush (1 Occurrence)
... Isaiah 14:23 And I will make you a heritage for the hedgehog, and pools of water:
and I will go through it with the brush of destruction, says the Lord of ...
/b/brush.htm - 8k

Swamps (2 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 14:23 And I will make you a heritage for the hedgehog, and pools of water:
and I will go through it with the brush of destruction, says the Lord of ...
/s/swamps.htm - 6k

Hedgehog: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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