Isaiah 13:21

Wild beasts. After its desertion by men the site of ancient Babylon became the habitation of wild animals.

Doleful creatures. Heb. ’ochim, a word that occurs only here and whose meaning is not certain. The word ’ochim is thought to imitate the creature’s cry. Some think the eagle owl is here meant; others translate ’ochim as “shriekers.”

Owls. Heb. benoth ya‘anah, “ostriches.”

Satyrs. Heb. se‘irim, plural of sa‘ir, literally, “hairy,” or “shaggy.” Because goats are unusually hairy, the expression “hairy [one]” came into use as meaning “goat.” The name Seir (Gen. 32:3) is from the same Hebrew word. Sa‘ir was later used of mythical demons supposed to have the appearance of goats, but there is no evidence that Isaiah here refers to demons. The other creatures mentioned in Isa. 13:21, 22 are literal animals. As here used, sa‘ir means simply “[wild] goat.”