Isa 34:11-15 | NETfull | STEP | Owls and wild animals will live there, all kinds of wild birds will settle in it. The Lord will stretch out over her the measuring line of ruin and the plumb line of destruction.

Isaiah 34:11-15

11 Owls and wild animals ^{▼▼ קָאַת (qa’at) refers to some type of bird (cf. Lev 11:18; Deut 14:17) that was typically found near ruins (see Zeph 2:14). קִפּוֹד (qippod) may also refer to a type of bird (NAB “hoot owl”; NIV “screech owl”; TEV “ravens”), but some have suggested a rodent may be in view (cf. NCV “small animals”; ASV “porcupine”; NASB, NRSV “hedgehog”).} will live there, ^{▼▼ Heb “will possess it” (so NIV).}
all kinds of wild birds ^{▼▼ The Hebrew text has יַנְשׁוֹף וְעֹרֵב (yanshof v^e’orev). Both the יַנְשׁוֹף (“owl”; see Lev 11:17; Deut 14:16) and עֹרֵב (“raven”; Lev 11:15; Deut 14:14) were types of wild birds.} will settle in it.
The Lord ^{▼▼ Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} will stretch out over her
the measuring line of ruin
and the plumb line ^{▼▼ Heb “stones,” i.e., the stones used in a plumb bob.} of destruction. ^{▼▼ The metaphor in v. 11b emphasizes that God has carefully planned Edom’s demise.}
12 Her nobles will have nothing left to call a kingdom
and all her officials will disappear. ^{▼▼ Heb “will be nothing”; NCV, TEV, NLT “will all be gone.”}
13 Her fortresses will be overgrown with thorns;
thickets and weeds will grow ^{▼▼ The words “will grow” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.} in her fortified cities.
Jackals will settle there;
ostriches will live there. ^{▼▼ Heb “and she will be a settlement for wild dogs, a dwelling place for ostriches.” The translation assumes an emendation of חָצִיר (khatsir, “grass”) to חָצֵר (khatser, “settlement”). One of the Qumran scrolls of Isaiah (1QIsa^a) supports this emendation (cf. HALOT 344 s.v. II חָצִיר)}
14 Wild animals and wild dogs will congregate there; ^{▼▼ Heb “will meet” (so NIV); NLT “will mingle there.”}
wild goats will bleat to one another. ^{▼▼ Heb “and a goat will call to its neighbor.”}
Yes, nocturnal animals ^{▼▼ The precise meaning of לִּילִית (lilit) is unclear, though in this context the word certainly refers to some type of wild animal or bird. The word appears to be related to לַיְלָה (laylah, “night”). Some interpret it as the name of a female night demon, on the basis of an apparent Akkadian cognate used as the name of a demon. Later Jewish legends also identified Lilith as a demon. Cf. NRSV “Lilith.”} will rest there
and make for themselves a nest. ^{▼▼ Heb “and will find for themselves a resting place.”}
15 Owls ^{▼▼ Hebrew קִפּוֹז (qippoz) occurs only here; the precise meaning of the word is uncertain.} will make nests and lay eggs ^{▼▼ For this proposed meaning for Hebrew מָלַט (malat), see HALOT 589 s.v. I מלט.} there;
they will hatch them and protect them. ^{▼▼ Heb “and brood [over them] in her shadow.”}
Yes, hawks ^{▼▼ The precise meaning of דַּיָּה (dayyah) is uncertain, though the term appears to refer to some type of bird of prey, perhaps a vulture.} will gather there,
each with its mate.