After Babylon’s people are gone, wild animals will occupy the city. There is a great deal of uncertainty about the identity of these animals in verses 21-22.

But wild beasts will lie down there contrasts with the previous line. Nomads will not let their flocks lie down among the ruins, but wild beasts will do so. The meaning of the Hebrew word translated wild beasts is uncertain. Several versions (Good News Translation, New International Version, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, New Jerusalem Bible) speak of animals of the desert. Revised English Bible has “marmots” and Bible en français courant “wild cats.” It is perhaps best to use a general expression, such as “wild animals [of the desert].”

And its houses will be full of howling creatures: The Hebrew noun rendered howling creatures occurs only here in the Old Testament, so its precise meaning is not certain. However, the context indicates that it is a wild animal of some kind. Many translations render it as “[hoot] owls” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Bible en français courant), some as “porcupines” (Revised English Bible) or “jackals” (New International Version). If the owl is unknown, then it is probably best to say “[screeching] birds.”

There ostriches will dwell: Ostriches are large birds that cannot fly. The Hebrew word here is rendered “desert-owls” in Revised English Bible and “owls” in New International Version. However, most other translations understand this rare noun to mean “ostrich” (see also Jer 50.39). In this context of abandoned buildings it is best to say “large owls”.

And there satyrs will dance: Satyrs are mythical animals that look like goats, so some translations say “[wild] goats” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible) or “he-goats” (Revised English Bible, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). New Revised Standard Version suggests “goat-demons,” presumably in an attempt to convey the mythical nature of the satyr. We suggest saying “wild goats” here. The verb dance renders a Hebrew root that means “to skip about.”

Possible translation examples for this verse are:

• On the other hand, wild beasts will rest there. The city’s houses will be full of all kinds of owls, and wild goats will romp about there.

• But wild beasts will come and stay there. The houses will be full of screeching birds, large owls will stay there, and bush goats run about.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .