This verse concludes Yahweh’s short speech. As in 13.21-22, the prophet uses images from nature to illustrate his point. There are three metaphors that describe what will happen when Yahweh removes the people from Babylonia.

And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog is the first metaphor. Hedgehogs will come and occupy the land. A hedgehog (a type of porcupine) is a small animal with spines on its back. It lives in deserted areas and comes out at night. However, the meaning of the Hebrew noun rendered hedgehog is uncertain. Some scholars translate it hedgehog because they believe this noun is linked to the verb meaning “curl up.” Hedgehogs curl up in self-defense, showing their spines. New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh says “bitterns,” and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “heron.” They probably chose these water birds because of the reference to the pools of water. New English Bible and Revised English Bible have “bustard,” Good News Translation says “owls,” and New American Bible uses “hoot owls.” All of these birds inhabit desolate places, so they fit the context. Translators may choose an animal or (water) bird associated with desolate places, and found in Palestine.

Pools of water is the second metaphor. The Hebrew term for pools may refer to “stagnant water,” “swampland” (New International Version), or “marshland” (Revised English Bible; similarly Good News Translation). It is an independent metaphor that does not necessarily link with the first one.

I will sweep it with the broom of destruction is the third metaphor. The broom of destruction is a broom that brings destruction. The Hebrew words rendered sweep and broom are unusual and found only in this verse. All the versions consulted translate them this way. (The two words come from the same Hebrew root meaning “mud,” “slime.”)

Says the LORD of hosts forms an inclusio with the same clause near the beginning of the previous verse.

Two translation examples for this verse are:

• I will cause hedgehogs to occupy it, I will turn it into a marshland, and I will sweep it with a destructive broom,” says Yahweh of hosts.

• I will give it over to owls to possess, I will turn it into a swampland, and I will sweep it away completely with a broom,” says Yahweh of hosts.

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 .