Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, September 11th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Read the Bible
New Living Translation
Isaiah 34:13
Thorns will overrun its palaces; nettles and thistles will grow in its forts. The ruins will become a haunt for jackals and a home for owls.
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Concordances:
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- InternationalParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Her palaces will be overgrown with thorns;her fortified cities, with thistles and briers.She will become a dwelling for jackals,an abode for ostriches.
Her palaces will be overgrown with thorns;her fortified cities, with thistles and briers.She will become a dwelling for jackals,an abode for ostriches.
Hebrew Names Version
Thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses of it; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
Thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses of it; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
King James Version
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.
English Standard Version
Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It shall be the haunt of jackals, an abode for ostriches.
Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It shall be the haunt of jackals, an abode for ostriches.
New American Standard Bible
Thorns will come up in its fortified towers, Weeds and thistles in its fortified cities; It will also be a haunt of jackals And a habitat of ostriches.
Thorns will come up in its fortified towers, Weeds and thistles in its fortified cities; It will also be a haunt of jackals And a habitat of ostriches.
New Century Version
Thorns will take over the strong towers, and wild bushes will grow in the walled cities. It will be a home for wild dogs and a place for owls to live.
Thorns will take over the strong towers, and wild bushes will grow in the walled cities. It will be a home for wild dogs and a place for owls to live.
Amplified Bible
Thorns will come up in its fortified palaces, Nettles and brambles in its fortified cities; It will be a haunt for jackals, An abode for ostriches.
Thorns will come up in its fortified palaces, Nettles and brambles in its fortified cities; It will be a haunt for jackals, An abode for ostriches.
World English Bible
Thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses of it; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
Thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses of it; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And it shall bring foorth thornes in the palaces thereof, nettles and thistles in the strong holdes thereof, and it shall be an habitation for dragons, and a court for ostriches.
And it shall bring foorth thornes in the palaces thereof, nettles and thistles in the strong holdes thereof, and it shall be an habitation for dragons, and a court for ostriches.
Legacy Standard Bible
And thorns will come up in its fortified towers,Weeds and thistles in its fortified cities;It will also be a haunt of jackalsAnd an abode of ostriches.
And thorns will come up in its fortified towers,Weeds and thistles in its fortified cities;It will also be a haunt of jackalsAnd an abode of ostriches.
Berean Standard Bible
Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches.
Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches.
Contemporary English Version
Its palaces and fortresses will be covered with thorns; only wolves and ostriches will make their home there.
Its palaces and fortresses will be covered with thorns; only wolves and ostriches will make their home there.
Complete Jewish Bible
Thorns will overgrow its palaces, nettles and thistles its fortresses; it will become a lair for jackals, an enclosure for ostriches.
Thorns will overgrow its palaces, nettles and thistles its fortresses; it will become a lair for jackals, an enclosure for ostriches.
Darby Translation
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in her fortresses; and it shall be a dwelling-place of wild dogs, a court for ostriches.
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in her fortresses; and it shall be a dwelling-place of wild dogs, a court for ostriches.
Easy-to-Read Version
Thorns and wild bushes will grow in all the beautiful homes there. Wild dogs and owls will live in them. Wild animals will make their homes there. Big birds will live in the grasses that grow there.
Thorns and wild bushes will grow in all the beautiful homes there. Wild dogs and owls will live in them. Wild animals will make their homes there. Big birds will live in the grasses that grow there.
George Lamsa Translation
And thorns shall sprout up in her palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of dragons and a pasture for ostriches.
And thorns shall sprout up in her palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of dragons and a pasture for ostriches.
Good News Translation
Thorns and thistles will grow up in all the palaces and walled towns, and jackals and owls will live in them.
Thorns and thistles will grow up in all the palaces and walled towns, and jackals and owls will live in them.
Lexham English Bible
And thorns shall go up her citadel fortress, weeds and thistle plants in her fortresses; and it shall be the settlement of jackals, green grass for the daughters of an ostrich.
And thorns shall go up her citadel fortress, weeds and thistle plants in her fortresses; and it shall be the settlement of jackals, green grass for the daughters of an ostrich.
Literal Translation
And thorns shall grow in her palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses; and it shall be a home for jackals, a court for daughters of ostriches.
And thorns shall grow in her palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses; and it shall be a home for jackals, a court for daughters of ostriches.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thornes shal growe in their palaces, nettels & thistles in their stronge holdes, yt the dragons maye haue their pleasure therin, & that they maye be a courte for Estriches.
Thornes shal growe in their palaces, nettels & thistles in their stronge holdes, yt the dragons maye haue their pleasure therin, & that they maye be a courte for Estriches.
American Standard Version
And thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
And thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
Bible in Basic English
And thorns will come up in her fair houses, and waste plants in her strong towers: and foxes will make their holes there, and it will be a meeting-place for ostriches.
And thorns will come up in her fair houses, and waste plants in her strong towers: and foxes will make their holes there, and it will be a meeting-place for ostriches.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of wild-dogs, an enclosure for ostriches.
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of wild-dogs, an enclosure for ostriches.
King James Version (1611)
And thornes shall come vp in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shalbe an habitation of dragons, and a court for owles.
And thornes shall come vp in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shalbe an habitation of dragons, and a court for owles.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thornes shall growe in their palaces, nettles & thistles in their strong holdes, that the dragons may haue their pleasure therin, and that they may be a court for Estriches.
Thornes shall growe in their palaces, nettles & thistles in their strong holdes, that the dragons may haue their pleasure therin, and that they may be a court for Estriches.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And thorns shall spring up in their cities, and in her strong holds: and they shall be habitations of monsters, and a court of ostriches.
And thorns shall spring up in their cities, and in her strong holds: and they shall be habitations of monsters, and a court of ostriches.
English Revised Version
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thornes and nettlis schulen growe in the housis therof, and a tasil in the strengthis therof; and it schal be the couche of dragouns, and the lesewe of ostrichis.
And thornes and nettlis schulen growe in the housis therof, and a tasil in the strengthis therof; and it schal be the couche of dragouns, and the lesewe of ostrichis.
Update Bible Version
And thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
And thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.
Webster's Bible Translation
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in her fortresses, and it shall be a habitation of dragons, [and] a court for owls.
And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in her fortresses, and it shall be a habitation of dragons, [and] a court for owls.
New English Translation
Her fortresses will be overgrown with thorns; thickets and weeds will grow in her fortified cities. Jackals will settle there; ostriches will live there.
Her fortresses will be overgrown with thorns; thickets and weeds will grow in her fortified cities. Jackals will settle there; ostriches will live there.
New King James Version
And thorns shall come up in its palaces, Nettles and brambles in its fortresses; It shall be a habitation of jackals, A courtyard for ostriches.
And thorns shall come up in its palaces, Nettles and brambles in its fortresses; It shall be a habitation of jackals, A courtyard for ostriches.
New Life Bible
Thorns will grow in its strong towers. Thistles will grow in cities where battles were fought. It will be a place for wild dogs, and a home for ostriches.
Thorns will grow in its strong towers. Thistles will grow in cities where battles were fought. It will be a place for wild dogs, and a home for ostriches.
New Revised Standard
Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It shall be the haunt of jackals, an abode for ostriches.
Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It shall be the haunt of jackals, an abode for ostriches.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then shall come up, in her palaces thorns Nettles and thistles in her fortresses, - And she shall become A home for wild dogs, An enclosure for ostriches;
Then shall come up, in her palaces thorns Nettles and thistles in her fortresses, - And she shall become A home for wild dogs, An enclosure for ostriches;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thorns and nettles shall grow up in its houses, and the thistle in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be the habitation of dragons, and the pasture of ostriches.
And thorns and nettles shall grow up in its houses, and the thistle in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be the habitation of dragons, and the pasture of ostriches.
Revised Standard Version
Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It shall be the haunt of jackals, an abode for ostriches.
Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It shall be the haunt of jackals, an abode for ostriches.
Young's Literal Translation
And gone up her palaces have thorns, Nettle and bramble [are] in her fortresses, And it hath been a habitation of dragons, A court for daughters of an ostrich.
And gone up her palaces have thorns, Nettle and bramble [are] in her fortresses, And it hath been a habitation of dragons, A court for daughters of an ostrich.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Thorns will come up in its fortified towers, Nettles and thistles in its fortified cities; It will also be a haunt of jackals And an abode of ostriches.
Thorns will come up in its fortified towers, Nettles and thistles in its fortified cities; It will also be a haunt of jackals And an abode of ostriches.
Contextual Overview
9 The streams of Edom will be filled with burning pitch, and the ground will be covered with fire. 10 This judgment on Edom will never end; the smoke of its burning will rise forever. The land will lie deserted from generation to generation. No one will live there anymore. 11 It will be haunted by the desert owl and the screech owl, the great owl and the raven. For God will measure that land carefully; he will measure it for chaos and destruction. 12 It will be called the Land of Nothing, and all its nobles will soon be gone. 13 Thorns will overrun its palaces; nettles and thistles will grow in its forts. The ruins will become a haunt for jackals and a home for owls. 14 Desert animals will mingle there with hyenas, their howls filling the night. Wild goats will bleat at one another among the ruins, and night creatures will come there to rest. 15 There the owl will make her nest and lay her eggs. She will hatch her young and cover them with her wings. And the buzzards will come, each one with its mate. 16 Search the book of the Lord , and see what he will do. Not one of these birds and animals will be missing, and none will lack a mate, for the Lord has promised this. His Spirit will make it all come true. 17 He has surveyed and divided the land and deeded it over to those creatures. They will possess it forever, from generation to generation.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
thorns: Isaiah 32:13, Isaiah 32:14, Hosea 9:6, Zephaniah 2:9
an habitation: Isaiah 13:21, Isaiah 13:22, Isaiah 35:7, Jeremiah 9:11, Jeremiah 10:22, Jeremiah 49:33, Jeremiah 50:39, Jeremiah 50:40, Jeremiah 51:37, Malachi 1:3, Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:20-24
owls: or, ostriches, Heb. daughters of the owl
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 14:9 - The thistle Psalms 44:19 - in the Isaiah 24:10 - city Hosea 10:8 - the thorn
Cross-References
Genesis 34:18
Hamor and his son Shechem agreed to their proposal.
Hamor and his son Shechem agreed to their proposal.
Genesis 34:20
and he went with his father, Hamor, to present this proposal to the leaders at the town gate.
and he went with his father, Hamor, to present this proposal to the leaders at the town gate.
Genesis 34:23
But if we do this, all their livestock and possessions will eventually be ours. Come, let's agree to their terms and let them settle here among us."
But if we do this, all their livestock and possessions will eventually be ours. Come, let's agree to their terms and let them settle here among us."
Genesis 34:24
So all the men in the town council agreed with Hamor and Shechem, and every male in the town was circumcised.
So all the men in the town council agreed with Hamor and Shechem, and every male in the town was circumcised.
Genesis 34:26
including Hamor and his son Shechem. They killed them with their swords, then took Dinah from Shechem's house and returned to their camp.
including Hamor and his son Shechem. They killed them with their swords, then took Dinah from Shechem's house and returned to their camp.
Genesis 34:27
Meanwhile, the rest of Jacob's sons arrived. Finding the men slaughtered, they plundered the town because their sister had been defiled there.
Meanwhile, the rest of Jacob's sons arrived. Finding the men slaughtered, they plundered the town because their sister had been defiled there.
Genesis 34:28
They seized all the flocks and herds and donkeys—everything they could lay their hands on, both inside the town and outside in the fields.
They seized all the flocks and herds and donkeys—everything they could lay their hands on, both inside the town and outside in the fields.
Genesis 34:29
They looted all their wealth and plundered their houses. They also took all their little children and wives and led them away as captives.
They looted all their wealth and plundered their houses. They also took all their little children and wives and led them away as captives.
Judges 15:3
Samson said, "This time I cannot be blamed for everything I am going to do to you Philistines."
Samson said, "This time I cannot be blamed for everything I am going to do to you Philistines."
Job 13:4
As for you, you smear me with lies. As physicians, you are worthless quacks.
As for you, you smear me with lies. As physicians, you are worthless quacks.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And thorns shall come up in her palaces,.... Where their kings and princes dwelt, and kept their courts, popes and cardinals; here will be the tokens of God's curse, as thorns are, these being the people of his curse, as in Isaiah 34:5:
nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof; alluding to "Bozrah" which signifies a fortress; referring to the towers and fortifications of the city of Rome, and all other fortified cities within its jurisdiction:
and it shall be a habitation of dragons; literally, as it figuratively had been the seat of the old dragon, the devil, and of the beast to whom the dragon gave his power, seat, and authority; and who, though he looked like a lamb, spoke like a dragon, Revelation 12:3:
[and] a court for owls; or, "daughters of the owl"; or "ostriches", as some render it.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
And thorns ... - (see the note at Isaiah 5:6)
It shall be an habitation of dragons - On the meaning of the word ‘dragons,’ see the note at Isaiah 13:22.
Court for owls - A place of resort, a residence of owls. The word rendered ‘court’ (חציר châtsı̂yr) means a dwelling-place, a habitation, as well as an enclosure or court. The margin is, ‘Daughters of the owl,’ or ‘ostriches’ (see the note at Isaiah 13:21). ‘I would,’ says Stephens, when standing amidst the ruins of Petra, the capital of Idumea (see the note at Isaiah 16:1), and with this passage of Isaiah in his eye, ‘I would that the sceptic could stand as I did, among the ruins of this city among the rocks, and there open the sacred book, and read the words of the inspired penman, written when this desolate place was one of the greatest cities in the world. I see the scoff arrested, his cheek pale, his lip quivering, and his heart quaking with fear, as the ancient city cries out to him in a voice loud and powerful as one risen from the dead; though be would not believe Moses and the prophets, he believes the hand-writing of God himself, in the desolation and eternal ruin around him.’ (Incidents of Travel in Egypt, etc., vol. ii. p. 76.)
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Isaiah 34:13. And thorns shall come up in her palaces — ועלו בארמנותיה vealu bearmenotheyha; so read all the ancient versions.
A court for owls. — יענה yaanah, the ostrich, from ענה anah, to cry, because of the noise it makes. "They roar," says Dr. Shaw, "sometimes like a lion-sometimes like a bull. I have often heard them groan as if in the utmost distress."
