אֹחַ (o.ach)
o.ach
howling animal
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun oach refers to a howling animal, most commonly identified as a jackal or sometimes a hyena. In the biblical landscape, these creatures are not merely background fauna but symbols of desolation and abandonment. They are associated with places where human life has ceased, roaming through ruins that were once bustling cities.
This word appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 13:21. The prophet uses it to describe the fate of Babylon, picturing a future where wild beasts occupy the palace halls and owls dwell in the temples. The image is stark: instead of royal courts, there are only the cries of these nocturnal scavengers.
The choice of oach underscores the totality of the judgment. It is not just that people will leave; it is that the land will become a habitat for creatures of the night and decay. This single usage paints a vivid picture of divine retribution, where civilization is replaced by the wild, echoing howls of animals that thrive in emptiness.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word oach appears only once in Scripture, in Isaiah 13:21. It describes a howling animal, likely a jackal or hyena, that makes its home in ruins. This image is not about the animal itself but about what it represents: total desolation. When these creatures occupy a place, it means human life has completely vanished.
For believers, this stark picture reminds us of the seriousness of turning away from God. Yet, it also highlights the value of peace and community. The contrast between a bustling city and a howling ruin shows how precious stable, safe environments are. We can look to God as the source of true restoration, where broken places are healed and life is renewed.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- jackals1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֹחִ֑ים1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 13:21
But wild animals of the desert will lie there, and their houses will be full of jackals. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will frolic there.
This verse uses oach to depict the complete abandonment of Babylon, where wild beasts replace human inhabitants in the former palace halls.