In the Bible, jackals are often mentioned as symbols of desolation and ruin. These animals, known for their scavenging nature, are frequently associated with deserted places and the aftermath of destruction. The Hebrew word often translated as "jackal" is "tannim," which can also refer to other wild animals, but the context usually suggests a creature that inhabits desolate areas.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 13:22 : "Hyenas will howl in their fortresses, and jackals in their luxurious palaces. Babylon’s time is at hand; her days will not be prolonged." In this passage, jackals are depicted as inhabitants of the ruins of Babylon, symbolizing the complete desolation that will come upon the city as a result of divine judgment.

2. Jeremiah 9:11 : "I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant." Here, the presence of jackals in Jerusalem signifies the city's destruction and abandonment due to the people's unfaithfulness to God.

3. Lamentations 5:18 : "because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, overrun by jackals." The imagery of jackals roaming Mount Zion underscores the profound devastation and sorrow experienced by the Israelites following the Babylonian conquest.

4. Psalm 44:19 : "But You have crushed us in the lair of jackals; You have covered us with deepest darkness." This verse uses the metaphor of jackals' lairs to describe a place of deep suffering and distress, reflecting the psalmist's lament over the nation's plight.

5. Ezekiel 13:4 : "Your prophets, O Israel, are like jackals among the ruins." In this context, false prophets are compared to jackals, suggesting their opportunistic and destructive nature as they exploit the spiritual ruin of the people.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

In biblical literature, jackals are emblematic of desolation and divine judgment. Their presence in prophetic texts often serves as a vivid illustration of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. The imagery of jackals inhabiting ruins conveys a powerful message about the fate of those who turn away from divine commandments.

Jackals, as nocturnal scavengers, also symbolize the lurking dangers and spiritual desolation that can arise when a community or individual strays from righteousness. Their howls in the night are a haunting reminder of the emptiness and chaos that follow in the wake of divine retribution.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, jackals were common in the wilderness and often associated with deserted and uninhabited areas. Their adaptability and scavenging habits made them a fitting symbol for the aftermath of destruction. The biblical authors used the imagery of jackals to communicate the severity of God's judgment and the stark reality of life apart from His protection and blessing.

Overall, the references to jackals in the Bible serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the desolation that follows when God's people forsake His ways.8565. tan -- a jackal
... 8564, 8565. tan. 8566 . a jackal. Transliteration: tan Phonetic Spelling:
(tan) Short Definition: jackals. Word Origin from an unused ...
/hebrew/8565.htm - 6k

338. i -- a jackal
... Hyenas. Word Origin from oy Definition a jackal NASB Word Usage Hyenas (1),
jackals (1), wolves (1). wild beast of the islands. Probably ...
/hebrew/338.htm - 6k

5886. En Tannim -- "spring of dragons," a place near Jer.
... dragon well. From ayin and the plural of tan; fountain of jackals; En-Tannim, a
pool near Jerusalem -- dragon well. see HEBREW ayin. see HEBREW tan. 5885, 5886 ...
/hebrew/5886.htm - 6k

Isaiah's Discourse
... 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. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/v isaiahs discourse.htm

Statement of the Reasons Wherefore the Matters, Treated of Shortly ...
... "ostriches," the Hebrew meaning "daughters of the owl") and "satyrs." RV in 22,
"wolves" and "jackals;" in 21b, "ostriches" and "satyrs" (marg. "he-goats"). ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter i statement of the.htm

Oracles on the Edge of Doom. (vii. 16-xviii Passim, xxii, Xlv. )
... are gone. I will make Jerusalem heaps, 11 Of jackals the lair, And the
townships of Judah lay waste, With never a dweller. Who is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 oracles on the edge.htm

The victory of Unarmed Faith
... Its coarseness is characteristic,"he will make his boyish antagonist food for
vultures and jackals. It is exactly what a bully would say. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the victory of unarmed faith.htm

Wesley's Hymns Reconsidered
... The Revised Version (in the interest of zoological truth, no doubt) degrades the
dragons of this chapter into mere jackals: in the habitation of jackals where ...
/.../the hymns of wesley and watts five papers/wesleys hymns reconsidered.htm

The Gospel Refuge.
... of these Hebrew cities, "not one stone has been left upon another that has not been
thrown down." Owls are screaming amid their ruins, and jackals prowling for ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/iii the gospel refuge.htm

Thou Spreadest Before Me a Table in the Presence of Mine Enemies.
... around the feeding places and grazing grounds very often lie hid, in thickets and
holes and caves in the hillsides, wild animals, such as jackals, wolves and ...
/.../callan/the shepherd of my soul/ix thou spreadest before me.htm

The Treasure Cave
... "The Lord God break them in pieces and His fury be upon them!" she cried.
"They set upon her and beat her and left her to the jackals!". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xx the treasure cave.htm

Rhapsody
... And the wild asses stand on the bare heights, they pant for air like jackals;
their eyes fail, because there is no herbage. REPENTENT ISRAEL. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/rhapsody.htm

Isaiah's
... And wolves shall cry in their castles, And jackals in the pleasant palaces: And
her time is near to come, And her days shall not be prolonged. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/x isaiahs.htm

Jackals (20 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Jackals (20 Occurrences). Job 30:29 I am a brother to
jackals, and a companion to ostriches. (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV). ...
/j/jackals.htm - 12k

Jackal (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) One who does mean work for another's advantage, as jackals were once thought
to kill game which lions appropriated. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/j/jackal.htm - 15k

Ostriches (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Ostriches (8 Occurrences). Job 30:29 I am a brother to
jackals, and a companion to ostriches. (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV). ...
/o/ostriches.htm - 8k

Haunt (11 Occurrences)
... (KJV JPS ASV). Psalms 44:19 Though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals,
and covered us with the shadow of death. (WEB NIV). ...
/h/haunt.htm - 11k

Fox (2 Occurrences)
... than the fox; (2) that the fox is shy and suspicious, and flies mankind, while the
jackal does not; and (3) that foxes are difficult, jackals comparatively easy ...
/f/fox.htm - 13k

Ostrich (9 Occurrences)
... reference to its eggs, which is thus described: "The outer layer of eggs is generally
so ill covered that they are destroyed in quantities by jackals, wild-cats ...
/o/ostrich.htm - 18k

Dwelling-place (38 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Jeremiah 9:11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps, a dwelling-place of jackals;
and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant. ...
/d/dwelling-place.htm - 17k

Jackal's (1 Occurrence)
... earthquake, hence, the name "dragon," and have subsequently disappeared; but it
is at least as likely that it received its name from the jackals which haunted ...
/j/jackal's.htm - 7k

Lair (8 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Jeremiah 9:11 And I will make Jerusalem heaps, a dwelling-place of jackals;
and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant. ...
/l/lair.htm - 8k

Wild-dogs (2 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 13:22 And wolves shall cry in their castles, and jackals in the pleasant
palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. ...
/w/wild-dogs.htm - 6k

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