Lexical Summary qippod: Hedgehog, porcupine Original Word: קִפוֹד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bittern Or qippod {kip-pode'}; from qaphad; a species of bird, perhaps the bittern (from its contracted form) -- bittern. see HEBREW qaphad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom qaphad Definition porcupine NASB Translation hedgehog (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs קִמֹּד noun [masculine] porcupine (from rolling itself together; ᵐ5 ἐχῖνοι (always plural), ᵑ9 ericius, BoHieroz. Iii, cap. 36 PostHastings DB BITTEBN; > (from context) bittern TrNHB 243 Hi Che Gu Kau; see discussion by M'Lean-ShipleyEncy. Bib. BITTERN); — ׳ק as haunting desolate places, Isaiah 14:23; Zephaniah 2:14, קִמּוֺד Isaiah 34:11. Topical Lexicon Identification and Natural History קִפוֹד is generally understood to denote a small, spiny mammal such as the hedgehog or porcupine. These creatures inhabit rocky or abandoned places, forage nocturnally, and curl defensively when threatened. In the Levant they are common in ruined settlements and desert fringes, perfectly illustrating their biblical role as symbols of desolation and abandonment. Scriptural Occurrences 1. Isaiah 14:23 – In the oracle against Babylon the LORD declares, “I will make her a place for the porcupine and pools of water; I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction”. In each passage קִפוֹד appears in a judgment context, paired with birds of the night or other desert fauna to portray the eerie silence of a once-thriving city now laid waste by divine wrath. Historical Backdrop Isaiah 14 addresses Babylon, the superpower that would later carry Judah into exile; Isaiah 34 speaks to Edom, Judah’s perpetual adversary; Zephaniah targets Nineveh, capital of the cruel Assyrian Empire. All three empires seemed invincible in their day, yet prophetic announcements envisioned their capitals reduced to ruins so barren that only hedgehogs would inhabit them. Archaeological excavations at Babylon, Petra-region Edom, and Nineveh confirm long periods of abandonment that match these oracles. Symbolic and Prophetic Significance 1. Desolation of Pride: The hedgehog’s presence in former palaces pictures the reversal of human arrogance (Proverbs 16:18). Inter-Canonical Connections The theme of ruined cities inhabited by wild creatures finds New Testament echo in Revelation 18:2, where fallen Babylon becomes “a haunt for every unclean bird.” The earlier imagery of קִפוֹד foreshadows that final judgment motif, reinforcing the consistency of God’s message from prophets to apocalypse. Applications for Ministry • Preaching on Judgment and Mercy: The stark picture of hedgehogs in royal halls dramatizes the consequences of unrepentant sin while reminding hearers that the same God offers grace to those who humble themselves (James 4:6). Summary קִפוֹד, though a minor creature, serves as a potent biblical signpost. Its appearances remind readers that worldly grandeur is fleeting, divine judgment is certain, and humble trust in the LORD endures. When Scripture places the hedgehog among toppled pillars and deserted streets, it calls every generation to heed the prophetic word and seek the city that “has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Forms and Transliterations וְקִפּ֔וֹד וקפוד קִפֹּ֔ד קִפֹּ֖ד קפד kipPod qip·pōḏ qippōḏ vekipPod wə·qip·pō·wḏ wəqippōwḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Isaiah 14:23 HEB: וְשַׂמְתִּ֛יהָ לְמוֹרַ֥שׁ קִפֹּ֖ד וְאַגְמֵי־ מָ֑יִם NAS: it a possession for the hedgehog and swamps KJV: it a possession for the bittern, and pools INT: make A possession the hedgehog and swamps of water Isaiah 34:11 Zephaniah 2:14 3 Occurrences |
    |