7090. qippod
Lexical Summary
qippod: Hedgehog, porcupine

Original Word: קִפוֹד
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: qippowd
Pronunciation: kip-PODE
Phonetic Spelling: (kip-pode')
KJV: bittern
NASB: hedgehog
Word Origin: [from H7088 (קָפַד - rolled)]

1. a species of bird, perhaps the bittern (from its contracted form)

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 Origin
from 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”.
2. Isaiah 34:11 – Edom’s overthrow is described: “The desert owl and the hedgehog will possess it, the great owl and the raven will dwell there…” (context).
3. Zephaniah 2:14 – Of Nineveh it is said, “Flocks and herds will lie down in her midst, every beast of the field. The desert owl and the hedgehog will roost on her pillars…” (context).

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).
2. Certainty of Judgment: The recurring imagery across different prophets underscores the uniformity of God’s dealings with sin.
3. Hope for the Remnant: When the proud fall, humble believers see that “the LORD reigns forever” (Psalm 146:10), strengthening faith that He will likewise preserve His people.

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).
• Worldview Formation: Believers gain confidence in Scripture’s veracity when historical ruins corroborate prophetic detail.
• Discipleship and Worship: Meditating on Isaiah 14:23 or Zephaniah 2:14 fosters reverence for God’s sovereignty over nations and personal lives alike.
• Mission and Ethics: Modern powers tempted by oppression and pride are warned that no empire is beyond the reach of God’s “broom of destruction.”

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 wəqippōwḏ
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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
HEB: וִירֵשׁ֙וּהָ֙ קָאַ֣ת וְקִפּ֔וֹד וְיַנְשׁ֥וֹף וְעֹרֵ֖ב
NAS: But pelican and hedgehog will possess
KJV: But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess
INT: will possess pelican and hedgehog and owl and raven

Zephaniah 2:14
HEB: קָאַת֙ גַּם־ קִפֹּ֔ד בְּכַפְתֹּרֶ֖יהָ יָלִ֑ינוּ
NAS: the pelican and the hedgehog Will lodge
KJV: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge
INT: the pelican Both and the hedgehog the tops will lodge

3 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7090
3 Occurrences


qip·pōḏ — 2 Occ.
wə·qip·pō·wḏ — 1 Occ.

7089
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