In biblical literature, the term "satyr" is often associated with creatures that are part of ancient Near Eastern mythology and are mentioned in the context of desolation and judgment. The Hebrew word translated as "satyr" in some English versions of the Bible is "śā‘îr," which can also mean "goat" or "hairy one." This term appears in a few key passages, primarily in the prophetic books of the Old Testament.

Biblical References:

1. Isaiah 13:21 : "But desert creatures will lie there, and their houses will be full of owls; ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about." In this passage, the term "wild goats" is sometimes translated as "satyrs" in other versions. The context is a prophecy against Babylon, describing its future desolation where only wild and untamed creatures will inhabit the ruins.

2. Isaiah 34:14 : "The desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and one wild goat will call to another; there the night creature will settle and find her place of repose." Here, the "wild goat" is again sometimes rendered as "satyr." This verse is part of a prophecy concerning the judgment of Edom, depicting a land so desolate that only mythical and wild creatures dwell there.

3. Leviticus 17:7 : "They must no longer offer their sacrifices to the goat demons to whom they have prostituted themselves. This will be a permanent statute for them for the generations to come." The term "goat demons" is related to the same Hebrew root, suggesting a connection between the satyrs and idolatrous practices involving goat-like deities.

Cultural and Theological Context:

In the ancient Near East, satyrs were often depicted as half-man, half-goat creatures associated with wilderness, fertility, and sometimes chaos. They were considered part of the pantheon of lesser deities or spirits that inhabited desolate places. The biblical usage of "satyr" or "wild goat" in prophetic literature serves to emphasize the utter desolation and abandonment of a place under divine judgment, where only these wild and untamed beings would dwell.

From a theological perspective, the mention of satyrs in the Bible underscores the contrast between the order and holiness of God's creation and the chaos and impurity associated with pagan worship and desolate places. The biblical authors use these creatures symbolically to convey the severity of God's judgment and the complete reversal of a once-thriving civilization into a haunt for wild and mythical beings.

Interpretation:

In conservative Christian interpretation, the references to satyrs are understood as part of the broader biblical theme of God's sovereignty over creation and His power to bring judgment upon nations that turn away from Him. The imagery of satyrs inhabiting desolate places serves as a vivid reminder of the consequences of sin and idolatry, as well as the ultimate triumph of God's righteousness over chaos and disorder.Hairy one. Mentioned in Greek mythology as a creature composed of a man and a goat, supposed to inhabit wild and desolate regions. The Hebrew word is rendered also "goat" (Leviticus 4:24) and "devil", i.e., an idol in the form of a goat (17:7; 2 Chronicles 11:15). When it is said (Isaiah 13:21; Comp. 34:14) "the satyrs shall dance there," the meaning is that the place referred to shall become a desolate waste. Some render the Hebrew word "baboon," a species of which is found in Babylonia. 1. (n.) A sylvan demigod, part man and part goat, characterized by lasciviousness.

2. (n.) Any one of many species of butterflies belonging to the family Nymphalidae. Their colors are commonly brown and gray, often with ocelli on the wings. Called also meadow browns.

3. (n.) The orang-outang.

SATYR

sat'-er, sa'-ter (sa`ir, literally "he-goat"; sa`ir, "hairy" (Genesis 27:11, of Esau), and Arabic sha'r, "hair"; plural se`irim): For se`irim in Leviticus 17:7 and 2 Chronicles 11:15, the King James Version has "devils," the Revised Version (British and American) "he-goats," the English Revised Version margin "satyrs," the Septuagint has tois mataiois, "vain things." For se`irim in Isaiah 13:21, the King James Version and the English Revised Version have "satyrs," the English Revised Version margin "he-goats," the American Standard Revised Version "wild goats," Septuagint daimonia, "demons." For sa`ir in Isaiah 34:14, the King James Version and the English Revised Version have "satyr," the English Revised Version margin "he-goat," the American Standard Revised Version "wild goat." Septuagint has heteros pros ton heteron, "one to another," referring to daimonia, which here stands for ciyim, "wild beasts of the desert."

The text of the American Standard Revised Version in these passages is as follows: Leviticus 17:7, "And they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices unto the he-goats, after which they play the harlot"; 2 Chronicles 11:15, "And he (Jeroboam) appointed him priests for the high places, and for the he-goats, and for the calves which he had made"; Isaiah 13:21 (of Babylon), "But wild beasts of the desert (tsiyim) shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures ('ochim); and ostriches (benoth ya`anah) shall dwell there, and wild goats (se`irim) shall dance there And wolves ('iyim) shall cry in their castles, and jackals (tannim) in the pleasant palaces"; Isaiah 34:11, 13, 14, 15 (of Edom), "But the pelican (qa'ath) and the porcupine (kippodh) shall possess it; and the owl (yanshoph) and the raven (`orebh) shall dwell therein:.... and it shall be a habitation of jackals (tannim), a court for ostriches (benoth ya`anah). And the wild beasts of the desert (tsiyim) shall meet with the wolves ('iyim), and the wild goat (sa`ir) shall cry to his fellow; yea, the night monster (lilith) shall settle there..... There shall the dart-snake (qippoz) make her nest.... there shall the kites (dayyoth) be gathered, every one with her mate."

The question is whether sa`ir and se`irim in these passages stand for real or for fabulous animals. In Leviticus 17:7 and 2 Chronicles 11:15, it is clear that they are objects of worship, but that still leaves open the question of their nature, though it may to many minds make "devils" or "demons" or "satyrs" seem preferable to "he-goats." In Isaiah 13:20 we read, "neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall shepherds make their flocks to lie down there." This may very likely have influenced the American Committee of Revisers to use "wild goat" in Isaiah 13:21 and 34:14 instead of the "he-goat" of the other passages. In the American Standard Revised Version, no fabulous creatures (except perhaps "night-monster") are mentioned here, but the Septuagint employs daimonia, "demons" in Isaiah 13:21 for se`irim and in 34:14 for tsiyim; onokentauroi, from "centaur," in Isaiah 13:22 and 34:14 for 'iyim, and again in 34:14 for lilith; seirenes, "sirens," in Isaiah 13:21 for benoth ya`anah, and in 34:13 for tannim. We must bear in mind the uncertainty regarding the identity of tsiyim, 'iyim, 'ochim and tannim, as well as of some of the other names, and we must recall the tales that are hung about the name lilith (the King James Version "screech owl," the King James Version margin and the Revised Version (British and American) "night-monster," the Revised Version margin "Lilith"). While sa`ir is almost alone among these words in having ordinarily a well-understood meaning, i.e. "he-goat," there is good reason for considering that here it is used in an exceptional sense. The translation "satyr" has certainly much to be said for it.

See GOAT; JACKAL.

Alfred Ely Day

8163c. sair -- a satyr, demon
... 8163b, 8163c. sair. 8164 . a satyr, demon. Transliteration: sair Short
Definition: demons. Word Origin from the same as sear Definition ...
/hebrew/8163c.htm - 5k

8163. sa'iyr -- hairy
... devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr Or sabir {saw-eer'}; from sa'ar; shaggy; as
noun, a he-goat; by analogy, a faun -- devil, goat, hairy, kid, rough, satyr. ...
/hebrew/8163.htm - 5k

The Adventures of Saint Patrick of Ireland.
... Each satyr was armed with a huge club of the size of a tree, which he flourished
wildly, and on his other arm he bore a shield of vast proportions, like the ...
/.../kingston/the seven champions of christendom/chapter nine the adventures of.htm

The Greek Theogony Exposed.
... And as for Jupiter, he was a various adulterer, with Antiope as a satyr, with Dana?�
as gold, and with Europa as a bull; with Leda, moreover, he assumed wings. ...
/.../justins discourse to the greeks/chapter ii the greek theogony exposed.htm

Isaiah's Discourse
... And the wild beasts of the desert shall meet with the wolves, and the satyr shall
cry to his fellow; yea, the night-monster shall settle there, and shall find ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/v isaiahs discourse.htm

The Life of Mr. George Buchanan.
... dealt insincerely, he commanded Buchanan, who was then at court, (though he was
ignorant of the disgusts betwixt him and that order), to write a satyr upon them ...
/.../howie/biographia scoticana scots worthies/the life of mr george 2.htm

Sonnet
... thy soul awes ours: yet thou art bound" O waste of nature!"to a craven hound; To
shameless lust, and childish greed of pelf; Athene to a Satyr: was that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/andromeda and other poems/sonnet.htm

Of the Most Excellent Exercise we Can Make in the Interior and ...
... though the enemies' sword was in a manner always at his throat, yet he executed
the grand masterpiece and admirable representation of a Satyr amusing himself ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xv of the most.htm

But what Shall I Say of the Desires with which it is Written in ...
... Have we ever written that he obtained his desires by deceit, at one time changing
into gold, at another into a sportive satyr; into a serpent, a bird, a bull ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/26 but what shall i.htm

Vile Transformation of Jupiter.
... In short, he seduced Antiope, the daughter of Nycteus, when turned into a satyr,
and of her were born Amphion and Zethus; Alcmene, when changed into her ...
/.../recognitions of clement /chapter xxii vile transformation of jupiter.htm

Jupiter's Amours Continued.
... Then, in the likeness of a satyr, he had intercourse with Antiope the daughter
of Nycteus, of whom were born Amphion and Zethus. ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xiii jupiters amours continued.htm

Ambrose.
... I will first of all speak of his adultery, though I blush to do so: for he appeared
to Antiope as a satyr, and descended upon Dana?� as a shower of gold, and ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents ambrose.htm

Satyr
... 3. (n.) The orang-outang. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SATYR. ... The translation
"satyr" has certainly much to be said for it. See GOAT; JACKAL. Alfred Ely Day ...
/s/satyr.htm - 12k

Goat (92 Occurrences)
... (4.) Hebrews sa'ir, meaning the "shaggy," a hairy goat, a he-goat (2 Chronicles
29:23); "a goat" (Leviticus 4:24); "satyr" (Isaiah 13:21); "devils" (Leviticus ...
/g/goat.htm - 48k

Term (4 Occurrences)
... 11. (n.) A quadrangular pillar, adorned on the top with the figure of a head,
as of a man, woman, or satyr; -- called also terminal figure. ...
/t/term.htm - 9k

Dionysia
... themselves. Comedies, tragedies and satyr dramas were presented after
elaborate preparation and at a great expenditure of money. ...
/d/dionysia.htm - 10k

Devil (58 Occurrences)
... In Leviticus 17:7 the word "devil" is the translation of the Hebrew sair, meaning
a "goat" or "satyr" (Isaiah 13:21; 34:14), alluding to the wood-daemons, the ...
/d/devil.htm - 25k

Saturates (1 Occurrence)

/s/saturates.htm - 6k

Satyrs (3 Occurrences)

/s/satyrs.htm - 7k

Zoology
... some of which present apparently insuperable difficulties. See under JACKAL
and SATYR. The Book of Job contains some remarkable ...
/z/zoology.htm - 18k

Nightmonster
... throughout. Ewald translates it "he-goat" in Isaiah 34:14 and "Satyr" in
13:21. It means literally "shaggy monster" (Vulgate, pilosus). ...
/n/nightmonster.htm - 17k

Night-monster
... throughout. Ewald translates it "he-goat" in Isaiah 34:14 and "Satyr" in
13:21. It means literally "shaggy monster" (Vulgate, pilosus). ...
/n/night-monster.htm - 17k

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