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H3917 · Hebrew · Old Testament
לִילִית
lîylîyth
Noun, feminine
Night Creature, Screech Owl

Definition

Lîylîyth (לִילִית) means night creature, screech owl, night monster. From layil (night). Appears once in the Hebrew Bible. In later Jewish tradition, the name became associated with a demonic figure.

Usage & Theological Significance

Isaiah 34:14: 'Desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and wild goats will bleat to each other; there the night creature will also lie down and find for herself a place of rest.' This describes the utter desolation of Edom after God's judgment — a land so completely devastated that only the wildest, most fearsome creatures inhabit it. The absence of God's blessing reduces a nation to a haunt for desert creatures. The image serves as a warning: rebellion against God leads to desolation, while obedience leads to fruitfulness (Isaiah 35 immediately follows with restoration).

Key Bible Verses

Isaiah 34:14 Desert creatures will meet with hyenas; there the night creature will also lie down and find rest.
Isaiah 34:11 The desert owl and screech owl will possess it; the great owl and the raven will nest there.
Isaiah 35:1 The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.

Related Words

External Resources

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