Arrowsnake
The Translation Debate
The Hebrew word "kippoz" appears only once in the Bible, in Isaiah 34:15, and its precise meaning has puzzled translators for centuries. The King James Version renders it as "great owl," the English Revised Version as "arrowsnake," and the American Standard Version as "dart-snake." The uncertainty arises because the word occurs nowhere else in Hebrew literature, making it impossible to determine its meaning through comparative usage. Context provides the only clues: the passage describes a creature that nests, lays eggs, and hatches its young.
The Prophecy Against Edom
Isaiah 34 delivers a devastating oracle of judgment against Edom and, more broadly, against all nations that oppose God. The prophet describes the land becoming a desolate waste inhabited only by wild creatures. In this context, Isaiah 34:15 states that the kippoz will nest there, lay eggs, hatch them, and gather its young under its shadow. The creature appears alongside other inhabitants of desolation: jackals, ostriches, wild goats, and various birds of prey (Isaiah 34:11-14).
Arrowsnake or Bird?
The identification of kippoz as an "arrowsnake" comes from connecting the word to a root meaning "to spring forward" or "to dart," suggesting a snake that propels itself with a sudden, arrow-like motion. However, the description of nesting, laying, and hatching eggs fits a bird more naturally. While snakes do lay eggs, the language of gathering young "under its shadow" more readily suggests a bird sheltering its chicks. Some scholars therefore prefer "owl" or another bird species, while others maintain that certain snake species do exhibit brooding behavior.
The Theology of Desolation
Regardless of the creature's exact identity, its theological role is clear. The presence of wild animals in a once-inhabited land signifies complete divine judgment. Where human civilization once thrived, only creatures of the wilderness remain. This imagery of reversal — cities becoming animal dens — appears throughout the prophets as a sign of God's judgment (Isaiah 13:21-22; Jeremiah 50:39; Zephaniah 2:14). The kippoz, whatever it is, serves as a witness to the totality of God's wrath against wickedness.
Lessons from an Uncertain Word
The difficulty of translating kippoz illustrates a broader reality about Bible translation: some ancient words have lost their precise meaning over time. This does not undermine the authority or clarity of Scripture on matters of faith and doctrine. The passage's message is unmistakable regardless of which creature is intended: God's judgment transforms prosperous lands into uninhabitable wastelands. The specific animal matters less than the devastating reality it represents.
Biblical Context
The arrowsnake (kippoz) appears only in Isaiah 34:15, within the oracle against Edom. The passage describes the desolation that will come upon nations that oppose God, with wild creatures taking over formerly inhabited lands. Isaiah 34 parallels other prophetic oracles of desolation in Isaiah 13, Jeremiah 50, and Zephaniah 2.
Theological Significance
The arrowsnake imagery contributes to the prophetic theme that God's judgment is thorough and irreversible. The replacement of human habitation with wild creatures signifies the complete undoing of civilization as a consequence of opposing God. This serves as both a warning and a demonstration of divine sovereignty over nations.
Historical Background
Ancient Edom, located in modern southern Jordan, did eventually become desolate, with its major cities like Petra falling into ruin. The region's transformation from a prosperous trading kingdom to an abandoned wilderness aligns remarkably with Isaiah's prophecy. The specific creatures mentioned in Isaiah 34, including the mysterious kippoz, reflect the actual fauna of the arid regions of the southern Levant.