The Bible often uses animals symbolically, and owls are no exception. Owls are frequently associated with desolation, solitude, and uncleanliness in the biblical text. These mysterious nocturnal birds appear in passages describing judgment, wilderness, and abandonment. Below, we explore several biblical references to owls, drawing insights from God’s Word.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Cardinal Birds
Owls as Symbols of Desolation
Owls are often mentioned in the Bible in the context of destruction and ruin. Their presence in abandoned places serves as a sign of divine judgment. The eerie call of an owl in a deserted land underscores the severity of God’s punishment on sinful nations. Let’s examine some key passages that highlight this theme.
Isaiah 34:11
“The great owl and the screech owl will possess it; the great owl will make its nest there and lay her eggs. She will hatch her young and cover them under her wings; the vultures also will gather there, each with its mate.”
Jeremiah 50:39
“Soon Babylon will be inhabited by desert animals and hyenas. It will be a home for owls. Never again will people live there; it will lie desolate forever.”
Zephaniah 2:14
“The proud city will become a pasture for flocks, all sorts of wild animals will lounge there. Desert owls will roost on its ruined columns, and their calls will echo through the gaping windows.”
Psalm 102:6
“I am like an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.”
Micah 1:8
“Because of this, I will mourn and lament. I will walk around barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.”
Owls in the Wilderness
Throughout the Bible, the wilderness is a place of testing, loneliness, and divine encounters. Owls, being creatures of the night that dwell in such places, are often depicted as symbols of solitude and despair.
Job 30:29
“I am a brother to jackals and a companion to owls.”
Isaiah 13:21
“Desert animals will move into the ruined city, and the houses will be haunted by howling creatures. Owls will live among the ruins, and wild goats will skip about.”
Isaiah 34:15
“There the owl will make her nest and lay her eggs; she will hatch her young and cover them with her wings. There also the hawks will gather, each with its mate.”
Leviticus 11:16
“The owl, the short-eared owl, the seagull, and hawks of all kinds.”
Deuteronomy 14:16
“The little owl, the great owl, the barn owl.”
Owls as Creatures of the Night
Owls are nocturnal birds, often associated with darkness and mystery. The Bible sometimes references owls in the context of night, symbolizing sorrow, judgment, or spiritual blindness.
Isaiah 59:10
“We grope like the blind along a wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. Even at brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark. Among the living, we are like the dead.”
Job 12:25
“They grope in the darkness without a light. He makes them stagger like drunkards.”
Psalm 91:5-6
“Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday.”
Luke 22:53
“Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”
John 3:19
“And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.”
Owls in Prophetic Warnings
Many biblical prophecies use owls to illustrate the consequences of rebellion against God. These warnings serve as reminders of the importance of obedience and faithfulness.
Isaiah 14:23
“I will make Babylon a desolate place of owls, filled with swamps of water. I will sweep the land with the broom of destruction, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”
Revelation 18:2
“He gave a mighty shout: ‘Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a hideout for every foul spirit, a hideout for every foul vulture and every foul and dreadful animal.'”
Jeremiah 9:11
“I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, says the Lord. It will be a place haunted by jackals. The towns of Judah will be ghost towns, with no one living in them.”
Isaiah 21:9
“Now at last—look! Here comes a man in a chariot with a pair of horses! And the watchman said, ‘Babylon is fallen, fallen! All the idols of Babylon lie broken on the ground!’”
Malachi 1:3
“But I rejected Esau and devastated his hill country. I turned Esau’s inheritance into a desert for jackals.”
Also Read: Bible Verses About Hummingbirds
Owls in the Context of Mourning
Owls are often associated with mourning and lamentation in the Bible. Their haunting calls in desolate places reflect sorrow, loss, and grief. Many biblical passages use owls to describe deep emotional pain and suffering.
Jeremiah 10:22
“Listen! The terrible noise growing louder and louder! A great commotion is coming from the north. The towns of Judah will be destroyed and become a home for jackals!”
Isaiah 38:14
“Delirious, I chattered like a swallow or a crane, and then I moaned like a mourning dove. My eyes grew tired of looking to heaven for help. I am in trouble, Lord. Help me!”
Lamentations 4:8
“But now their faces are blacker than soot. No one recognizes them in the streets. Their skin clings to their bones; it is as dry and hard as wood.”
Ezekiel 27:31
“They shave their heads in grief for you and dress themselves in burlap. They weep for you with bitter anguish and deep mourning.”
Micah 1:8
“Because of this, I will mourn and lament. I will walk around barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.”
Owls and the Theme of Isolation
Owls are solitary creatures, often dwelling in abandoned ruins. The Bible uses them to symbolize loneliness and spiritual separation from God. This imagery serves as a warning against forsaking God’s presence.
Job 3:23
“Why is life given to those with no future, those God has surrounded with difficulties?”
Psalm 88:18
“You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.”
Lamentations 3:6
“He has buried me in a dark place, like those long dead.”
Hosea 2:6
“I will fence her in with thornbushes. I will block her path with a wall to make her lose her way.”
Psalm 102:7
“I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.”
Owls as Part of God’s Creation
Despite their associations with desolation and mourning, owls are still part of God’s intricate design. They serve a role in nature, demonstrating His wisdom and creativity. The Bible reminds us that all creatures, even those symbolizing darkness, are under God’s sovereignty.
Genesis 1:21
“So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.”
Job 12:7-10
“Just ask the animals, and they will teach you. Ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will instruct you. Let the fish in the sea speak to you. For they all know that my disaster has come from the hand of the Lord. For the life of every living thing is in His hand, and the breath of every human being.”
Psalm 50:11
“I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine.”
Matthew 10:29
“What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.”
Revelation 4:11
“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”