Hebrew word · H255

אֹחַ

'ochim

howling animal

This word occurs only here in the Bible. It probably imitates a sound, from a cry like 'ʾoḥ!' Proposed meanings include howling animals in general, jackals, or owls (especially the eagle-owl). Some link it to an Akkadian word for a jackal-like animal, but that link is uncertain.

Appears once in the Hebrew Old Testament. · Updated November 15, 2026

What it means

1) howling animal

1a) jackal

1b) hyena

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Isaiah 13:21

Range of meaning: This word occurs only here in the Bible. It probably imitates a sound, from a cry like 'ʾoḥ!' Proposed meanings include howling animals in general, jackals, or owls (especially the eagle-owl). Some link it to an Akkadian word for a jackal-like animal, but that link is uncertain.
Against the English: KJV 'doleful creatures' (mournful-sounding creatures) is vague but catches the sound. BSB 'howling creatures' stays close to the probable root. WEB 'jackals' commits to one species, and so do other versions that make a firm identification. The Hebrew does not let us be that precise.
Used elsewhere in the period: The Septuagint renders it ἤχου ('of noise' or 'of echo'): 'the houses will be filled with noise.' It took the word as a sound, not an animal. The Vulgate has 'draconibus' ('serpents/dragons'), probably a guess.

Where it appears

Isaiah · 1

Isaiah 13:21 אֹחִ֑ים jackals

But desert creatures will lie down there, and howling creatures will fill her houses. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about.

Here: This word occurs only here in the Bible. It probably imitates a cry ('ohh!'), so it means 'howlers' or 'moaners.' Jackals, owls and other creatures have all been proposed. The sound matters more than the species.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.