Satyr
“Hairy one or he-goat”
Summary
A Hebrew term rendered 'satyr' or 'devil' in various translations, referring either to wild goats or demonic beings believed to inhabit desolate places.
☩Hebrew Word and Meaning
The Hebrew word sair properly means 'hairy' and is commonly used for a he-goat. In Leviticus 17:7 and 2 Chronicles 11:15, the term is rendered 'devils' (KJV), referring to the goat-demons that Israel was forbidden to worship. The Septuagint translates it as 'demons,' recognizing these as false gods that the heathen unconsciously worshipped.
☩Inhabitants of Desolation
In Isaiah's prophecies of judgment against Babylon and Edom, satyrs are mentioned as beings that will inhabit the ruins, dancing and calling to one another. Whether Isaiah intended literal wild goats, demonic spirits, or simply a poetic way of describing utter desolation is debated. The imagery suggests places so abandoned that men shun them as if haunted by unearthly beings.
☩Connection to Greek Mythology
While the Greeks had mythology about satyrs—beings half man and half goat—there is no evidence these formed part of Jewish belief. The Eastern nations' mythology did include fabulous creatures, and some suggest Isaiah alludes to spectral beings that the Persians and Arabs believed haunted Babylon's ruins.
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Satyr," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IX (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Satyr," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).