Satyrs

2022-10-01

This animal name “satyr” appears in the English translation of the Bible twice, both in Isaiah.

But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. (Isaiah 13:21)

The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. (Isaiah 34:14)

In both cases, these animals roam in places that have been made desolate. The above describe Babylon and Edom, respectively.

Like in the case of some instances of the dragon, these creatures dwell in abandoned places. If you look at the word used for “satyr,” it is translated elsewhere as a hairy thing, a goat or a kid, or a devil. It follows that these things are some kind of goat. They cry out and they play around. If it is an abandoned place, and weeds are growing everywhere, they would be interested in that type of place!

The usage where the word is translated “devils,” it is likely because they are idols shaped like goats. There is no reason to read into it beyond that (as far as I can tell).

The satyr is a case where an ordinary animal is given some other type of name in translation. There is no reason to think this affirms the existence of fictious animals. It was likely translated “satyr” because it is a near-transliteration to the Hebrew word, שָׂעִיר, which it translates.