Qippoz

Lore & Background

The word qippoz appears only in Isaiah 34:15, part of a judgment oracle against Edom. The passage lists creatures that will inhabit ruined Edomite cities, and the identities of many are contested. The King James Version translates qippoz as 'great owl,' while the New King James Version and New Jewish Publication Society of America Tanakh render it 'arrow snake.' The Septuagint and Latin Vulgate translated it as 'hedgehog,' a reading not accepted by scholars.

Reader's Guide

Qippoz is significant primarily as a hapax legomenon, illustrating the challenges of translating ancient texts where context is limited. Its varied translations—from owl to arrow snake to sand-partridge—reflect differing interpretations of Hebrew roots and the passage's zoological or demonological references. The term is cited in debates about whether demons appear in the Old Testament, as some scholars argue all creatures in Isaiah 34 are real animals, while others see figures like Lilith as demonic. The uncertainty surrounding qippoz underscores the difficulty of reconstructing biblical fauna and the influence of translation choices on theological interpretation.

Did You Know?

• Qippoz appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, in Isaiah 34:15.
• The King James Version translates qippoz as 'great owl,' but the New King James Version uses 'arrow snake.'
• The Septuagint and Latin Vulgate both translated qippoz as 'hedgehog,' a reading later rejected by scholars.
• G. R. Driver suggested 'sand-partridge' as an alternative translation, based on a Hebrew root meaning 'hop.'