1, Spring 2004), he proposes that the usage of derives from paronomasia - intentional word play whereby the Aramaic word for Ostrich is associated with Naamah from Genesis 4. In his paper, ' Ostriches into Sirens: Towards an Understanding of a Septuagint Crux' ( Journal of Jewish Studies, Vol. Subsequent to the publication of Greek Myths and Christian Mystery, referenced by another answer, Manolis Papoutsakis made an ingenious hypothesis that may finally solve the mystery as to how the odd translation arose. How did the notion of mythological/supernatural creatures enter the text of Isaiah 13? Interestingly, I have found in various internet searches that the sirens became synonymous with mermaids down through the ages, and that some churches in the UK as well as castles have carvings of the sirens (which are mermaids) in various places such as the church roof and pews.

I am not a Greek or Hebrew scholar, so I am finding it difficult to follow what is written about the 'sirens', but it does intrigue me that they are mentioned in the Septuagint in six verses, including three times in Isaiah (13:21, 34:13, 43:20), yet English translations of the Hebrew use 'jackals' or 'wild goats'. See page 30 here.Īnd the houses will be filled with noise

The translation in the Greek Septuagint uses a word meaning “sirens' who were mythological creatures instead of owls/jackals. I am reading in the book of Isaiah at chapter 13 verse 21 in the King James Bible, and I notice in this bible, and in other English bible translations, that owls and jackals are commonly mentioned.īut wild beasts of the desert shall lie there Īnd their houses shall be full of doleful creatures Īnd satyrs shall dance there.

Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress