How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
How do the beasts {H929} groan {H584}! the herds {H5739} of cattle {H1241} are perplexed {H943}, because they have no pasture {H4829}; yea, the flocks {H5739} of sheep {H6629} are made desolate {H816}.
How the animals groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture. The flocks of sheep bear the punishment, too.
How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering.
How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
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Jeremiah 12:4
How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end. -
Hosea 4:3
Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. -
Jeremiah 14:5
Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook [it], because there was no grass. -
Jeremiah 14:6
And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because [there was] no grass. -
Joel 1:20
The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness. -
Romans 8:22
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. -
1 Kings 18:5
And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
Joel 1:18 (KJV) vividly portrays the severe impact of a devastating drought and locust plague on the animal kingdom in ancient Israel. This verse is part of the prophet Joel's urgent call to lamentation and repentance, as the land and its inhabitants faced unprecedented destruction.
Context of Joel 1:18
The Book of Joel opens with a description of an unparalleled locust plague that has devoured all vegetation, followed by an intense drought. This dual calamity has brought the land to its knees, affecting not only human sustenance but also the very survival of livestock. Joel 1:18 specifically zeroes in on the suffering of the animals, painting a stark picture of the widespread desolation. The prophet uses this imagery to underscore the severity of the situation, implying it is a sign of divine judgment or a call to deep introspection and turning back to God.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The KJV uses strong, evocative language:
Practical Application
Joel 1:18 reminds us of several enduring truths: