Joel 1:4

KJV

That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.

KJV (with Strong's)

That which the palmerworm {H1501} hath left {H3499} hath the locust {H697} eaten {H398}; and that which the locust {H697} hath left {H3499} hath the cankerworm {H3218} eaten {H398}; and that which the cankerworm {H3218} hath left {H3499} hath the caterpiller {H2625} eaten {H398}.

Complete Jewish Bible

What the cutter-worms left, the locusts ate; what the locusts left, the grasshoppers ate; what the grasshoppers left, the shearer-worms ate.

Berean Standard Bible

What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten.

American Standard Version

That which the palmer-worm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the canker-worm eaten; and that which the canker-worm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joel 1:4 opens the prophetic book with a stark and vivid depiction of an unprecedented agricultural catastrophe. Through a series of four distinct, successive waves of insect devastation—palmerworm, locust, cankerworm, and caterpillar—the verse powerfully communicates a message of total and inescapable ruin. Each wave consumes what the previous one left behind, leaving nothing untouched and setting the stage for Joel's urgent call to national lamentation and repentance in response to this overwhelming divine judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joel 1:4 serves as the dramatic opening statement of the book of Joel, immediately establishing the dire circumstances that necessitate the prophet's message. It follows the introductory address in [Joel 1:1](/joel/1-1 "Joel 1:1 - The Word of the Lord to Joel") and precedes a direct call to lamentation for various societal groups in [Joel 1:5-12](/joel/1-5-12 "Joel 1:5-12 - A Call to Lamentation"). This verse is crucial for understanding the prophet's subsequent exhortations, as the unparalleled devastation described here provides the urgent backdrop for his pronouncements concerning the "Day of the Lord," a central theme that intensifies throughout [Joel 2](/joel/2 "Joel Chapter 2 - The Day of the Lord and Restoration"). The cumulative destruction vividly portrayed in this verse underscores the severity of the impending divine judgment and the desperate need for a corporate spiritual response.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ancient Israel was an agrarian society, and its economy and very survival were intrinsically linked to the fertility of the land and the success of its harvests. Consequently, natural disasters like drought and insect plagues were not merely inconveniences but existential threats, often interpreted as direct manifestations of divine displeasure or judgment, as warned in covenant curses (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28:38-42](/deuteronomy/28-38-42 "Deuteronomy 28:38-42 - Curses of Pests and Famine")). Locusts, in particular, were a well-known and dreaded scourge in the ancient Near East, capable of consuming vast fields in mere hours. The description of four distinct stages or types of insects suggests an invasion of unparalleled magnitude, implying a complete and utter stripping of the land, far beyond a typical seasonal pest issue. This historical reality makes the imagery of Joel 1:4 immediately comprehensible and terrifying to its original audience.
* **Key Themes:** Joel 1:4 introduces several foundational themes that permeate the book. Firstly, it establishes the theme of **Total Devastation and Unprecedented Judgment**, emphasizing that the current crisis is unlike any seen before, leaving nothing untouched. This sets the stage for the prophet's urgent call for a profound spiritual response. Secondly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and the Use of Nature as Judgment**, portraying the plague not as a random natural event but as an orchestrated act by God to achieve His purposes, echoing earlier divine judgments like the [locust plague in Exodus 10](/exodus/10-1-20 "Exodus 10 - The Plague of Locusts"). Thirdly, the progressive nature of the destruction subtly introduces the theme of **Escalating Consequences**, suggesting that unaddressed spiritual issues can lead to compounding and increasingly severe outcomes. Finally, while not explicitly stated in this verse, the extreme nature of the plague implicitly serves as a powerful catalyst for the overarching theme of **Call to Repentance and Restoration**, which becomes the central message of Joel's prophecy, particularly evident in [Joel 2:12-17](/joel/2-12-17 "Joel 2:12-17 - A Call to Repentance and Fasting").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Palmerworm (Hebrew, _gâzâm'_):** From an unused root meaning "to devour," this term (H1501) refers to a kind of locust, often understood as the cutting or gnawing stage, perhaps the larva or a specific species known for its destructive cutting of vegetation. Its presence first in the sequence suggests the initial wave of devastation.
* **Locust (Hebrew, _ʼarbeh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to increase rapidly," this is the most common and general term (H697) for a locust, signifying the mature, swarming, and highly migratory insect known for its overwhelming numbers and ability to strip entire landscapes bare. Its appearance after the "palmerworm" suggests a larger, more comprehensive wave of destruction.
* **Eaten (Hebrew, _ʼâkal'_):** A primitive root (H398) meaning "to eat" (literally or figuratively), "consume," or "devour." The repeated use of this verb throughout the verse emphasizes the complete and thorough consumption of the crops by each successive wave of pests, leaving absolutely nothing behind. It underscores the totality of the agricultural ruin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten":** This opening clause immediately establishes the pattern of successive, compounding destruction. The "palmerworm" initiates the devastation, and whatever meager remnants it leaves behind are then utterly consumed by the "locust," a more common and notoriously destructive pest. This sets a terrifying precedent for the complete obliteration of the harvest.
* **"and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten":** The pattern continues, intensifying the sense of inescapable ruin. Even after the widespread destruction wrought by the "locust," any remaining vegetation, however sparse, is then targeted and devoured by the "cankerworm." This highlights the relentless and thorough nature of the plague, implying no part of the agricultural yield is spared.
* **"and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.":** The final clause brings the sequence to its devastating conclusion. What little the "cankerworm" might have overlooked is then consumed by the "caterpillar," ensuring that the destruction is absolute and final. The cumulative effect of these four stages or types of pests leaves the land barren, signifying total famine and economic collapse.

#### Literary Devices
Joel 1:4 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey the magnitude of the disaster. **Repetition** is the most prominent, with the phrase "that which... hath left hath... eaten" recurring three times, creating a rhythmic and relentless emphasis on the successive waves of destruction. This repetition, combined with the listing of four distinct insect types, builds a sense of **escalation** and **climax**, demonstrating that the plague is not merely severe but unprecedented in its thoroughness. The verse also utilizes a form of **parallelism**, where each clause mirrors the structure of the previous one, reinforcing the idea of a systematic and complete stripping of the land. Furthermore, the cumulative effect of these devices borders on **hyperbole**, not to exaggerate falsely, but to underscore the truly unimaginable and total nature of the agricultural ruin, leaving no hope for recovery from the harvest.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joel 1:4 serves as a powerful theological statement about divine judgment and the consequences of spiritual complacency. The unparalleled devastation described is not merely a natural phenomenon but a divinely orchestrated event, a severe warning from God to His people. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over creation, demonstrating His capacity to use even the smallest creatures as instruments of His will to bring about correction or judgment. The cumulative nature of the plague suggests that unaddressed sin or spiritual apathy can lead to escalating and compounding consequences, ultimately resulting in complete desolation if repentance is withheld. This verse sets the stage for the book's central message: that such severe judgments are intended to awaken a complacent people to their spiritual condition and drive them to genuine repentance and a renewed relationship with God.

* [Exodus 10:14-15](/exodus/10-14-15 "The Devastation of the Locust Plague in Egypt"): Describes a similar, divinely sent locust plague upon Egypt, highlighting God's power over nature as an instrument of judgment.
* [Deuteronomy 28:38-40](/deuteronomy/28-38-40 "Curses of Agricultural Ruin"): Warns Israel that disobedience to God's covenant would result in curses, including agricultural devastation by pests, directly paralleling the calamity in Joel.
* [Revelation 9:3-7](/rev/9-3-7 "Locusts as Agents of Divine Judgment"): Depicts symbolic locusts emerging from the abyss as agents of divine judgment in the end times, demonstrating a consistent biblical theme of insect plagues as instruments of God's wrath.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joel 1:4, though describing an ancient agricultural disaster, resonates deeply with timeless spiritual truths. It compels us to consider the cumulative and escalating nature of unaddressed sin and spiritual neglect in our own lives and communities. Just as the successive waves of insects left nothing behind, so too can persistent disobedience or apathy gradually erode our spiritual vitality, relationships, and even our societal fabric, leaving behind a barren landscape of brokenness. This verse serves as a stark warning to recognize and heed God's warnings, which often come in the form of challenging circumstances or internal conviction, before complete devastation sets in. It calls for a proactive and humble response of self-examination and repentance, reminding us that God's judgments, however severe, are ultimately aimed at drawing us back to Himself and restoring us to a place of flourishing. It encourages us to cultivate a posture of vigilance, ensuring that we are not allowing "little foxes" to spoil the vineyard of our souls, but rather diligently tending to our spiritual health.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "little things" in my life, if left unaddressed, could cumulatively lead to significant spiritual or relational devastation, much like the successive waves of insects?**
* **How do I tend to respond when faced with difficult circumstances or "plagues" in my life—do I see them merely as bad luck, or do I prayerfully consider if they might be a divine warning or call to re-evaluate my path?**
* **In what areas of my life or community might there be a need for deep, corporate repentance to avert further "devastation"?**

### FAQ
**What are the different insects mentioned in Joel 1:4, and do they represent distinct species or stages of a single plague?**

Answer: The four Hebrew terms—_gâzâm_ (palmerworm), _ʼarbeh_ (locust), _yeleq_ (cankerworm), and _châçîyl_ (caterpillar)—are generally understood to refer to different types or developmental stages of locusts. While some scholars debate their precise zoological classification, the prophetic intent is clear: to emphasize the *totality* and *successive nature* of the devastation. It suggests a plague so comprehensive that what one type of insect missed, another consumed, leaving absolutely nothing behind. This cumulative destruction underscores the unprecedented severity of the judgment, rather than providing a scientific taxonomy of pests. The focus is on the complete and utter ruin of the land.

**Is the plague described in Joel 1:4 a literal historical event or a symbolic prophecy?**

Answer: While Joel 1:4 describes a literal, historical locust plague that devastated Judah, its vivid and hyperbolic language also carries profound symbolic and prophetic weight. The prophet uses this real, tangible disaster as a powerful analogy and a precursor to the much greater and more terrifying "Day of the Lord," a concept central to the book, as detailed in [Joel 2:1-11](/joel/2-1-11 "Joel 2:1-11 - The Day of the Lord's Army"). The actual plague serves as a microcosm and a warning of the impending divine judgment that will be even more devastating. Thus, it is both a literal event that occurred in Joel's time and a symbolic foreshadowing of future eschatological judgment, urging the people to repent and seek God's mercy.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joel 1:4, with its stark portrayal of escalating judgment and utter devastation, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. The successive waves of destruction, leaving nothing untouched, powerfully prefigure the comprehensive and devastating impact of sin on humanity, which, left unaddressed, leads to spiritual death and eternal separation from God. However, Christ Himself entered into this realm of judgment, bearing the full weight of God's wrath against sin on the cross. He became the ultimate "eaten" and "left" one, taking upon Himself the complete devastation that humanity deserved, as prophesied by Isaiah, "He was [pierced for our transgressions](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - Pierced for our Transgressions"), he was crushed for our iniquities." Through His perfect sacrifice, Jesus provides the only escape from the "plague" of sin and its consequences. He offers not just a partial reprieve but complete restoration and new life, fulfilling the promise of a future outpouring of the Spirit and a return of abundance, as seen in [Joel 2:28-29](/joel/2-28-29 "Joel 2:28-29 - The Outpouring of the Spirit"). In Christ, the judgment is satisfied, and the barrenness of sin is replaced by the flourishing of grace, allowing believers to partake in His victory over all destructive forces and inherit an imperishable inheritance, unlike the ephemeral harvests consumed by locusts (cf. [1 Peter 1:3-4](/1_peter/1-3-4 "1 Peter 1:3-4 - A Living Hope")). He is the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, reversing the curse and bringing eternal life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joel 2:25

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Amos 4:9

I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured [them]: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

Amos 7:1

¶ Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, [it was] the latter growth after the king's mowings.

Isaiah 33:4

And your spoil shall be gathered [like] the gathering of the caterpiller: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them.

Exodus 10:4

Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast:

Psalms 78:46

He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.

Deuteronomy 28:38

Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather [but] little in; for the locust shall consume it.