Joel 1:20
What does Joel 1:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Joel 1:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Joel 1:20 means
The prayer continues with a striking note: even the beasts pant toward Jehovah, for streams are dried up and fire has devoured the pastures. All creation turns needy eyes to the Creator. The verse closes the chapter in shared desperation—humans and animals alike wait upon God. The drying of brooks adds to the picture of total deprivation; there is no hidden reserve to draw from. This final line teaches dependence and invites pity. As the chapter ends without resolution, it pushes readers to seek God earnestly, anticipating that the same Lord who sends judgment can also send mercy and restoration.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Yea, the beasts of the field pant unto thee; for the water brooks are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Yea, the beasts of the field pant unto thee; for the water brooks are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The beasts of the field are turning to you with desire: for the water-streams are dry and fire has put an end to the grass-lands of the waste.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Also the cattle of the field long for Thee, For dried up have been streams of water, And fire hath consumed comely places of a wilderness!'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Yea, and the beasts of the field have looked up to thee, as a garden bed that thirsteth after rain, for the springs of waters are dried up, and fire hath devoured the beautiful places of the wilderness.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The beasts of the field also cry unto thee; for the water-courses are dried, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
Context
This verse completes Joel’s initial oracle by uniting the whole realm—people, priests, land, beasts—in a single posture of need before Jehovah. It echoes earlier images of fire and drought and pairs them with a creation-wide appeal. The unresolved cry prepares for chapter 2’s renewed alarms and deeper calls to return to the Lord with all the heart, along with promises of His compassion. The flow from catastrophe to communal lament and prayer is intentional, showing the path from recognition of judgment toward the hope of divine intervention.
v.19O Jehovah, to thee do I cry; for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.
v.20This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 104:21
The young lions roar after their prey, And seek their food from God.
- Psalms 145:15
The eyes of all wait for thee; And thou givest them their food in due season.
- 1 Kings 18:5
And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go through the land, unto all the fountains of water, and unto all the brooks: peradventure we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
- Psalms 147:9
He giveth to the beast his food, Andto the young ravens which cry.
- 1 Kings 17:7
And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
- Job 38:41
Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, Andwander for lack of food?
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