Even the beasts of the field pant for You, for the streams of water have dried up, and fire has consumed the open pastures.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yes, the animals of the field pant to you, for the water brooks have dried up, And the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV The beasts of the field also cry out to You, For the water brooks are dried up, And fire has devoured the open pastures.
- NASB Even the animals of the field pant for You; For the stream beds of water are dried up, And fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
- NLT Even the wild animals cry out to you because the streams have dried up, and fire has consumed the wilderness pastures.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even the wild animals pant toward God as the streams dry up and fire consumes the land. All creation instinctively looks to God in its distress.
Overview
Joel pictures the beasts of the field longing toward God amid the drought, as if joining the prophet's cry. The dried brooks and scorched pastures depict a creation gasping under judgment. This image of even animals seeking their Maker underscores that God is the source of all life and provision, and that every creature's hope finally rests in Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Ps 104:21The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.
- 1 Kgs 17:7Some time later, however, the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
- 1 Kgs 18:5Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring and every valley. Perhaps we will find grass to keep the horses and mules alive so that we will not have to destroy any livestock.”
- Job 38:41Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food?
- Ps 147:9He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call.
- Ps 145:15The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promised outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh and the call to 'everyone who calls on the name of the LORD' are fulfilled at Pentecost in the name of Jesus.
How Joel 1:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.