Joel 1:18

18 How the animals groan! The herds of cattle wander about because there is no pasture for them; even the flocks of sheep are dazed. ^[a]

Joel 1:18 Meaning and Commentary

Joel 1:18

How do the beasts groan?
&c.] For want of fodder, all green grass and herbs being eaten up by the locusts; or devoured, or trampled upon, and destroyed, by the Chaldeans; and also for want of water to quench their thirst: the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture;
the larger cattle, as oxen; these were in the utmost perplexity, not knowing where to go for food or drink: yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate;
which have shepherds to lead and direct them to pastures, and can feed on commons, where the grass is short, which other cattle cannot; yet even these were in great distress, and wasted away, and were consumed for want of nourishment.

Joel 1:18 In-Context

16 Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of our God?

17 The seed shrivels under the clods, the storehouses are desolate; the granaries are ruined because the grain has failed.

18 How the animals groan! The herds of cattle wander about because there is no pasture for them; even the flocks of sheep are dazed.

19 To you, O Lord, I cry. For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and flames have burned all the trees of the field.

20 Even the wild animals cry to you because the watercourses are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

Footnotes

• [a]. Compare Gk Syr Vg: Meaning of Heb uncertain