Joel 1:20

Even the beasts of the field pant for You, for the streams of water have dried up, and fire has consumed the open pastures.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Joel addresses the LORD during a severe drought and wildfire that have destroyed vegetation and threatened livestock. He speaks at a moment of ecological collapse to document the physical devastation.

The words — The Hebrew verb תַּעֲר֣וֹג (ta.'a.Rog) literally means "it pants," describing the desperate physical response of the beasts. The noun אֲפִ֣יקֵי ('a.Fi.kei) translates as "channels" or "streams," referring to the dried waterways that normally sustain the land.

The thread — The motif of dried waterways appears in 1 Kings 17:7 when Elijah’s brook dries up due to drought. The theme of animals seeking sustenance from God is echoed in Psalms 104:21, where lions roar for prey provided by God.

Why it lands — The text states that wild animals pant for God because their water sources and pastures have been destroyed by fire. It requires the reader to acknowledge that ecological disaster is a visible sign of divine judgment and creation's total dependence on God.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

גַּם־gam-also בַּהֲמ֥וֹתba.ha.Mot[the] animals of שָׂדֶ֖הsa.Deh[the] field תַּעֲר֣וֹגta.'a.Rogit pants אֵלֶ֑יךָ'e.Lei./khato/ you כִּ֤יkifor יָֽבְשׁוּ֙ya.ve.Shuthey have dried up אֲפִ֣יקֵי'a.Fi.kei[the] channels of מָ֔יִםMa.yimwater וְאֵ֕שׁve./'Eshand/ fire אָכְלָ֖ה'a.khe.Lahit has consumed נְא֥וֹתne.'ot[the] pastures of הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃ פha./mid.Barthe/ wilderness

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Psalms 104:21 The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.
1 Kings 17:7 Some time later, however, the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
1 Kings 18:5 Then 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 38:41 Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God as they wander about for lack of food?
Psalms 145:15 The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season.
Psalms 147:9 He provides food for the animals, and for the young ravens when they call.