Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version How the cattle moan! The herds mill about because they have no pasture; even the flocks of sheep are suffering. New Living Translation How the animals moan with hunger! The herds of cattle wander about confused, because they have no pasture. The flocks of sheep and goats bleat in misery. English Standard Version How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed because there is no pasture for them; even the flocks of sheep suffer. Berean Standard Bible How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering. Berean Literal Bible How the cattle groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed, because there is no pasture unto them; even the flocks of the sheep suffer punishment. King James Bible How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. New King James Version How the animals groan! The herds of cattle are restless, Because they have no pasture; Even the flocks of sheep suffer punishment. New American Standard Bible How the animals have groaned! The herds of cattle have wandered aimlessly Because there is no pasture for them; Even the flocks of sheep have suffered. NASB 1995 How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle wander aimlessly Because there is no pasture for them; Even the flocks of sheep suffer. NASB 1977 How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle wander aimlessly Because there is no pasture for them; Even the flocks of sheep suffer. Legacy Standard Bible How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle wander aimlessly Because there is no pasture for them; Even the flocks of sheep suffer. Amplified Bible How the animals groan! The herds of cattle are bewildered and wander aimlessly Because they have no pasture; Even the flocks of sheep suffer. Berean Annotated Bible How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering. Christian Standard Bible How the animals groan! The herds of cattle wander in confusion since they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep and goats suffer punishment. Holman Christian Standard Bible How the animals groan! The herds of cattle wander in confusion since they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep suffer punishment. American Standard Version How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. Contemporary English Version Our cattle wander aimlessly, moaning for lack of pasture, and sheep are suffering. English Revised Version How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. GOD'S WORD® Translation The animals groan. Herds of cattle wander around confused. There's no pasture for them. Even flocks of sheep are suffering. Good News Translation The cattle are bellowing in distress because there is no pasture for them; the flocks of sheep also suffer. International Standard Version Oh, how the livestock groan! The herds of cattle wander about because they have no pasture. Even flocks of sheep suffer! NET Bible Listen to the cattle groan! The herds of livestock wander around in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering. New Heart English Bible How the animals groan. The herds of livestock are perplexed, because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep suffer. Webster's Bible Translation How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHow the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering. World English Bible How the animals groan! The herds of livestock are perplexed, because they have no pasture. Yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionHow livestock have sighed! Perplexed have been droves of oxen, "" For there is no pasture for them, "" Also droves of sheep have been desolated. Berean Literal Bible How the cattle groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed, because there is no pasture unto them; even the flocks of the sheep suffer punishment. Young's Literal Translation How have cattle sighed! Perplexed have been droves of oxen, For there is no pasture for them, Also droves of sheep have been desolated. Smith's Literal Translation How the beasts groaned! the herds of oxen wept, for no pasture to them; also the flocks of sheep were laid waste. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhy did the beast groan, why did the herds of cattle low? because there is no pasture for them: yea, and the flocks of sheep are perished. Catholic Public Domain Version Why have the animals groaned, the herds of cattle bellowed? because there is no pasture for them. Yes, and even the flocks of sheep have been lost. New American Bible How the animals groan! The herds of cattle are bewildered! Because they have no pasture, even the flocks of sheep are starving. New Revised Standard Version How the animals groan! The herds of cattle wander about because there is no pasture for them; even the flocks of sheep are dazed. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleHow the beasts groan! the herds of cattle cry because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep also are perished. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Why do the cattle groan and the herds of oxen cry? For they have no pasture, also the flocks of sheep have come to an end OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917How do the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed, Because they have no pasture; Yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. Brenton Septuagint Translation What shall we store up for ourselves? the herds of cattle have mourned, because they had no pasture; and the flocks of sheep have been utterly destroyed. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Call to Repentance…17The seeds lie shriveled beneath the clods; the storehouses are in ruins; the granaries are broken down, for the grain has withered away. 18How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering. 19To You, O LORD, I call, for fire has consumed the open pastures and flames have scorched all the trees of the field.… Cross References How the cattle groan! Jeremiah 14:6 Wild donkeys stand on barren heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of pasture.” Hosea 4:3 Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear. Jeremiah 12:4 How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.” The herds wander in confusion 1 Kings 22:17 So Micaiah declared: “I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace.’” Ezekiel 34:5-6 They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts. / My flock went astray on all the mountains and every high hill. They were scattered over the face of all the earth, with no one to search for them or seek them out.’ Numbers 27:17 who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” because they have no pasture. Joel 2:22 Do not be afraid, O beasts of the field, for the open pastures have turned green, the trees bear their fruit, and the fig tree and vine yield their best. Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. Ezekiel 34:14 I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering. Ezekiel 34:8-10 ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because My flock lacks a shepherd and has become prey and food for every wild beast, and because My shepherds did not search for My flock but fed themselves instead, / therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD!’ / This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will demand from them My flock and remove them from tending the flock, so that they can no longer feed themselves. For I will deliver My flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.’ Zechariah 11:4-7 This is what the LORD my God says: “Pasture the flock marked for slaughter, / whose buyers slaughter them without remorse. Those who sell them say, ‘Blessed be the LORD, for I am rich!’ Even their own shepherds have no compassion on them. / For I will no longer have compassion on the people of the land, declares the LORD, but behold, I will cause each man to fall into the hands of his neighbor and his king, who will devastate the land, and I will not deliver it from their hands.” … Matthew 9:36 When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Jeremiah 14:5-6 Even the doe in the field deserts her newborn fawn because there is no grass. / Wild donkeys stand on barren heights; they pant for air like jackals; their eyes fail for lack of pasture.” Isaiah 24:4-7 The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and fades; the exalted of the earth waste away. / The earth is defiled by its people; they have transgressed the laws; they have overstepped the decrees and broken the everlasting covenant. / Therefore a curse has consumed the earth, and its inhabitants must bear the guilt; the earth’s dwellers have been burned, and only a few survive. … Amos 4:6-9 “I afflicted all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. / “I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered. / People staggered from city to city for water to drink, but they were not satisfied; yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. … Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, / yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! Treasury of Scripture How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. Joel 1:20 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. 1 Kings 18:5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts. Jeremiah 12:4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end. Jump to Previous Aimlessly Animals Beasts Bewildered Cattle Desolate Desolated Dismayed Droves Flocks Grass Groan Herds Livestock Mill Moan Oxen Pain Pasture Perplexed Sheep Sighed Sounds Suffer Suffering WanderJump to Next Aimlessly Animals Beasts Bewildered Cattle Desolate Desolated Dismayed Droves Flocks Grass Groan Herds Livestock Mill Moan Oxen Pain Pasture Perplexed Sheep Sighed Sounds Suffer Suffering WanderJoel 1 1. Joel, declaring various judgments of God, exhorts to observe them,8. and to mourn. 14. He prescribes a solemn fast to deprecate those judgments. How the cattle groan! This phrase captures the dire situation in Judah due to a devastating locust plague and drought. The groaning of the cattle symbolizes the widespread suffering affecting all of creation, not just humans. In the ancient Near East, cattle were vital for agriculture and daily life, providing milk, meat, and labor. Their distress indicates a severe economic and social crisis. This imagery echoes the groaning of creation in Romans 8:22, highlighting the impact of sin and judgment on the natural world. The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoelThe prophet who authored the book, delivering God's message to the people of Judah during a time of crisis. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, experiencing a devastating locust plague and drought during Joel's prophecy. 3. Cattle and Herds Representing the agricultural wealth and sustenance of the people, now suffering due to the lack of pasture. 4. Flocks of Sheep Symbolizing the broader impact of the disaster on all aspects of life, including the spiritual and economic well-being of the community. 5. Locust Plague and Drought The immediate context of Joel's prophecy, serving as a divine judgment and a call to repentance. Teaching Points The Consequences of SinThe suffering of the cattle and sheep in Joel 1:18 serves as a vivid reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. Just as the land suffers, so do we when we stray from His path. Interconnectedness of Creation The passage highlights the interconnectedness of all creation. Our actions have a ripple effect on the environment and the world around us, calling us to be responsible stewards. Call to Repentance The desolation described in Joel is a call to repentance. In times of crisis, we are urged to turn back to God, seeking His mercy and restoration. Dependence on God The imagery of wandering herds emphasizes our dependence on God for sustenance and guidance. In times of confusion and lack, we must rely on His provision. Hope in Restoration While the immediate context is bleak, Joel's prophecy ultimately points to the hope of restoration. God's judgment is not the end; His desire is for renewal and blessing. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joel 1:18?2. How does Joel 1:18 illustrate the consequences of sin on creation? 3. What can we learn about stewardship from the distress of animals in Joel 1:18? 4. How does Joel 1:18 connect to Romans 8:22 about creation's groaning? 5. In what ways can we respond to environmental distress as seen in Joel 1:18? 6. How does Joel 1:18 encourage us to pray for God's restoration of creation? 7. What does Joel 1:18 reveal about God's judgment on the land and its inhabitants? 8. How does the suffering of animals in Joel 1:18 reflect the consequences of human sin? 9. What historical events might Joel 1:18 be referencing with its imagery of devastation? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joel 1? 11. Who was Og, King of Bashan? 12. What are the Strong Bulls of Bashan? 13. What foods are mentioned in the Bible? 14. Is the image of 'bathing his steps in butter' (Job 29:6) literal, and does it align with known ancient customs or practices? What Does Joel 1:18 Mean How the cattle groan!• The Scripture opens with an audible image: “How the cattle groan!” (Joel 1:18). It is not poetic exaggeration but a literal snapshot of animals in distress during a divinely sent drought and locust plague (Joel 1:4, 12). • Their groaning reveals the severity of God’s judgment on the land, echoing Jeremiah 12:4, where the earth “mourns” because of human sin. • Romans 8:22 reminds us that “the whole creation has been groaning together,” pointing back to scenes like this where nature itself testifies to mankind’s need for repentance. The herds wander in confusion • Without water or grass, cattle drift aimlessly, mirroring the spiritual confusion of the people who had turned from the Lord (Joel 1:5, 13). • Jeremiah 14:5-6 portrays deer and wild donkeys doing the same, underscoring how judgment affects every level of creation. • Psalm 107:4-5 speaks of people who “wandered in desert wastelands”; the picture of lost cattle helps us see our own tendency to stray when we ignore God’s voice. Because they have no pasture • Drought has stripped the fields bare (Joel 1:10-12), so even the instinct to graze brings no relief. • 1 Kings 18:5 records Ahab searching for grass during Elijah’s drought; the pattern repeats when God withholds blessing to shake His people awake. • Ezekiel 34:2-3 condemns shepherds who let flocks starve—an indictment that runs parallel to Judah’s leaders who neglected true worship. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering • Sheep, usually hardy in sparse terrain, are now “suffering,” proving the judgment is total. • 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 links such national calamities to a call for humble prayer and repentance. • The contrast with Psalm 23:1-2 (“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want”) is stark: outside God’s provision there is only scarcity. summary Joel 1:18 shows creation itself groaning under God’s righteous judgment: cattle moan, herds roam confused, pasture vanishes, and even resilient sheep languish. The verse is a literal record of a devastating drought, but it also serves as a mirror for human sin and a summons to repent while God’s mercy is still offered. (18) How do the beasts groan.--All creation is represented as sharing in the dread perplexity; the beasts are involved in it, as also in Nineveh the animals were united in the proclamation of the general fast by the king's decree, when he had heard of the preaching of Jonah.Hebrew Howמַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what the cattle בְהֵמָ֗ה (ḇə·hê·māh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal groan! נֶּאֶנְחָ֣ה (ne·’en·ḥāh) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 584: To sigh, groan The herds עֶדְרֵ֣י (‘eḏ·rê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5739: An arrangement, muster wander in confusion נָבֹ֙כוּ֙ (nā·ḇō·ḵū) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 943: To perplex, confuse because כִּ֛י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction they have no אֵ֥ין (’ên) Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle pasture. מִרְעֶ֖ה (mir·‘eh) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4829: Pasture, the haunt of wild animals Even גַּם־ (gam-) Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and the flocks עֶדְרֵ֥י (‘eḏ·rê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5739: An arrangement, muster of sheep הַצֹּ֖אן (haṣ·ṣōn) Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 6629: Small cattle, sheep and goats, flock are suffering. נֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ (ne’·šā·mū) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 816: To be guilty, to be punished, perish Links Joel 1:18 NIVJoel 1:18 NLT Joel 1:18 ESV Joel 1:18 NASB Joel 1:18 KJV Joel 1:18 BibleApps.com Joel 1:18 Biblia Paralela Joel 1:18 Chinese Bible Joel 1:18 French Bible Joel 1:18 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Joel 1:18 How the animals groan! 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