Joel 1:19
New International Version
To you, LORD, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.

New Living Translation
LORD, help us! The fire has consumed the wilderness pastures, and flames have burned up all the trees.

English Standard Version
To you, O LORD, I call. For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and flame has burned all the trees of the field.

Berean Standard Bible
To You, O LORD, I call, for fire has consumed the open pastures and flames have scorched all the trees of the field.

Berean Literal Bible
To You, O YHWH, I call out, for fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and a flame has burned all the trees of the field.

King James Bible
O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.

New King James Version
O LORD, to You I cry out; For fire has devoured the open pastures, And a flame has burned all the trees of the field.

New American Standard Bible
To You, LORD, I cry out; For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, And the flame has burned up all the trees of the field.

NASB 1995
To You, O LORD, I cry; For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness And the flame has burned up all the trees of the field.

NASB 1977
To Thee, O LORD, I cry; For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, And the flame has burned up all the trees of the field.

Legacy Standard Bible
To You, O Yahweh, I cry; For fire has consumed the pastures of the wilderness, And the flame has burned up all the trees of the field.

Amplified Bible
O LORD, I cry out to You, For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, And the flame has burned up all the trees of the field.

Berean Annotated Bible
To You, O LORD {YHWH}, I call, for fire has consumed the open pastures and flames have scorched all the trees of the field.

Christian Standard Bible
I call to you, LORD, for fire has consumed the pastures of the wilderness, and flames have devoured all the trees of the orchard.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I call to You, LORD, for fire has consumed the pastures of the wilderness, and flames have devoured all the trees of the countryside.

American Standard Version
O 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.

Contemporary English Version
I cry out to you, LORD. Grasslands and forests are eaten by the scorching heat.

English Revised Version
O LORD, 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
O LORD, I cry to you for help! Fire has burned up the open pastures. Flames have burned up all the trees in the orchards.

Good News Translation
I cry out to you, LORD, because the pastures and trees are dried up, as though a fire had burned them.

International Standard Version
To you, LORD, I cry out, because fire has devoured the open pastures, and has set all the cultivated trees ablaze.

NET Bible
To you, O LORD, I call out for help, for fire has burned up the grassy pastures, flames have razed all the trees in the fields.

New Heart English Bible
LORD, I cry to you, for the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the field.

Webster's Bible Translation
O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
To You, O LORD, I call, for fire has consumed the open pastures and flames have scorched all the trees of the field.

World English Bible
Yahweh, I cry to you, for the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the field.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
To You, O YHWH, I call, "" For fire has consumed lovely places of a wilderness, "" And a flame has set on fire all trees of the field.

Berean Literal Bible
To You, O YHWH, I call out, for fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and a flame has burned all the trees of the field.

Young's Literal Translation
Unto Thee, O Jehovah, I do call, For fire hath consumed comely places of a wilderness, And a flame hath set on fire all trees of the field.

Smith's Literal Translation
To thee, O Jehovah, will I call: for a fire consumed the habitations of the desert, and the flame burned all the trees of the field.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
To thee, 0 Lord, will I cry: because fire hath devoured the beautiful places of the wilderness, and the flame hath burnt all the trees of the country.

Catholic Public Domain Version
To you, O Lord, I will cry out, because fire has devoured the beauty of the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the countryside.

New American Bible
To you, LORD, I cry! for fire has devoured the wilderness pastures, flame has scorched all the trees in the field.

New Revised Standard Version
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.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
O LORD, to thee will I cry; for the fire has devoured the camps of shepherds in the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the field.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
To you LORD JEHOVAH I shall call, because fire has consumed the folds of the wilderness, and the flame has burned up all of the trees of the wilderness
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Unto Thee, O LORD, do I cry; For the fire hath devoured The pastures of the wilderness, And the flame hath set ablaze All the trees of the field.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
To thee, O Lord, will I cry: for fire has devoured the fair places of the wilderness, and a flame has burnt up all the trees of the field.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Call to Repentance
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. 20Even the beasts of the field pant for You, for the streams of water have dried up, and fire has consumed the open pastures.…

Cross References
To You, O LORD, I call,

Psalm 120:1
A song of ascents. In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.

Psalm 18:6
In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for His help reached His ears.

Psalm 142:1
A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy.
for fire has consumed the open pastures

Exodus 9:23-25
So Moses stretched out his staff toward heaven, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and lightning struck the earth. So the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. / The hail fell and the lightning continued flashing through it. The hail was so severe that nothing like it had ever been seen in all the land of Egypt from the time it became a nation. / Throughout the land of Egypt, the hail struck down everything in the field, both man and beast; it beat down every plant of the field and stripped every tree.

Deuteronomy 32:22
For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and scorches the foundations of the mountains.

Amos 7:4
This is what the Lord GOD showed me: The Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the land.
and flames have scorched all the trees of the field.

Ezekiel 20:47
Say to the forest of the Negev: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite in you a fire, and it will devour all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched.

Zechariah 11:1-2
Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may consume your cedars! / Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees are ruined! Wail, O oaks of Bashan, for the dense forest has been cut down!

Isaiah 10:17-19
And the Light of Israel will become a fire, and its Holy One a flame. In a single day it will burn and devour Assyria’s thorns and thistles. / The splendor of its forests and orchards, both soul and body, it will completely destroy, as a sickness consumes a man. / The remaining trees of its forests will be so few that a child could count them.
Jeremiah 14:4-6
The ground is cracked because no rain has fallen on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads. / 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. …

Psalm 50:15
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

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.

Revelation 8:7
Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.

Isaiah 15:6
The waters of Nimrim are dried up, and the grass is withered; the vegetation is gone, and the greenery is no more.

Jeremiah 9:10-12
I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains, a dirge over the wilderness pasture, for they have been scorched so no one passes through, and the lowing of cattle is not heard. Both the birds of the air and the beasts have fled; they have gone away. / “And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” / Who is the man wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may explain it? Why is the land destroyed and scorched like a desert, so no one can pass through it?


Treasury of Scripture

O LORD, to you will I cry: for the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame has burned all the trees of the field.

to thee.

Psalm 50:15
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 91:15
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Micah 7:7
Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

the fire.

Joel 2:3
A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

Jeremiah 9:10
For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.

Amos 7:4
Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.

pastures.

Jump to Previous
Ablaze Burned Consumed Cry Devoured End Field Fire Flame Flames Goes Grass-Lands Open Pastures Trees Waste Wilderness
Jump to Next
Ablaze Burned Consumed Cry Devoured End Field Fire Flame Flames Goes Grass-Lands Open Pastures Trees Waste Wilderness
Joel 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.












To You, O LORD, I call
This phrase reflects a direct and personal appeal to God, emphasizing the prophet's reliance on divine intervention. In the context of the book of Joel, this call is a response to a devastating locust plague and drought, symbolizing judgment and the need for repentance. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) underscores the covenant relationship between God and Israel, highlighting the expectation that God will hear and respond to His people's cries. This appeal is consistent with other biblical instances where individuals or nations call upon God in times of distress, such as in Psalms 18:6 and 50:15.

for fire has consumed the open pastures
The imagery of fire consuming pastures suggests a severe and destructive event, likely metaphorical for the locust plague that has ravaged the land. In the ancient Near East, fire was often a symbol of judgment and purification. The "open pastures" indicate areas typically used for grazing livestock, essential for the agrarian society of Israel. This devastation would have had significant economic and social implications, leading to a crisis that necessitated divine intervention. The use of fire as a metaphor for destruction is also seen in other prophetic literature, such as in Amos 7:4.

and flames have scorched all the trees of the field
This phrase continues the theme of widespread destruction, with "flames" further emphasizing the intensity of the calamity. Trees, often symbols of life and prosperity, being scorched signifies a complete stripping away of resources and sustenance. In the biblical context, trees are frequently associated with blessings and abundance (e.g., Psalm 1:3), so their destruction represents a reversal of fortune and a call to repentance. The comprehensive nature of the devastation points to the seriousness of the situation and the need for a return to God, as seen in other prophetic calls to repentance, such as in Isaiah 1:30-31.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joel
The prophet who authored the book, delivering God's message to the people of Judah during a time of crisis.

2. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, to whom Joel directs his plea for help and intervention.

3. The Pastures of the Wilderness
Represents the land of Judah, which is suffering devastation, possibly due to locusts and drought.

4. Fire and Flames
Symbolic of destruction and judgment, possibly literal or metaphorical, indicating severe devastation.

5. The Trees of the Field
Represents the natural resources and agricultural wealth of the land, now destroyed.
Teaching Points
Dependence on God in Crisis
Joel's call to the LORD emphasizes the importance of turning to God in times of distress. We should cultivate a habit of prayer and reliance on God, especially during difficult times.

Recognition of God's Sovereignty
The devastation described serves as a reminder of God's control over nature and history. Acknowledge His sovereignty in all circumstances, trusting His purposes even when they are not immediately clear.

The Consequences of Sin
The imagery of fire consuming the land can be seen as a result of the people's sin. Reflect on the personal and communal consequences of sin and the need for repentance.

Hope for Restoration
While the immediate context is one of judgment, the broader message of Joel includes hope for restoration. Trust in God's promise to restore and renew, even after periods of judgment.

Intercessory Prayer
Joel's plea is an example of intercessory prayer. We are called to pray not only for ourselves but also for our communities and nations, seeking God's mercy and intervention.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Joel 1:19?

2. How can we seek God's help like Joel in times of crisis?

3. What does "fire has consumed the pastures" symbolize in our spiritual lives?

4. How does Joel 1:19 connect with other biblical calls for repentance?

5. What practical steps can we take to address spiritual drought in our lives?

6. How can we encourage others to turn to God during their personal "fires"?

7. What is the historical context of Joel 1:19 and its significance for ancient Israel?

8. How does Joel 1:19 reflect the theme of divine judgment and repentance?

9. What does the imagery of fire in Joel 1:19 symbolize in biblical theology?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joel 1?

11. Why does God not give clear, undeniable guidance on important life decisions?

12. Why is God depicted as a physical, fearsome presence in Exodus 19, but more abstractly and intimately in other biblical passages?

13. What does the Bible say about the end times?

14. In 1 Kings 18:38, how can the sudden 'fire from the LORD' be explained scientifically or verified historically?
What Does Joel 1:19 Mean
To You, O LORD

• Joel begins with the most vital move in any crisis—turning directly to God. The calamity around him does not first drive him to political solutions or human alliances but to the covenant-keeping LORD.

Psalm 25:1 “To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul” models the same instinct: God alone is the sure refuge.

• This posture affirms God’s sovereignty; even devastation is under His rule (Isaiah 45:7). The prophet’s address assumes God hears and responds.


I call

• Calling implies urgency and dependence. Joel is not offering a casual prayer but a desperate cry, similar to Psalm 18:6 where David says, “In my distress I called upon the LORD.”

Jeremiah 33:3 shows God’s invitation: “Call to Me and I will answer you.” Joel takes that invitation seriously, believing divine intervention is still possible despite present judgment.

• The phrase reveals faith in action: authentic belief is demonstrated by calling on God rather than merely talking about Him.


for fire has consumed the open pastures

• Joel’s day saw literal drought and devastating locust swarms (Joel 1:4, 12), but here he describes the aftermath as a fiery desolation. In Scripture, fire often represents God’s judgment (Amos 7:4).

• Open pastures—those supposed to feed flocks—lie charred. The scene echoes Deuteronomy 28:22 where disobedience brings scorching and blight.

• Material loss underscores spiritual reality: without repentance, even the land groans (Romans 8:22). God allows tangible ruin to expose deeper need.


and flames have scorched all the trees of the field

• Trees signify stability, fruitfulness, and long-term blessing (Psalm 1:3). Their destruction points to total, not partial, judgment.

Isaiah 24:6 notes that the earth “is burned up” because of transgression; Joel aligns with that prophetic pattern.

• When even sturdy trees are burned, human self-reliance is stripped away, leaving only the option highlighted at the verse’s start—turn back to the LORD.


summary

Joel 1:19 portrays a worshiper who, in the face of sweeping, literal devastation, instinctively cries out to the LORD. Each phrase moves from relationship (“To You, O LORD”) to action (“I call”) to raw circumstance (“fire has consumed,” “flames have scorched”). The verse teaches that when judgment falls and every earthly security is torched, the faithful response is urgent prayer rooted in confidence that God hears, restores, and uses even calamity to draw His people back to Himself.

(19) The fire hath devoured.--This may be explained as produced by the scorching heat bringing about spontaneous combustion, or by the efforts of the people to exterminate the locusts by burning the trees, or by the mark, as of fire, left upon all vegetation after the locusts had finished their work of devastation.

Verses 19, 20. - O Lord, to thee will I cry. In consideration of man and beast - creatures rational and irrational being subject to so much hardship and suffering - the prophet appeals in intense earnestness of spirit to God, and all the more so because of the encouragement of his own Word, as it is written, "Lord, thou preservest man and beast." For the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. The fire and flame here referred to denote the fiery heat of the drought which burnt up the meadows and scorched the trees. Some seem to understand the terms literally, as applied to setting on fire the heath, or even the trees, in order to check the progress of the locusts or turn them aside by smoke and flame. This, however, is refuted by the following verse, which mentions the rivers of water being dried up: 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. In like manner we read in Jeremiah 14:4-6, "Because the ground is chapt, for there was no rain in the earth, the ploughmen were ashamed, they covered their heads. Yea, the hind also calved in the field, and forsook it, because there was no grass. And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because there was no grass." The various animals suffering from hunger and thirst express their distress in loud and lamentable, though inarticulate, cries. The Hebrew words which respectively denote the cries of the different animals are, according to Rashi, the following: ערג expresses the cry of deer; נהם (also שׁאג), to roar like lions; נעה, to low as oxen; צחל, to neigh like horses; ציפצופ (rather צִפְצִפ, fulfil), to twitter or chirp as birds. Further, the subject is plural, but the verb is singular, for the purpose of individualizing.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
To You,
אֵלֶ֥יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

O LORD,
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

I call,
אֶקְרָ֑א (’eq·rā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

fire
אֵ֗שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

has consumed
אָֽכְלָה֙ (’ā·ḵə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

the open
מִדְבָּ֔ר (miḏ·bār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

pastures
נְא֣וֹת (nə·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 4999: Habitation, house, pasture, pleasant place

and flames
וְלֶ֣הָבָ֔ה (wə·le·hā·ḇāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3852: A flash, a sharply polished blade, point of a, weapon

have scorched
לִהֲטָ֖ה (li·hă·ṭāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3857: To blaze up, flame

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the trees
עֲצֵ֥י (‘ă·ṣê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6086: Tree, trees, wood

of the field.
הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land


Links
Joel 1:19 NIV
Joel 1:19 NLT
Joel 1:19 ESV
Joel 1:19 NASB
Joel 1:19 KJV

Joel 1:19 BibleApps.com
Joel 1:19 Biblia Paralela
Joel 1:19 Chinese Bible
Joel 1:19 French Bible
Joel 1:19 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Joel 1:19 Yahweh I cry to you (Jl Joe.)
Joel 1:18
Top of Page
Top of Page