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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Joel 1:6 For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/joel/1-6.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/29_Jol_01_06.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Joel 1:6 - The Invasion of Locusts" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/joel/1-6.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/joel/1-6.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/joel/">Joel</a> > <a href="/joel/1.htm">Chapter 1</a> > Verse 6</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad6.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/joel/1-5.htm" title="Joel 1:5">◄</a> Joel 1:6 <a href="/joel/1-7.htm" title="Joel 1:7">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/joel/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/joel/1.htm">New International Version</a> A nation has invaded my land, a mighty army without number; it has the teeth of a lion, the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/nlt/joel/1.htm">New Living Translation</a> A vast army of locusts has invaded my land, a terrible army too numerous to count. Its teeth are like lions’ teeth, its fangs like those of a lioness. <a href="/esv/joel/1.htm">English Standard Version</a> For a nation has come up against my land, powerful and beyond number; its teeth are lions’ teeth, and it has the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/bsb/joel/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/kjv/joel/1.htm">King James Bible</a> For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. <a href="/nkjv/joel/1.htm">New King James Version</a> For a nation has come up against My land, Strong, and without number; His teeth are the teeth of a lion, And he has the fangs of a fierce lion. <a href="/nasb_/joel/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> For a nation has invaded my land, Mighty and without number; Its teeth are the teeth of a lion, And it has the jaws of a lioness. <a href="/nasb/joel/1.htm">NASB 1995</a> For a nation has invaded my land, Mighty and without number; Its teeth are the teeth of a lion, And it has the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/nasb77/joel/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a> For a nation has invaded my land, Mighty and without number; Its teeth are the teeth of a lion, And it has the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/lsb/joel/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> For a nation has come up against my land, Mighty and without number; Its teeth are the teeth of a lion, And it has the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/amp/joel/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a> For a [pagan and hostile] nation has invaded My land [like locusts], Mighty and without number; Its teeth are the teeth of a lion, And it has the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/csb/joel/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> For a nation has invaded my land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and it has the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/hcsb/joel/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and it has the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/asv/joel/1.htm">American Standard Version</a> For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the jaw-teeth of a lioness. <a href="/cev/joel/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> A powerful nation with countless troops has invaded our land. They have the teeth and jaws of powerful lions. <a href="/erv/joel/1.htm">English Revised Version</a> For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number; his teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the jaw teeth of a great lion. <a href="/gwt/joel/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> A strong nation attacked my land. It has too many soldiers to count. They have teeth like lions. They have fangs like grown lions. <a href="/gnt/joel/1.htm">Good News Translation</a> An army of locusts has attacked our land; they are powerful and too many to count; their teeth are as sharp as those of a lion. <a href="/isv/joel/1.htm">International Standard Version</a> Indeed, a nation has invaded my land— it is strong and its population is too large to count — with teeth like a lion and fangs like a lioness. <a href="/msb/joel/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/net/joel/1.htm">NET Bible</a> For a nation has invaded our land. There are so many of them they are too numerous to count. Their teeth are like those of a lion; they tear apart their prey like a lioness. <a href="/nheb/joel/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> For a nation has come up on my land, strong, and without number. His teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a lioness. <a href="/wbt/joel/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. <a href="/web/joel/1.htm">World English Bible</a> For a nation has come up on my land, strong, and without number. His teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the fangs of a lioness. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/joel/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> For a nation has come up on My land, "" Strong, and there is no number, "" Its teeth [are] the teeth of a lion, "" And it has the jaw-teeth of a lioness. <a href="/ylt/joel/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> For a nation hath come up on my land, Strong, and there is no number, Its teeth are the teeth of a lion, And it hath the jaw-teeth of a lioness. <a href="/slt/joel/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> For a nation came up upon my land, strong, and no number; his teeth the teeth of a lion, and a biter's teeth of the lioness to him.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/joel/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> For a nation is come up upon my land, strong and without number: his teeth are like the teeth of a lion: and his cheek teeth as of a lion's whelp. <a href="/cpdv/joel/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> For a nation has ascended over my land: strong and without number. His teeth are like the teeth of a lion, and his molars are like that of a lion’s young. <a href="/nabre/joel/1.htm">New American Bible</a> For a nation invaded my land, powerful and past counting, With teeth like a lion’s, fangs like those of a lioness. <a href="/nrsvce/joel/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> For a nation has invaded my land, powerful and innumerable; its teeth are lions’ teeth, and it has the fangs of a lioness.<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/joel/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> A nation has come up against my land, strong, and without number; whose teeth are like the teeth of a lion, and his fangs as the fangs of a lion's whelp. <a href="/hpbt/joel/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> Because a people went up to my strong land, and there are no numbers to its teeth, as the teeth of a lion, and its fangs as the fangs of a whelp of a lion<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/joel/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> For a people is come up upon my land, Mighty, and without number; His teeth are the teeth of a lion, And he hath the jaw-teeth of a lioness. <a href="/sep/joel/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> For a strong and innumerable nation is come up against my land, their teeth are lion's teeth, and their back teeth those of a lion's whelp. <a href="/parallel/joel/1-6.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oEU9eLLsIkI?start=50" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/joel/1.htm">The Invasion of Locusts</a> …5Wake up, you drunkards, and weep; wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it has been cut off from your mouth. 6<a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/1471.htm" title="1471: ḡō·w (N-ms) -- Rarely goy; apparently from the same root as gevah; a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts.">a nation</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: ‘ā·lāh (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">has invaded</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications."></a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: ’ar·ṣî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">My land,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6099.htm" title="6099: ‘ā·ṣūm (Adj-ms) -- Mighty, numerous. Or matsum; passive participle of atsam; powerful; by implication, numerous.">powerful</a> <a href="/hebrew/369.htm" title="369: wə·’ên (Conj-w:: Adv) -- As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.">and without</a> <a href="/hebrew/4557.htm" title="4557: mis·pār (N-ms) -- Number, tally. From caphar; a number, definite or indefinite; also narration.">number;</a> <a href="/hebrew/8127.htm" title="8127: šin·nāw (N-cdc:: 3ms) -- Tooth, ivory. From shanan; a tooth; specifically ivory; figuratively, a cliff.">its teeth</a> <a href="/hebrew/8127.htm" title="8127: šin·nê (N-cdc) -- Tooth, ivory. From shanan; a tooth; specifically ivory; figuratively, a cliff.">are the teeth</a> <a href="/hebrew/738.htm" title="738: ’ar·yêh (N-ms) -- A lion. Or earyeh; from 'arah; a lion.">of a lion,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4973.htm" title="4973: ū·mə·ṯal·lə·‘ō·wṯ (Conj-w:: N-fpc) -- Teeth. Contr. From yala'; properly, a biter, i.e. A tooth.">and its fangs are the fangs</a> <a href="/hebrew/3833.htm" title="3833: lā·ḇî (N-ms) -- To roar, a lion.">of a lioness.</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- "></a> 7It has laid waste My grapevine and splintered My fig tree. It has stripped off the bark and thrown it away; the branches have turned white.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/revelation/9-7.htm">Revelation 9:7-10</a> And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads; and their faces were like the faces of men. / They had hair like that of women, and teeth like those of lions. / They also had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. ... <a href="/jeremiah/5-17.htm">Jeremiah 5:17</a> They will devour your harvest and food; they will consume your sons and daughters; they will eat up your flocks and herds; they will feed on your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.” <a href="/isaiah/5-29.htm">Isaiah 5:29-30</a> Their roaring is like that of a lion; they roar like young lions. They growl and seize their prey; they carry it away, and no one can rescue it. / In that day they will roar over it, like the roaring of the sea. If one looks over the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be obscured by clouds. <a href="/amos/4-9.htm">Amos 4:9</a> “I struck you with blight and mildew in your growing gardens and vineyards; the locust devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. <a href="/nahum/3-15.htm">Nahum 3:15-17</a> There the fire will devour you; the sword will cut you down and consume you like a young locust. Make yourself many like the young locust; make yourself many like the swarming locust! / You have multiplied your merchants more than the stars of the sky. The young locust strips the land and flies away. / Your guards are like the swarming locust, and your scribes like clouds of locusts that settle on the walls on a cold day. When the sun rises, they fly away, and no one knows where. <a href="/deuteronomy/28-42.htm">Deuteronomy 28:42</a> Swarms of locusts will consume all your trees and the produce of your land. <a href="/exodus/10-14.htm">Exodus 10:14-15</a> The locusts swarmed across the land and settled over the entire territory of Egypt. Never before had there been so many locusts, and never again will there be. / They covered the face of all the land until it was black, and they consumed all the plants on the ground and all the fruit on the trees that the hail had left behind. Nothing green was left on any tree or plant in all the land of Egypt. <a href="/judges/6-5.htm">Judges 6:5</a> For the Midianites came with their livestock and their tents like a great swarm of locusts. They and their camels were innumerable, and they entered the land to ravage it. <a href="/jeremiah/46-23.htm">Jeremiah 46:23</a> They will chop down her forest, declares the LORD, dense though it may be, for they are more numerous than locusts; they cannot be counted. <a href="/isaiah/33-4.htm">Isaiah 33:4</a> Your spoil, O nations, is gathered as by locusts; like a swarm of locusts men sweep over it. <a href="/psalms/105-34.htm">Psalm 105:34-35</a> He spoke, and the locusts came—young locusts without number. / They devoured every plant in their land and consumed the produce of their soil. <a href="/revelation/9-3.htm">Revelation 9:3-4</a> And out of the smoke, locusts descended on the earth, and they were given power like that of the scorpions of the earth. / They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. <a href="/isaiah/7-18.htm">Isaiah 7:18-19</a> On that day the LORD will whistle to the flies at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bees in the land of Assyria. / And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines and clefts of the rocks, in all the thornbushes and watering holes. <a href="/jeremiah/51-14.htm">Jeremiah 51:14</a> The LORD of Hosts has sworn by Himself: “Surely I will fill you up with men as with locusts, and they will shout in triumph over you.” <a href="/proverbs/30-25.htm">Proverbs 30:25-27</a> The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; / the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks; / the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation;</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>For a nation is come up on my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the cheek teeth of a great lion.nation.<a href="/joel/2-2.htm">Joel 2:2-11,25</a> A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations… <a href="/proverbs/30-25.htm">Proverbs 30:25-27</a> The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; … my.<a href="/psalms/107-34.htm">Psalm 107:34</a> A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.<a href="/isaiah/8-8.htm">Isaiah 8:8</a> And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.<a href="/isaiah/32-13.htm">Isaiah 32:13</a> Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:whose.<a href="/proverbs/30-14.htm">Proverbs 30:14</a> There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.<a href="/revelation/9-7.htm">Revelation 9:7-10</a> And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/lamentations/3-30.htm">Cheek</a> <a href="/psalms/58-6.htm">Fangs</a> <a href="/joel/1-4.htm">Great</a> <a href="/jeremiah/48-15.htm">Invaded</a> <a href="/proverbs/30-14.htm">Jaw-Teeth</a> <a href="/hosea/13-7.htm">Lion</a> <a href="/hosea/10-13.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/hosea/8-7.htm">Nation</a> <a href="/daniel/11-25.htm">Powerful</a> <a href="/hosea/10-14.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/daniel/7-19.htm">Teeth</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/micah/5-1.htm">Cheek</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-24.htm">Fangs</a> <a href="/joel/2-2.htm">Great</a> <a href="/exodus/10-14.htm">Invaded</a> <a href="/job/29-17.htm">Jaw-Teeth</a> <a href="/amos/3-4.htm">Lion</a> <a href="/joel/1-15.htm">Mighty</a> <a href="/joel/3-8.htm">Nation</a> <a href="/joel/2-5.htm">Powerful</a> <a href="/joel/2-2.htm">Strong</a> <a href="/amos/4-6.htm">Teeth</a><div class="vheading2">Joel 1</div>1. <a href="/joel/1-1.htm">Joel, declaring various judgments of God, exhorts to observe them,</a> 8. <a href="/joel/1-8.htm">and to mourn.</a> 14. <a href="/joel/1-14.htm">He prescribes a solemn fast to deprecate those judgments.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In the context of Joel, this likely refers to a locust plague, which is used metaphorically to describe an invading army. The "nation" could symbolize the Assyrians or Babylonians, who historically invaded Israel. The use of "My land" emphasizes God's ownership and covenant relationship with Israel, highlighting the severity of the invasion as a divine judgment.powerful and without number The description of the invaders as "powerful and without number" underscores the overwhelming and unstoppable nature of the threat. This could be a literal description of the locust swarms, which are known for their vast numbers and destructive power. Historically, locust plagues were common in the ancient Near East and could devastate entire regions. Theologically, this phrase emphasizes the totality of God's judgment and the need for repentance.its teeth are the teeth of a lion The imagery of a lion's teeth conveys the ferocity and destructiveness of the invaders. Lions were known in the ancient world for their strength and ability to tear apart their prey. This metaphor suggests that the invaders will leave nothing behind, consuming everything in their path. In biblical literature, lions often symbolize powerful enemies or divine judgment (e.g., <a href="/amos/3-8.htm">Amos 3:8</a>).and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness The mention of a lioness adds to the imagery of predatory power, as lionesses are known for their hunting prowess. This further emphasizes the thoroughness and inevitability of the destruction. In the cultural context, the lioness was often seen as even more dangerous than the male lion due to her role in hunting. This phrase reinforces the idea of an unstoppable force, echoing the themes of judgment and the need for Israel to turn back to God.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/joel.htm">Joel</a> The prophet who authored the book, delivering God's message to the people of Judah. 2. <a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a> The southern kingdom of Israel, the primary audience of Joel's prophecy. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_invading_nation.htm">The Invading Nation</a> Symbolically described as a powerful and innumerable force, often interpreted as a locust plague or an invading army. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_land.htm">The Land</a> Refers to the land of Judah, which is experiencing devastation. 5. <a href="/topical/l/lion_and_lioness_imagery.htm">Lion and Lioness Imagery</a> Symbolizes the destructive power and ferocity of the invaders.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_reality_of_divine_judgment.htm">The Reality of Divine Judgment</a> God's judgment is real and can manifest in various forms, such as natural disasters or foreign invasions. This calls for a sober reflection on our spiritual state. <a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_sin's_consequences.htm">The Power of Sin's Consequences</a> Just as the locusts are powerful and destructive, sin can have devastating effects on our lives and communities. We must be vigilant and repentant. <a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_repentance.htm">The Call to Repentance</a> The imagery of invasion serves as a wake-up call for God's people to turn back to Him. Repentance is not just a one-time act but a continual posture of the heart. <a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_over_nations.htm">God's Sovereignty Over Nations</a> The description of the invaders as a "nation" reminds us that God is sovereign over all nations and uses them to accomplish His purposes, even in judgment. <a href="/topical/h/hope_amidst_destruction.htm">Hope Amidst Destruction</a> While the immediate context is one of judgment, the broader message of Joel includes restoration and hope for those who return to God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_joel_1.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Joel 1</a> <a href="/q/bible's_view_on_prayer_and_fasting.htm">What does the Bible say about prayer and fasting?</a> <a href="/q/main_themes_of_bible's_books.htm">What are the main themes of the Bible's books?</a> <a href="/q/why_are_lions_and_vines_linked_to_judah.htm">Why does the text refer to lions and vines in a way that appears inconsistent with known historical details about Judah's rulers?</a> <a href="/q/how_does_ezekiel_19_2-9_align_with_judah's_exiles.htm">How can Ezekiel 19:2-9 be harmonized with the historical records of Judah's exiles, given the imagery of lion cubs taken captive?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/joel/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(6) A nation.--It was not uncommon with Hebrew writers to apply the name people or folk to animals, as, "The ants are a people not strong;" "The conies are but a feeble folk" (<a href="/context/proverbs/30-25.htm" title="The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;">Proverbs 30:25-26</a>); but the word used by Joel is different from that in the Proverbs. He selected a word indicative of foreign nations, suggestive of attack, including both the irrational invader and the foreign conqueror. The surpassing strength of the nation is indicated by the extraordinary power of the locust's teeth, compared to that of the lion's jaws. The same comparison is made by St. John (<a href="/revelation/9-8.htm" title="And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.">Revelation 9:8</a>): "Their teeth (the locusts) were as the teeth of lions."<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/joel/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 6. - For a nation is come up upon my land, strong and without number. The loss of the wine and of the sweet juice of the grape would be a source of genuine sorrow to the drinkers of wine; that loss would be occasioned by the destruction of the vines. In this and the following verse the prophet explains the instrumentality by which that destruction would be brought about. The prophet, fully identifying himself with his countrymen, speaking in their name and as their representative, says "my land." Kimchi understands the suffix to "land," like "my vine" and "my fig tree" in the next verse, as referring either to the prophet himself or to the people of the land; while some refer it to Jehovah, the great Proprietor, who had given the land to his people for their inheritance while they observed his covenant and obeyed his commandments. The locusts ore called a nation, just as the "ants are a people not strong," and the "conies are" said to be "but a feeble folk." Kimchi lays that "every collection of living things is called a nation (qoy); accordingly the prophet applies 'nation' to the locust." Nor deem the weed "nation" thus applied support the allegorical sense any more than the Homeric - "Even as go the swarms [literally nations] of closely thronging bees." This army of locusts is characterized by the two qualities of strength and number. The preterite עָלָה, though past, really refers to the future, to express the certain occurrence of what is predicted; so with שָׂם in the following verse, of which Kimchi says, "The past is in place of the future;" and Aben Ezra more fully, "A thing that is decreed to take place is spoken of in the past." This army has peculiar weapons, yet nothing the less powerful. Whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek-teeth of a great lion; or, lioness. Different descriptive terms are applied to lions - the lion's whelp is גּוּר; the young lion, which, though young, is no longer a whelp, is כְּפִיר; also the lion, from its hoarseness at a certain age, is called שַׁחַלֹ; the lion, from its cry, is called by onomatopoeia, לָבִיּא; the lion, from its strength, is called לַיִשׁ; while the common name of a lion, derived probably from אָרָה, to pluck or tear, is אַרְיֵה. Having compared the invading locusts to an army powerful and countless, the prophet proceeds to speak of the weapons wielded by these warlike and hostile invaders. They are their teeth. While the common name for locust respects their multitude, the other names are of the nature of epithets, and all, as we have seen, derived from the vigour and voracity with which they use their teeth. Those teeth, so destructive, are compared to those of a lion and the molars or grinders of a great, stout, old lion or lioness, for the word has been translated in each of these ways. <a href="/commentaries/joel/1-6.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>For כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction a nation גוֹי֙ (ḡō·w) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1471.htm">Strong's 1471: </a> A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts has invaded עָלָ֣ה (‘ā·lāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> To ascend, in, actively My land, אַרְצִ֔י (’ar·ṣî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> Earth, land powerful עָצ֖וּם (‘ā·ṣūm) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6099.htm">Strong's 6099: </a> Powerful, numerous and without וְאֵ֣ין (wə·’ên) Conjunctive waw | Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_369.htm">Strong's 369: </a> A non-entity, a negative particle number; מִסְפָּ֑ר (mis·pār) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4557.htm">Strong's 4557: </a> A number, definite, indefinite, narration its teeth שִׁנָּיו֙ (šin·nāw) Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8127.htm">Strong's 8127: </a> A tooth, ivory, a cliff are [those] שִׁנֵּ֣י (šin·nê) Noun - cdc <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8127.htm">Strong's 8127: </a> A tooth, ivory, a cliff of a lion, אַרְיֵ֔ה (’ar·yêh) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_738.htm">Strong's 738: </a> A lion and its fangs וּֽמְתַלְּע֥וֹת (ū·mə·ṯal·lə·‘ō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4973.htm">Strong's 4973: </a> A biter, a tooth [are those] of a lioness. לָבִ֖יא (lā·ḇî) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3833.htm">Strong's 3833: </a> To roar, a lion, <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/joel/1-6.htm">Joel 1:6 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/joel/1-6.htm">Joel 1:6 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/joel/1-6.htm">Joel 1:6 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/joel/1-6.htm">Joel 1:6 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/joel/1-6.htm">Joel 1:6 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/joel/1-6.htm">Joel 1:6 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/joel/1-6.htm">Joel 1:6 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/joel/1-6.htm">Joel 1:6 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/joel/1-6.htm">Joel 1:6 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/joel/1-6.htm">Joel 1:6 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/joel/1-6.htm">OT Prophets: Joel 1:6 For a nation has come up (Jl Joe.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/joel/1-5.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Joel 1:5"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Joel 1:5" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/joel/1-7.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Joel 1:7"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Joel 1:7" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>