Joel 1:20 (DBY)

Passage

The beasts of the field also cry unto thee; for the water-courses are dried, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

Nearby Context

Joel 1:18 How do the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are bewildered, for they have no pasture; the flocks of sheep also are in suffering.

Joel 1:19 To thee, Jehovah, do I cry; for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned up all the trees of the field.

Joel 1:20 The beasts of the field also cry unto thee; for the water-courses are dried, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "beasts", "field", "thee", "water-courses", "dried", "fire", "hath", and "devoured". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "beasts" and "field", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The prior verse says "To thee Jehovah do I cry for...", giving immediate footing for "beasts" and "field". In Joel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "beasts" and "field" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.