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."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

A fire devoureth before them, and behind them aflame burneth,.... This is not to be understood of the heat of the sun, or of the great drought that went before and continued after the locusts; but of them themselves, which were like a consuming fire; wherever they came, they devoured all green grass, herbs, and leaves of trees, as fire does stubble; they sucked out the juice and

moisture of everything they came at, and what they left behind shrivelled up and withered away, as if it had been scorched with a flame of fire: and so the Assyrians and Chaldeans, they were an emblem of, destroyed all they met with, by fire and sword; cut up the corn and herbage for forage; and what they could not dispense with they set fire to, and left it burning. Sanctius thinks this refers to fire, which the Chaldeans worshipped as God, and carried before their armies as a sacred and military sign; but this seems not likely: the land is as the garden of Eden before them; abounding with fields and vineyards, set with fruitful trees, planted with all manner of pleasant plants, and all kind of corn growing upon it, and even resembling a paradise: and behind them a desolate wilderness; all green grass eaten up, the corn of the field devoured, the vines and olives destroyed, the leaves and fruit of them quite gone, and the trees themselves barked; so that there was just the same difference between this country before the calamities described came upon it, and what it was after, as between the garden of Eden, or a paradise, and the most desolate wilderness; such ravages were made by the locusts, and by those they resembled: yea, and nothing shall escape them; no herb: plant, or tree, could escape the locusts; nor any city, town, or village, nor scarce any particular person, could escape the Chaldean army; but was either killed with the sword, or carried captive, or brought into subjection. The Targum interprets it of no deliverance to the ungodly.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (17 words)

H6440 פָנִים
Definition:

23and (Ezekiel =Proverbs 21:21=edge; on2 Samuel 10:9see below)feminineface, alsofaces(asturnedtoward one); — plural absoluteמָּנִיםGenesis 32:31+; constructמְּנֵי2 Samuel 14:32+; suffix 1 singularמָּנ 23and (Ezekiel =Proverbs 21:21=edge; on2 Samuel 10:9see below)feminineface, alsofaces(asturnedtoward one); — plural absoluteמָּנִיםGenesis 32:31+; constructמְּנֵי2 Samuel 14:32+; suffix 1 singularמָּנ

H0398 אָכַל
Definition:

28+;אָֽכְלָהNumbers 21:28+; etc.ImperfectיאֹבַלGenesis 49:27+;וַיּאֹ֫כַלGenesis 25:34+;וַיּאֹכַ֑לGenesis 3:6+;יאֹכֵ֑לLeviticus 21:22+;אֹכַלGenesis 24:33+;וָָֽאֹכַ֫לGenesis 27:33;וְאֹכֵ֑לIsaiah 44:19;ו 28+;אָֽכְלָהNumbers 21:28+; etc.ImperfectיאֹבַלGenesis 49:27+;וַיּאֹ֫כַלGenesis 25:34+;וַיּאֹכַ֑לGenesis 3:6+;יאֹכֵ֑לLeviticus 21:22+;אֹכַלGenesis 24:33+;וָָֽאֹכַ֫לGenesis 27:33;וְאֹכֵ֑לIsaiah 44:19;ו

Possible Meanings:
  • eat (semantic_range)
  • devour (semantic_range)
H0784 אֵשׂ
Definition:

23(masculineJeremiah 48:45;Psalm 104:4;**masculineis dubious:Numbers 16:18readעָלֶיהָfor 2ndעֲלֵיהֶם(ᵐ5B);Jeremiah 20:9see Ges§ 132 d;Jeremiah 48:45read (many MSS.,Numbers 21:23)יצאה;Psalm 104:4read p 23(masculineJeremiah 48:45;Psalm 104:4;**masculineis dubious:Numbers 16:18readעָלֶיהָfor 2ndעֲלֵיהֶם(ᵐ5B);Jeremiah 20:9see Ges§ 132 d;Jeremiah 48:45read (many MSS.,Numbers 21:23)יצאה;Psalm 104:4read p

Possible Meanings:
  • foundation (semantic_range)
H0310 אַחַר
Definition:

13(many MSS.⅏ᵐ5ᵑ6Ol Ew readאֶחָדsee Di)Psalm 68:26.b.of time, afterwardsGenesis 10:18;Genesis 18:5;Genesis 24:55;Genesis 30:21;Judges 19:5+;וְאַחַרin laws of P, asLeviticus 14:8,19;Leviticus 15:28;Lev 13(many MSS.⅏ᵐ5ᵑ6Ol Ew readאֶחָדsee Di)Psalm 68:26.b.of time, afterwardsGenesis 10:18;Genesis 18:5;Genesis 24:55;Genesis 30:21;Judges 19:5+;וְאַחַרin laws of P, asLeviticus 14:8,19;Leviticus 15:28;Lev

H3857 לָהַט
Definition:

4aflaming fire(so Bae;אֵשׁ וָלַהַטBi Che, compare Ol), made into׳יs servants; pluralלֹהֲטִיםPsalm 57:5(figurative of enemies, compareלְבָאִםva).Pi`elPerfect3feminine singularוְלִהַטMalachi 3:19; 3femi 4aflaming fire(so Bae;אֵשׁ וָלַהַטBi Che, compare Ol), made into׳יs servants; pluralלֹהֲטִיםPsalm 57:5(figurative of enemies, compareלְבָאִםva).Pi`elPerfect3feminine singularוְלִהַטMalachi 3:19; 3femi

Possible Meanings:
  • flame (semantic_range)
H3852 לֶהָבָה
Definition:

2813t.,לַהֶ֫בֶתabsoluteJob 15:30; constructEzekiel 21:3;לַבַּתExodus 3:3(=לַהְבַּת; Samaritanלהבת, see Di); pluralלָהָבוֺתPsalm 105:32; constructלַהֲבוֺתPsalm 29:7; —1flame, in poetry ("" or +אֵשׁ, ex 2813t.,לַהֶ֫בֶתabsoluteJob 15:30; constructEzekiel 21:3;לַבַּתExodus 3:3(=לַהְבַּת; Samaritanלהבת, see Di); pluralלָהָבוֺתPsalm 105:32; constructלַהֲבוֺתPsalm 29:7; —1flame, in poetry ("" or +אֵשׁ, ex

Possible Meanings:
  • point (semantic_range)
  • head (semantic_range)
H1588 גַּן
Definition:

12& (Genesis 2:15)feminineenclosure, garden(Late Hebrewid.,גַּנָּהArabic, EthiopicAssyrianginûCOTGloss, alsogannatuDlPr 84; Aramaicגִּנָּא,גִּנְתָּא,; Phoenicianפר אגנן אם צץ[צ] CISi, 165, 11 & p. 232 12& (Genesis 2:15)feminineenclosure, garden(Late Hebrewid.,גַּנָּהArabic, EthiopicAssyrianginûCOTGloss, alsogannatuDlPr 84; Aramaicגִּנָּא,גִּנְתָּא,; Phoenicianפר אגנן אם צץ[צ] CISi, 165, 11 & p. 232

H5731 עֵדֶן
Definition:

וַיִּטַּע גַּןבְּֿעֵדֶןGenesis 2:8, river׳יֹצֵא מֵעGenesis 2:10,׳קִדְמַתעֿGenesis 4:16;׳גַּןעֿGenesis 2:15;Genesis 3:23,24 (allᵐ5Εδεμ); compare׳כְּגַןעֿEzekiel 36:35;Joel 2:3and׳כְּעIsaiah 51:3(""׳גַּ וַיִּטַּע גַּןבְּֿעֵדֶןGenesis 2:8, river׳יֹצֵא מֵעGenesis 2:10,׳קִדְמַתעֿGenesis 4:16;׳גַּןעֿGenesis 2:15;Genesis 3:23,24 (allᵐ5Εδεμ); compare׳כְּגַןעֿEzekiel 36:35;Joel 2:3and׳כְּעIsaiah 51:3(""׳גַּ

Possible Meanings:
  • time (semantic_range)
H0776 אֶרֶץ
Definition:

11& (seldom)masculineGenesis 13:16earth, land(Phoenician, MIארץ, AssyrianirƒituCOTGloss, Arabic, Sabeanארץֿe.g. Os9DHMZMG 1875, 594, 614; Semitic Sprachf. 12, compare PräBAS i. 374 n., Aramaicאֲרַע,) 11& (seldom)masculineGenesis 13:16earth, land(Phoenician, MIארץ, AssyrianirƒituCOTGloss, Arabic, Sabeanארץֿe.g. Os9DHMZMG 1875, 594, 614; Semitic Sprachf. 12, compare PräBAS i. 374 n., Aramaicאֲרַע,)

H6440 פָנִים
Definition:

23and (Ezekiel =Proverbs 21:21=edge; on2 Samuel 10:9see below)feminineface, alsofaces(asturnedtoward one); — plural absoluteמָּנִיםGenesis 32:31+; constructמְּנֵי2 Samuel 14:32+; suffix 1 singularמָּנ 23and (Ezekiel =Proverbs 21:21=edge; on2 Samuel 10:9see below)feminineface, alsofaces(asturnedtoward one); — plural absoluteמָּנִיםGenesis 32:31+; constructמְּנֵי2 Samuel 14:32+; suffix 1 singularמָּנ

H0310 אַחַר
Definition:

13(many MSS.⅏ᵐ5ᵑ6Ol Ew readאֶחָדsee Di)Psalm 68:26.b.of time, afterwardsGenesis 10:18;Genesis 18:5;Genesis 24:55;Genesis 30:21;Judges 19:5+;וְאַחַרin laws of P, asLeviticus 14:8,19;Leviticus 15:28;Lev 13(many MSS.⅏ᵐ5ᵑ6Ol Ew readאֶחָדsee Di)Psalm 68:26.b.of time, afterwardsGenesis 10:18;Genesis 18:5;Genesis 24:55;Genesis 30:21;Judges 19:5+;וְאַחַרin laws of P, asLeviticus 14:8,19;Leviticus 15:28;Lev

H4057 מִדְבָּר
Definition:

Fromdabarin the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. Open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs) -- desert, south, speech, wilderness.see HEBREWda Fromdabarin the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. Open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs) -- desert, south, speech, wilderness.see HEBREWda

Possible Meanings:
  • uninhabited land (semantic_range)
  • large tracts (semantic_range)
H8077 שְׁמָמָה
Definition:

29+; plural constructשִׁמְמוֺתJeremiah 51:26+; —waste, usually of land, city, house, etc.,Exodus 23:29(E),Isaiah 1:7(probably strike out, with words following StuJP Th. 1877, 714FBJBL (1890), 84),Levi 29+; plural constructשִׁמְמוֺתJeremiah 51:26+; —waste, usually of land, city, house, etc.,Exodus 23:29(E),Isaiah 1:7(probably strike out, with words following StuJP Th. 1877, 714FBJBL (1890), 84),Levi

Possible Meanings:
  • a devastation (semantic_range)
H1571 גַּם
Definition:

6וַתִּתֵּן גַּם לְאִישָׁהּand gavealsoto her husband,Genesis 3:27and takealsoof the tree of life,Genesis 7:3;Genesis 19:21;Genesis 24:19;Genesis 26:21;Genesis 29:27;Genesis 30:15;Genesis 32:21(גַּם הִ 6וַתִּתֵּן גַּם לְאִישָׁהּand gavealsoto her husband,Genesis 3:27and takealsoof the tree of life,Genesis 7:3;Genesis 19:21;Genesis 24:19;Genesis 26:21;Genesis 29:27;Genesis 30:15;Genesis 32:21(גַּם הִ

Possible Meanings:
  • moreover (semantic_range)
  • yea (semantic_range)
H6413 פְלֵיטָה
Definition:

9+,מְּלֵטָהExodus 10:5+; constructמְּלֵיטַת2 Kings 19:30+; —1escape, deliveranceGenesis 45:7(E)Jeremiah 25:35.2elsewhere probably alwaysescaped remnant:a.of green things(from locusts)Exodus 10:5(J)Joe 9+,מְּלֵטָהExodus 10:5+; constructמְּלֵיטַת2 Kings 19:30+; —1escape, deliveranceGenesis 45:7(E)Jeremiah 25:35.2elsewhere probably alwaysescaped remnant:a.of green things(from locusts)Exodus 10:5(J)Joe

H3808 לֹא
Definition:

11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, 11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay,

H1961 הָיָה
Definition:

1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu 1+;וְהָיָהconsecutiveGenesis 4:14+; 3 feminine singularהָֽיְתָהGenesis 1:2+;הָיָ֑תָהIsaiah 14:243t.;וְהָֽיְתָהconsecutiveGenesis 9:13+;והית2Kings 9:37 Kt (Qrוְהָֽיְתָה); 2 masculine singularהָיִיתָDeu

Possible Meanings:
  • fall out (semantic_range)
  • come to pass (semantic_range)
  • become (semantic_range)
  • be (semantic_range)
  • Fall out (semantic_range)

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