Joel 1:6 (KJV)

What does Joel 1:6 mean?

Joel 1:6 describes a devastating invasion of the land as if a powerful nation had marched into it. In the passage, the invading force is associated with the locusts that have consumed the crops, and the picture makes their destructive power clear.

The words “my land” present the land as belonging to God. The lion’s teeth give the invasion a fierce, threatening image: what has come against the land can strip and ruin what grows there.

The Hebrew behind Joel 1:6

• “nation” — גּוֹי (goy): This word often means a nation or people. Here, the word gives the invading force the character of an organized people advancing into a land.
• “cheek teeth” — מְתַלְּעוֹת (metalleʿot): The word refers to the back teeth or jaws used for crushing. The detail adds to the picture of a creature equipped to tear through what lies in its path.

Why Joel 1:6 matters

• The invasion reaches into the heart of the land’s food supply. Verse 7 connects the threat to ruined vines and fig trees, which were important sources of food.
• The language makes the scale of the disaster hard to miss. “Strong, and without number” presents the force as overwhelming rather than a small outbreak.