Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They have the appearance of horses; they gallop along like cavalry. New Living Translation They look like horses; they charge forward like warhorses. English Standard Version Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and like war horses they run. Berean Standard Bible Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. King James Bible The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. New King James Version Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like swift steeds, so they run. New American Standard Bible Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like war horses, so they run. NASB 1995 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like war horses, so they run. NASB 1977 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like war horses, so they run. Legacy Standard Bible Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like war horses, so they run. Amplified Bible Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, And they run like war horses. Christian Standard Bible Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like war horses. Holman Christian Standard Bible Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like war horses. American Standard Version The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so do they run. Contemporary English Version They look like horses and charge like cavalry. English Revised Version The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so do they run. GOD'S WORD® Translation The soldiers look like horses. They run like war horses. Good News Translation They look like horses; they run like war-horses. International Standard Version As to their form, they're like horses; and like chariot horses, how they can run! Majority Standard Bible Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. NET Bible They look like horses; they charge ahead like war horses. New Heart English Bible The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses, and as horsemen, so do they run. Webster's Bible Translation The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. World English Bible Their appearance is as the appearance of horses, and they run as horsemen. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAs the appearance of horses [is] its appearance, "" And as horsemen, so they run. Young's Literal Translation As the appearance of horses is its appearance, And as horsemen, so they run. Smith's Literal Translation His appearance as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen so shall they run. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe appearance of them is as the appearance of horses, and they shall run like horsemen. Catholic Public Domain Version Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, and they will rush forward like horsemen. New American Bible Their appearance is that of horses; like war horses they run. New Revised Standard Version They have the appearance of horses, and like war-horses they charge. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThe appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and like horsemen so they run; Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Its appearance is like the appearance of horses and like horsemen thus they run OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; And as horsemen, so do they run. Brenton Septuagint Translation Their appearance is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they pursue. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Army of Locusts…3Before them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—surely nothing will escape them. 4Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. 5With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle.… Cross References Revelation 9:7-9 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. Nahum 3:17 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. Jeremiah 51:27 “Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her—Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts. Isaiah 5:28-29 Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are strung. The hooves of their horses are like flint; their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind. / 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. Habakkuk 1:8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour. Job 39:19-25 Do you give strength to the horse or adorn his neck with a mane? / Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting? / He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength; he charges into battle. ... Ezekiel 1:7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze. Amos 5:19 It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. Zechariah 10:3 “My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders. For the LORD of Hosts attends to His flock, the house of Judah; He will make them like His royal steed in battle. 2 Kings 7:6 For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.” Revelation 6:2 So I looked and saw a white horse, and its rider held a bow. And he was given a crown, and he rode out to overcome and conquer. Revelation 19:11-14 Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. / He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. ... Psalm 147:10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in their abundance of chariots and in their multitude of horsemen. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel; they do not seek the LORD. Jeremiah 4:13 Behold, he advances like the clouds, his chariots like the whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are ruined! Treasury of Scripture The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Revelation 9:7 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. Jump to Previous Appearance Cavalry Form Horsemen Horses Run Running War War-HorsesJump to Next Appearance Cavalry Form Horsemen Horses Run Running War War-HorsesJoel 2 1. He shows unto Zion the terribleness of God's judgment.12. He exhorts to repentance; 15. prescribes a fast; 18. promises a blessing thereon. 21. He comforts Zion with present, 28. and future blessings. Their appearance is like that of horses This phrase draws a vivid comparison between the locusts and horses, emphasizing the formidable and intimidating nature of the invading force. In the ancient Near Eastern context, horses were symbols of power and military strength, often associated with chariots and warfare. The imagery suggests an unstoppable and disciplined army, evoking fear and awe. This comparison can also be seen in Revelation 9:7, where locusts are described with similar characteristics, indicating a connection between Joel's prophecy and apocalyptic visions. and they gallop like swift steeds Persons / Places / Events 1. JoelA prophet in the Old Testament, Joel is the author of the book that bears his name. He is known for his prophecies concerning the Day of the Lord and calls for repentance. 2. The Locust Army In Joel 2, the prophet describes a devastating locust plague that serves as a metaphor for an invading army. This army is depicted with imagery that conveys power and speed, likened to horses and swift steeds. 3. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, which is the primary audience of Joel's prophecy. The people of Judah are called to repentance in light of the coming judgment. 4. The Day of the Lord A central theme in Joel, referring to a time of divine judgment and deliverance. It is both a day of destruction for the unrepentant and a day of salvation for those who turn to God. 5. Repentance and Restoration Joel's message includes a call to repentance, promising that God will restore and bless His people if they return to Him with sincere hearts. Teaching Points The Power of ImageryJoel uses vivid imagery to convey the seriousness of God's judgment. This teaches us the importance of understanding biblical metaphors to grasp the full weight of God's messages. Urgency of Repentance The swift and powerful nature of the locust army underscores the urgency with which we should respond to God's call for repentance. We should not delay in turning back to God. God's Sovereignty in Judgment The depiction of the locusts as an unstoppable force reminds us of God's sovereignty over all creation, including His use of natural and historical events to fulfill His purposes. Hope in Restoration Despite the dire warnings, Joel's prophecy also offers hope. God promises restoration and blessing for those who repent, highlighting His mercy and faithfulness. Spiritual Vigilance Just as the people of Judah were called to be vigilant and prepared for the Day of the Lord, we too must remain spiritually alert and ready for Christ's return.(4) As the appearance of horses.--So also are locusts described in the Revelation: "And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle" (from this likeness the Italians call a locust cavalletta) . . . "and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots, of many horses running to battle" (Revelation 9:7; Revelation 9:9).Verses 4-6. - These verses describe the appearance of the locusts and the alarm which their presence causes. Verse 4. - The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses. They arc said to resemble horses in the shape of the head; hence the Germans call them Heupferde, or hay-horses, and the Italians cavalette. This resemblance had been noticed long ago by Theodoret, who says, "If any one should examine accurately the head of the locust, he will find it exceedingly like that of a horse." And as horsemen, so shall they run. In rapidity of motion they resembled running horses (parashim). Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap. This is the next circumstance noticed about them, viz. the noise of their motion. Their motion was peculiar; it was springing or leaping, and, when they sprang or leaped, the noise they made resembled the rattling of a jerky two-wheeled war-chariot over a rough mountain-road. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Their appearanceכְּמַרְאֵ֥ה (kə·mar·’êh) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4758: Sight, appearance, vision is like that מַרְאֵ֑הוּ (mar·’ê·hū) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4758: Sight, appearance, vision of horses, סוּסִ֖ים (sū·sîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird) and they gallop יְרוּצֽוּן׃ (yə·rū·ṣūn) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun Strong's 7323: To run like swift steeds. וּכְפָרָשִׁ֖ים (ū·ḵə·p̄ā·rā·šîm) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6571: A steed, a driver, cavalry Links Joel 2:4 NIVJoel 2:4 NLT Joel 2:4 ESV Joel 2:4 NASB Joel 2:4 KJV Joel 2:4 BibleApps.com Joel 2:4 Biblia Paralela Joel 2:4 Chinese Bible Joel 2:4 French Bible Joel 2:4 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Joel 2:4 The appearance of them is as (Jl Joe.) |
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