They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The comparison to a "thief" entering through windows isn't just about stealth; it highlights the absolute lack of security. Even closed doors and walls offer no protection, as these invaders will find any possible, even unexpected, way inside, just like how sin can find its way into our lives through unguarded senses.
They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage vividly describes the overwhelming and invasive nature of the enemy, which the prophet uses as a metaphor for God's judgment. Following the description of their immense numbers and their approach over the mountains, the text depicts them breaching Jerusalem's defenses, scaling walls, entering houses, and moving through the city with the stealth and totality of thieves. This imagery emphasizes the complete conquest and the inability of the inhabitants to find any secure refuge.
Why does Joel specifically call out 'the city'? What makes Jerusalem more than just another town in this context?
The prophet Joel isn't just describing any city; he's talking about Jerusalem. This city held immense significance for Israel. It was their capital, the center of worship, and, most importantly, a place God had chosen and called His own.
When Joel says 'the city,' he's speaking directly to Jerusalem, the 'city of God.' This wasn't just an attack on buildings and people; it was an invasion of God's chosen space, a violation of His sacred dwelling place. The invaders are depicted as utterly disregarding its special status, treating it like any other conquered territory.
How can invaders enter houses 'like a thief,' especially when houses and cities were often well-defended?
The imagery of entering 'like a thief' is powerful. It speaks to the unexpectedness and complete lack of respect for boundaries shown by the invaders. They don't just breach the outer walls; they permeate every level—climbing houses, entering through windows.
This isn't just a military assault; it's a violation that leaves no place secure. Even eastern windows, often just openings with lattice-work, offer no real protection against this relentless force. The invaders are portrayed as moving with an uncanny ability to bypass defenses, much like a thief bypasses locks. This highlights the totality of the destruction and the feeling of utter helplessness experienced by those under attack. It’s a terrifying picture of judgment that leaves no corner untouched.
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While Joel vividly describes locusts, the text also hints at a deeper, human force. What's the connection?
Joel uses the devastating invasion of locusts as a powerful metaphor for a human military assault, likely the Babylonians or Assyrians. The description of the locusts’ relentless, all-consuming advance mirrors the terrifying efficiency of a conquering army.
However, the text subtly distinguishes between the locusts' natural behavior and the more calculated, intentional actions of human invaders. Phrases like 'run to and fro in the city' and 'run upon the wall' suggest coordinated military tactics rather than the random movement of insects. The 'like a thief' comparison, while applicable to both, feels particularly sharp when applied to human plunderers. Joel isn't just describing an ecological disaster; he's painting a picture of judgment carried out through human agents, who embody the destructive force of the locust swarm.
Understand the original words
gannāḇ · Hebrew Noun
A thief represents unexpected, stealthy, and invasive arrival. Biblically, this imagery is frequently used to describe the suddenness of judgment or the return of the Lord, catching the unprepared off-guard.
Joel's vivid description of an invading force breaching walls, climbing houses, and entering through windows like thieves paints a picture of total conquest and the utter devastation of Jerusalem. This imagery resonates deeply with the historical experiences of Jerusalem's destruction by both Assyrian and Babylonian forces, emphasizing the inescapable nature of God's judgment when His people turn away from Him.
c. 8th century BC— this verse
Prophetic Ministry of Joel
Joel delivers his prophecy, likely during a time of national distress or imminent judgment in Judah, using the imagery of a locust plague and the Day of the Lord to warn the people.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire. This event served as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience and impending divine judgment.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian army under Sennacherib invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This invasion highlighted the vulnerability of Judah and the severity of God's judgment.
586 BC
Babylonian Destruction of Jerusalem
The Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling a significant portion of the population. This fulfilled many prophetic warnings of judgment and devastation.
This passage describes a plague of locusts, echoing Joel's imagery of insects infesting houses and covering the land, highlighting the destructive and pervasive nature of the invasion.
Jeremiah 9:21Jeremiah also uses the metaphor of death entering through windows, linking the physical invasion in Joel to a spiritual or moral infiltration that brings ruin.
Matthew 24:43Jesus uses the imagery of a thief in the night to describe the unexpected coming of the Son of Man, paralleling Joel's description of an invasion that strikes suddenly and without warning.
Luke 12:39This verse further emphasizes the suddenness and stealth of an unpreparedness, directly comparing the coming of the day of the Lord to a thief breaking into a house, much like the invaders in Joel.
1 Thessalonians 5:2The Apostle Paul warns believers that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, underscoring the theme of unexpected invasion and the need for constant vigilance, as seen in Joel's vivid description.
barnesJoel 2:9: "They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief."
They shall run to and fro in the city - "The city" is questionless Jerusalem. So to the Romans, "the city" meant Rome; to the Athenians, Athens; among ourselves, "town" or "the city" are idiomatic names for the whole of London or "the city of London." In Wales "town" is, with the country people, the neighboring town with which alo…
jfbJoel 2:9: "They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief."
- run to and fro in the city—greedily seeking what they can devour.the wall—surrounding each house in Eastern buildings.enter in at the windows—though barred.like a thief—(Joh 10:1; compare Jer 9:21).
The comparison to a "thief" entering through windows isn't just about stealth; it highlights the absolute lack of security. Even closed doors and walls offer no protection, as these invaders will find any possible, even unexpected, way inside, just like how sin can find its way into our lives through unguarded senses.
This passage vividly describes the overwhelming and invasive nature of the enemy, which the prophet uses as a metaphor for God's judgment. Following the description of their immense numbers and their approach over the mountains, the text depicts them breaching Jerusalem's defenses, scaling walls, entering houses, and moving through the city with the stealth and totality of thieves. This imagery emphasizes the complete conquest and the inability of the inhabitants to find any secure refuge.
This passage vividly describes the overwhelming and invasive nature of the enemy, which the prophet uses as a metaphor for God's judgment. Following the description of their immense numbers and their approach over the mountains, the text depicts them breaching Jerusalem's defenses, scaling walls, entering houses, and moving through the city with the stealth and totality of thieves. This imagery emphasizes the complete conquest and the inability of the inhabitants to find any secure refuge.
"They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief." — The comparison to a "thief" entering through windows isn't just about stealth; it highlights the absolute lack of security. Even closed doors and walls offer no protection, as these invaders will fin…
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Last reviewed October 2026