Like warriors they charge, like soldiers they scale the wall: These two lines are parallel. Like soldiers equals Like warriors (literally “Like men of war”), and they charge corresponds to they scale the wall. Charge is literally “run,” but when soldiers run forward they are usually charging or attacking (so Good News Translation). The wall that they climb is the wall of Jerusalem. It surrounded the whole city to protect it. Good News Translation says “the walls” for naturalness in English. In situations where people are not familiar with city walls, translators may need to be more explicit when rendering they scale the wall; for example, “they attack the city by climbing over the walls that are supposed [or, were built] to defend it.”

The last two lines of verse 7 and the first two lines of verse 8 should be considered together. In Hebrew each of these lines has a singular subject with a plural verb, thus referring to each individual as part of the group. In some languages translators can use either the singular or the plural. They should select the most natural form in the receptor language. In the lines that follow, the numbers refer to the verse numbers (outside parentheses) and line numbers (inside parentheses). A literal translation using the singular form is:

7 (3) each goes in his own way
7 (4) and does not change his path
8 (1) each does not shove his companion
8 (2) each one goes on his own road

A literal translation using the plural form is:

7 (3) to a man they go on their own ways
7 (4) and do not switch their paths
8 (1) to a man they do not shove their companions
8 (2) to a man they go on their own roads

There are several interesting poetic features in these lines, but most of them are not important for translation purposes. The two positive statements are at the beginning and the end, and these two lines are synonymous. The two negative statements are the two middle lines, but they are not synonymous. The intended meaning of the four lines is basically that the locusts move ahead like a well-trained army, in which no one is out of step and everyone maintains his position in column and rank as they march along. Such perfection is menacing to those who are being attacked.

They march each on his way: This line states that every individual moves along in his proper path, implying steady forward movement.

They do not swerve from their paths: The Hebrew verb rendered swerve normally means to give or receive a pledge in exchange, as when borrowing or lending money. However, this meaning does not fit here. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project understands the Hebrew to have a different verb that means “twist” or “abandon.” When this verb is applied to soldiers marching in columns, it seems to mean that they do not switch or exchange positions in line, or proceed in a disorderly manner. Good News Translation renders the verb with a slightly different sense. For the whole line it has “and [they] do not change direction.” Other possibilities are “they move in a straight line” and “… in an orderly manner.”

They do not jostle one another: This line develops the thought of the previous one further by stating that they do not push or shove each other. Good News Translation says “[they do not] get in each other’s way.”

Each marches in his path: As noted above, this line is synonymous with the third line of verse 7. The same verb is used in both lines; the Hebrew word for each here is a synonym for the word rendered each in verse 7; and the word for path is a synonym for way in verse 7. Since these two lines are synonymous, Good News Translation combines them to avoid awkward repetition in English.

The last two lines of verse 8 continue the picture of locusts invading Jerusalem. Soldiers of the defending army, holding javelins and other weapons that would be effective against normal enemies, can do nothing against this army of locusts. The insects jump over, between, and on top of the weapons as they break through the line of soldiers on guard.

They burst through the weapons: They burst through is literally “they fall upon,” which refers to any kind of sudden attack. In this case the attack carries them past the defending weapons. Good News Translation has “They swarm through,” which is a fitting English equivalent for an attack by locusts. Translators may also say “they push themselves through.”

The Hebrew word for weapons usually refers to javelins and spears, which are thrown against an enemy. New Jerusalem Bible says “arrows,” but such a specific term hinders applying the figure to weapons for fighting locusts. Good News Translation‘s “defenses” makes it possible to include the normal defensive weapons against locusts, such as ditches, sticks, fire, or waving pieces of cloth. Another possibility is “weapons with which the people of the city defend themselves.”

And are not halted is a passive expression, which Good News Translation renders as an active one by saying “and nothing can stop them.” The Hebrew expression here indicates that the locusts do not stop their advance but keep on coming.

Quoted with permission from de Blois, Kees & Dorn, Louis. A Handbook on Joel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .