Focused Passage

Joel 1:1-4

A Devastated Land and the Call to Lament Before the LORD

The chapter moves from observed devastation to interpreted devastation, then to commanded lament and direct appeal to the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Joel son of Pethuel:

2 Hear this, O elders; and give ear, all who dwell in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your fathers?

3 Tell it to your children; let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.

4 What the devouring locust has left, the swarming locust has eaten; what the swarming locust has left, the young locust has eaten; and what the young locust has left, the destroying locust has eaten.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

[This is] the word דְּבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative came הָיָ֔ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition Joel יוֹאֵ֖ל H3100 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Pethuel פְּתוּאֵֽל׃ H6602 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

Hear שִׁמְעוּ־ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural this זֹאת֙ H2063 Pronoun - feminine singular O elders הַזְּקֵנִ֔ים H2205 Article | Adjective - masculine plural and give ear וְהַֽאֲזִ֔ינוּ H238 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural all כֹּ֖ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct who dwell יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct in the land הָאָ֑רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular Has anything like this זֹּאת֙ H2063 Pronoun - feminine singular ever happened הֶהָ֤יְתָה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular in your days בִּֽימֵיכֶ֔ם H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural or וְאִ֖ם H518 Conjunction in the days בִּימֵ֥י H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct of your fathers אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃ H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 3

Original words

Tell סַפֵּ֑רוּ H5608 Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural it עָלֶ֖יהָ H5921 Preposition | third person feminine singular to your children לִבְנֵיכֶ֣ם H1121 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural let your children וּבְנֵיכֶם֙ H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural tell it to their children לִבְנֵיהֶ֔ם H1121 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural and their children וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם H1121 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural to the next אַחֵֽר׃ H312 Adjective - masculine singular generation לְד֥וֹר H1755 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 4

Original words

What the devouring locust הַגָּזָם֙ H1501 Article | Noun - masculine singular has left יֶ֤תֶר H3499 Noun - masculine singular construct the swarming locust הָֽאַרְבֶּ֔ה H697 Article | Noun - masculine singular has eaten אָכַ֣ל H398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular what the swarming locust הָאַרְבֶּ֖ה H697 Article | Noun - masculine singular has left וְיֶ֥תֶר H3499 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct the young locust הַיָּ֑לֶק H3218 Article | Noun - masculine singular has eaten אָכַ֣ל H398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular and what the young locust הַיֶּ֔לֶק H3218 Article | Noun - masculine singular has left וְיֶ֣תֶר H3499 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct the destroying locust הֶחָסִֽיל׃ H2625 Article | Noun - masculine singular has eaten אָכַ֖ל H398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • The precise identification of the four kinds of locusts mentioned here is uncertain.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.