Focused Passage

Joel 1:15-20

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

15 Alas for the day! For the Day of the LORD is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty.

16 Has not the food been cut off before our very eyes—joy and gladness from the house of our God?

17 The seeds lie shriveled beneath the clods; the storehouses are in ruins; the granaries are broken down, for the grain has withered away.

18 How the cattle groan! The herds wander in confusion because they have no pasture. Even the flocks of sheep are suffering.

19 To You, O LORD, I call, for fire has consumed the open pastures and flames have scorched all the trees of the field.

20 Even the beasts of the field pant for You, for the streams of water have dried up, and fire has consumed the open pastures.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Original words

Alas אֲהָ֖הּ H162 Interjection for the day לַיּ֑וֹם H3117 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular For כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction the Day י֣וֹם H3117 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular is near קָרוֹב֙ H7138 Adjective - masculine singular and it will come יָבֽוֹא׃ H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular as destruction וּכְשֹׁ֖ד H7701 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular from the Almighty מִשַׁדַּ֥י H7706 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew Shaddai
Verse 16

Original words

Has not הֲל֛וֹא H3808 Adverb - Negative particle the food אֹ֣כֶל H400 Noun - masculine singular been cut off נִכְרָ֑ת H3772 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular before נֶ֥גֶד H5048 Preposition our very eyes עֵינֵ֖ינוּ H5869 Noun - cdc | first person common plural joy שִׂמְחָ֥ה H8057 Noun - feminine singular and gladness וָגִֽיל׃ H1524 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular from the house מִבֵּ֥ית H1004 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct of our God אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Verse 17

Original words

The seeds פְרֻד֗וֹת H6507 Noun - feminine singular lie shriveled עָבְשׁ֣וּ H5685 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural beneath תַּ֚חַת H8478 Preposition the clods מֶגְרְפֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם H4053 Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine plural the storehouses אֹֽצָר֔וֹת H214 Noun - masculine plural are in ruins נָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙ H8074 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural the granaries מַמְּגֻר֑וֹת H4460 Noun - feminine plural are broken down נֶהֶרְס֖וּ H2040 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural for כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction the grain דָּגָֽן׃ H1715 Noun - masculine singular has withered away הֹבִ֖ישׁ H3001 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

How מַה־ H4100 Interrogative the cattle בְהֵמָ֗ה H929 Noun - feminine singular groan נֶּאֶנְחָ֣ה H584 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular The herds עֶדְרֵ֣י H5739 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . בָקָ֔ר H1241 Noun - masculine singular wander in confusion נָבֹ֙כוּ֙ H943 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural because כִּ֛י H3588 Conjunction they have no אֵ֥ין H369 Adverb pasture מִרְעֶ֖ה H4829 Noun - masculine singular . . . לָהֶ֑ם Preposition-l | Pronoun - third person masculine plural Even גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction the flocks עֶדְרֵ֥י H5739 Noun - masculine plural construct of sheep הַצֹּ֖אן H6629 Article | Noun - common singular are suffering נֶאְשָֽׁמוּ׃ H816 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common plural
Verse 19

Original words

To You אֵלֶ֥יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular O LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular I call אֶקְרָ֑א H7121 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular for כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction fire אֵ֗שׁ H784 Noun - common singular has consumed אָֽכְלָה֙ H398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular the open מִדְבָּ֔ר H4057 Noun - masculine singular pastures נְא֣וֹת H4999 Noun - feminine plural construct and flames וְלֶ֣הָבָ֔ה H3852 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular have scorched לִהֲטָ֖ה H3857 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the trees עֲצֵ֥י H6086 Noun - masculine plural construct of the field הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃ H7704 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 20

Original words

Even גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction the beasts בַּהֲמ֥וֹת H929 Noun - feminine plural construct of the field שָׂדֶ֖ה H7704 Noun - masculine singular pant תַּעֲר֣וֹג H6165 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular for You אֵלֶ֑יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular for כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction the streams אֲפִ֣יקֵי H650 Noun - masculine plural construct of water מָ֔יִם H4325 Noun - masculine plural have dried up יָֽבְשׁוּ֙ H3001 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural and fire וְאֵ֕שׁ H784 Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular has consumed אָכְלָ֖ה H398 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular the open הַמִּדְבָּֽר׃פ H4057 Article | Noun - masculine singular pastures נְא֥וֹת H4999 Noun - feminine plural construct

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.