Joel 1:11 kjv

Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.

Joel 1:11 nkjv

Be ashamed, you farmers, Wail, you vinedressers, For the wheat and the barley; Because the harvest of the field has perished.

Joel 1:11 niv

Despair, you farmers, wail, you vine growers; grieve for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field is destroyed.

Joel 1:11 esv

Be ashamed, O tillers of the soil; wail, O vinedressers, for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field has perished.

Joel 1:11 nlt

Despair, all you farmers!
Wail, all you vine growers!
Weep, because the wheat and barley ?
all the crops of the field ? are ruined.

Joel 1 verses

Joel 1 11 Meaning

Joel 1:11 conveys a prophetic lament, directly addressing the agricultural laborers of Judah—husbandmen and vinedressers—commanding them to experience profound shame and express deep sorrow. Their humiliation and wailing are a direct consequence of the catastrophic loss of the primary grain crops, wheat and barley, due to the unprecedented locust plague and accompanying drought, signifying a total perishing of the vital field harvest. This devastation highlights a period of severe divine judgment impacting livelihood, sustenance, and the very foundation of societal and spiritual life in Judah.

Joel 1 11 Context

Joel chapter 1 describes a devastating locust plague, unparalleled in living memory, followed by an intense drought. This natural disaster, the central event of the chapter, is presented not as a random occurrence but as a direct act of divine judgment. The plague consumed all vegetation, from fields of grain to vineyards and fig trees, plunging the land into destitution. The specific call to farmers and vinedressers in verse 11 highlights the widespread economic and existential crisis faced by the agricultural society of Judah. This dire situation is also explicitly linked to the disruption of worship, as the lack of grain and wine means no offerings for the Temple (Joel 1:9, 13). The entire chapter serves as an urgent call for lamentation and national repentance in light of the Day of the LORD, which is described as being imminently manifested through these natural catastrophes.

Joel 1 11 Word analysis

• Be ashamed (בּוֹשׁ, bōsh): This Hebrew word signifies deep disappointment, confusion, or public humiliation. It implies that the expected outcome (a fruitful harvest, a sign of blessing) has utterly failed, leading to a profound sense of disgrace for those whose livelihood and identity are tied to the land's fruitfulness. It suggests a stripping away of their usual prosperity and status.

• O ye husbandmen (אִכָּרִים, ʾikkārîm): Refers to the farmers, the cultivators of the land who plow and sow. This direct address emphasizes the human element of the catastrophe, focusing on those most directly involved in food production and most severely impacted by the harvest's destruction. Their shame is paramount because their very profession has been rendered futile.

• howl (הֵילִילוּ, hêlîlū): An imperative expressing a loud cry of bitter grief, wailing, or lamentation. It denotes intense anguish and despair, beyond mere sadness. It's a public expression of deep sorrow and mourning, appropriate for a communal disaster of this magnitude.

• O ye vinedressers (כֹּרְמִים, kōrəmîm): Those who tend vineyards and produce wine. This specifies another critical segment of the agricultural economy, underscoring that the devastation is not limited to just one crop or sector but encompasses the entire agricultural foundation of the society.

• for the wheat and for the barley: These are the primary staple grains for sustenance in ancient Judah. Mentioning them specifically highlights the perishing of the most fundamental food sources, impacting daily bread and thus the very survival of the populace. These crops were also crucial for grain offerings in the temple, further indicating the spiritual impact.

• because the harvest of the field is perished: This phrase provides the ultimate reason for the shame and howling.

  • harvest (קָצִיר, qaṣîr): Refers to the reaping and gathering of crops, symbolizing the culmination of a year's labor and the source of sustenance and income.
  • perished (אָבָד, ʾāḇaḏ): Signifies complete destruction, ruin, or disappearance. It's not merely diminished or delayed but utterly gone, indicating the finality and totality of the agricultural catastrophe.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Be ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers": This paired imperative to specific professions emphasizes the total failure across the entire agricultural sector. The combined expressions of "shame" and "howling" paint a picture of public disgrace and inconsolable grief, a reflection of their utter dependence on the land's yield. The failure is personal, professional, and communal.
  • "for the wheat and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished": This clearly links the lament directly to the destruction of the core staple crops. The phrasing emphasizes the reason for the shame and wailing—the harvest is not merely reduced, but completely annihilated, making the call for deep mourning entirely appropriate and necessary. It points to a pervasive and complete agricultural collapse.

Joel 1 11 Bonus section

The targeting of specific agricultural groups and staple crops in Joel 1:11 implies a challenge to the syncretistic practices of some in Judah who might have worshipped Baal, the Canaanite god of storms and fertility. The complete failure of the harvest, controlled solely by Yahweh, powerfully demonstrated Baal's impotence and Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over nature and blessings. Furthermore, the loss of wheat and barley directly impacts the ability to present grain and drink offerings (mentioned later in Joel 1:9, 13), creating a tangible link between agricultural desolation, the disruption of regular Temple worship, and the need for spiritual reckoning. This also positions the disaster not just as a natural calamity but as a theological crisis demanding a turning back to the true God.

Joel 1 11 Commentary

Joel 1:11 vividly portrays the crushing impact of God's judgment on Judah, particularly upon its agrarian society. The command to "be ashamed" is profound; it extends beyond economic loss to a deep, public humiliation for the farmers and vinedressers whose life's work and societal role are entirely negated by the unprecedented disaster. The accompanying command to "howl" emphasizes inconsolable grief, demonstrating that the future, built on the cycle of sowing and reaping, has been irrevocably shattered. The specification of "wheat and barley," essential foodstuffs and sacrificial offerings, underscores the breadth of the catastrophe, impacting both daily survival and religious practices. The phrase "the harvest of the field is perished" is definitive, indicating complete and total annihilation. This verse highlights the immediacy and totality of divine judgment through natural calamity, acting as a stark call to repentance for a nation that had become complacent, depending on the land rather than the Lord who gives the harvest.