Joel 1:14 kjv

Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD,

Joel 1:14 nkjv

Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD.

Joel 1:14 niv

Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.

Joel 1:14 esv

Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.

Joel 1:14 nlt

Announce a time of fasting;
call the people together for a solemn meeting.
Bring the leaders
and all the people of the land
into the Temple of the LORD your God,
and cry out to him there.

Joel 1 verses

Joel 1 14 Meaning

Joel 1:14 is a solemn command from the prophet Joel to the people of Judah, instructing them to engage in a profound and comprehensive act of national repentance and supplication in response to the devastating locust plague and drought. It calls for the formal sanctification of a corporate fast, a public declaration of collective humility and abstinence from food, alongside the convocation of a sacred "solemn assembly" where the entire community, from the elders who represent leadership and wisdom, to all inhabitants of the land, are to gather in the Temple. Their unified purpose in this central place of worship is to "cry unto the Lord," a desperate and urgent plea for divine intervention and mercy in their time of severe affliction.

Joel 1 14 Context

Joel 1 presents a stark description of an unprecedented, devastating locust plague and a subsequent severe drought. The land is completely ravaged; crops, vines, and fruit trees are destroyed, causing famine among the people and distress for the cattle. This ecological catastrophe is not merely a natural disaster but is presented by the prophet Joel as a direct act of divine judgment, signaling the nearness of "the day of the Lord" (Joel 1:15). In this dire scenario, Joel 1:14 becomes a pivotal command. It is the prophet's urgent, divinely inspired directive to a terrified and suffering Judah, demanding a collective and sacred response of humility, repentance, and desperate prayer, believing that only through this profound turning to God can they find relief from His chastening hand. The command implicitly critiques any societal complacency or unfaithfulness that might have provoked God's judgment and underscores the urgency of seeking Yahweh exclusively in a time of crisis.

Joel 1 14 Word analysis

• Sanctify ye (קַדְּשׁוּ - qaddĕšû):

  • Root: קדש (qadaš), meaning "to be holy, set apart, consecrate."
  • Significance: A command to set apart this event as sacred, emphasizing its religious solemnity and divine institution. It's not a mere suggestion but an imperative to declare a hallowed occasion dedicated to God. This preparation indicates a readiness to meet with God on His terms.

• a fast (צוֹם - ṣōm):

  • Meaning: Deliberate abstinence from food, usually accompanied by prayer, as an expression of spiritual hunger, mourning, or intense petition.
  • Significance: Symbolized deep humility, self-affliction, repentance for sin, and desperate reliance on God in crisis. It was a physical act reflecting an inner spiritual state of dependency and turning away from self-sufficiency.

• call (קִרְאוּ - qirʾû):

  • Root: קרא (qaraʾ), meaning "to call, proclaim, summon."
  • Significance: Implies an official, public summons, often made by those in authority (like priests or elders). This ensured the community was properly convened and aware of the urgent national observance.

• a solemn assembly (עֲצָרָה - ʿăṣārāh):

  • Meaning: A formal, required religious gathering, often at the culmination of a festival, characterized by ceasing of work and dedicated attention to worship. In this context, a special convocation due to the national crisis.
  • Significance: Designates a compulsory and consecrated assembly for corporate worship, lament, and seeking God's face, reinforcing the communal nature of the crisis and the unified response required. It binds the entire nation together in this act.

• gather (אִסְפוּ - isʾpû):

  • Root: אסף (ʾāsa p̄), meaning "to gather, collect."
  • Significance: A physical act of bringing together individuals, emphasizing a literal, collective presence. The disaster demanded a unified rather than fragmented response.

• the elders (זְקֵנִים - zĕqēnîm):

  • Meaning: The respected, often older, leaders within the community, embodying wisdom, experience, and authority.
  • Significance: Their inclusion validated the command and provided leadership in the act of repentance, ensuring broad participation and the official recognition of the assembly. Their presence carried moral and traditional weight.

• and all the inhabitants of the land (וְכֹל יֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ - wəḵōl yōšəbê hāʾāreṣ):

  • Meaning: Every person residing in the nation or territory.
  • Significance: Stresses the universality of both the crisis and the required response. The calamity affects everyone, therefore everyone must participate in seeking God's mercy; no one is exempt.

• into the house of the Lord your God (בֵּית יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - bêṯ YHVH ʾĕlōhêḵem):

  • Meaning: The Temple in Jerusalem, the designated central sanctuary for worship and the manifestation of God's presence among His people, with "your God" emphasizing the covenant relationship with Yahweh.
  • Significance: This specific location highlights that the appeal is to be directed towards the true covenant God of Israel in the prescribed place of worship, rejecting reliance on idols and affirming the unique relationship between God and His people.

• and cry (וְזַעֲקוּ - wəzaʿăqû):

  • Root: זעק (zaʿaq), meaning "to cry out, wail, lament, scream for help."
  • Significance: More than mere prayer; it conveys a desperate, urgent, often audible plea for divine intervention stemming from overwhelming distress. It reflects the deep anguish and total dependence on God for deliverance.

• unto the Lord (אֶל יְהוָה - ʾel YHVH):

  • Meaning: Directly towards Yahweh, the personal covenant God of Israel.
  • Significance: Directs the entire plea and attention solely to the one true God, who has both brought the judgment and possesses the power to deliver, underscoring His sovereignty.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly": This duo outlines the twin spiritual and communal responses required. The fast indicates inner humiliation and penitence, while the solemn assembly is its outward, collective, and organized expression, emphasizing unity in sacred purpose.
• "gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land": This phrase underlines the inclusive nature of the command, extending the responsibility from the societal leadership down to every single citizen. It emphasizes national unity in the face of judgment.
• "into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord": This clause directs the entire unified action to the specific, divinely appointed place of worship and pinpoints the ultimate object of their desperate appeal – Yahweh Himself, their covenant God. This is not merely gathering but gathering to God for a direct and fervent appeal.

Joel 1 14 Bonus section

• Anticipation of the Day of the Lord: The intense nature of the suffering and the call for such a comprehensive response in Joel 1:14 serve as a stark foreshadowing and immediate manifestation of the coming "Day of the Lord," as indicated in the very next verse (Joel 1:15). The severity of the judgment requires an equally severe, whole-hearted turning to God.
• Emphasis on Collective Repentance: While personal piety is vital, Joel 1:14 particularly stresses the concept of corporate responsibility and repentance. The crisis affected everyone, and thus, everyone, from the top leadership to the common laborer, was called to participate in a unified act of seeking God's favor. This is distinct from purely individual piety.
• The Power of Lament: The command to "cry unto the Lord" falls within the rich biblical tradition of lament. This form of prayer allows for raw, honest expression of suffering and desperation, while simultaneously maintaining trust in God's power and faithfulness to deliver, even amidst dire circumstances. It is a faith-filled recognition of helplessness coupled with hope in divine intervention.

Joel 1 14 Commentary

Joel 1:14 stands as an imperative call for national spiritual restoration in the wake of an unprecedented natural disaster that has decimated Judah. The prophet Joel, recognizing the catastrophe as divine judgment and a prelude to "the Day of the Lord," issues a specific, urgent protocol for repentance. The command begins with "Sanctify ye a fast," emphasizing that this is no ordinary self-denial but a consecrated act of humbling oneself before God. This must be accompanied by calling a "solemn assembly," a sacred public gathering that underscores the corporate nature of the crisis and the necessity for a unified response from all people, led by "the elders."

The prescribed location, "the house of the Lord your God" (the Temple), is crucial. It directs the suffering populace to the place of divine presence, atonement, and covenant communion, explicitly reinforcing their identity as Yahweh's people and that their deliverance must come from Him alone. The climax of this collective act is to "cry unto the Lord." This is more than formal prayer; it denotes a desperate, anguish-filled appeal from a people who acknowledge their utter helplessness and recognize that only God's mercy can reverse their fortunes. Joel's instruction reveals a foundational biblical principle: when a nation faces God's severe chastening, its truest hope lies in genuine, corporate repentance and a desperate, unified turning back to Him with fervent pleas for grace and intervention.

• Practical Usage Example: When a community faces a profound crisis (e.g., severe natural disaster, widespread societal moral decline), leadership and citizens may engage in corporate prayer and fasting, publicly gathering in places of worship, recognizing that human solutions alone are insufficient and that divine mercy is needed.