Joel(vashni)
“Jehovah is God”
Summary
A name borne by several Old Testament figures, most notably the prophet who authored the Book of Joel, prophesying of judgment through locusts, the outpouring of God's Spirit, and the Day of the Lord.
☩The Prophet Joel
Joel the prophet was the son of Pethuel, who prophesied in Judah, likely during the reign of Uzziah or possibly in the time of Joash, around 800 BC. His name, meaning 'Jehovah is God,' reflects his central message of Yahweh's sovereignty. Though little is known of his personal life, his prophecy demonstrates an intimate knowledge of the temple worship and Jerusalem, suggesting he may have been a Judahite, possibly connected to the priesthood. Unlike most prophets, Joel's book contains no explicit dating references, which has led to considerable scholarly debate about his era.
☩The Locust Plague and Day of the Lord
Joel's prophecy opens with a devastating plague of locusts accompanied by severe drought, described with vivid, almost military imagery. The prophet depicts the locusts as an invading army with teeth like lions, making desolation of the land. Whether understood literally as an actual plague or symbolically as foreign invaders, Joel uses this calamity to call the people to repentance through fasting, weeping, and rending of hearts. This judgment is portrayed as a harbinger of the great and terrible 'Day of the Lord,' when God would judge both Israel and the nations. Joel calls for a sacred assembly and urges the priests to weep between the porch and the altar, interceding for the people.
☩Promise of Restoration and the Spirit
Following the call to repentance, Joel proclaims God's promise of restoration—the removal of the northern army, the restoration of the years the locusts had eaten, and abundant provision. Most significantly, he prophesied that God would pour out His Spirit 'upon all flesh,' so that sons and daughters would prophesy, old men dream dreams, and young men see visions—even upon servants and handmaids. This prophecy, quoted by Peter at Pentecost, marked a watershed in God's dealings with humanity, extending the prophetic gift beyond the few to all believers regardless of age, gender, or social status. Joel concludes with visions of judgment in the Valley of Jehoshaphat and ultimate blessing for Judah and Jerusalem.
☩Other Persons Named Joel
The name Joel was common in Israel. Most notably, Joel was the eldest son of the prophet Samuel who, along with his brother Abiah, served as a judge in Beersheba. Their corrupt practices in accepting bribes and perverting justice became the occasion for Israel's demand for a king. Other Joels include: a Simeonite prince, a Reubenite chief, a Gadite chief, a Kohathite Levite, a chief of Issachar, one of David's mighty men, Gershonite Levites, a prince of the half-tribe of Manasseh, a Kohathite who assisted in cleansing the temple under Hezekiah, one who had married a foreign wife in Ezra's time, and an overseer of the Benjamites in Jerusalem.
Related Verses22 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Joel, Book Of," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.George Morrish, "Joel," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Joel," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Joel," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).