Joel 1:10

The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.

The field {H7704} is wasted {H7703}, the land {H127} mourneth {H56}; for the corn {H1715} is wasted {H7703}: the new wine {H8492} is dried up {H3001}, the oil {H3323} languisheth {H535}.

The fields are ruined, the ground is grieving; for the grain is ruined, the new wine dried up, and the olive oil is wretched.

The field is ruined; the land mourns. For the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails.

The field is laid waste, the land mourneth; for the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.

Commentary

Joel 1:10 vividly describes the widespread agricultural devastation and economic collapse in ancient Israel, portraying the land itself as grieving under the weight of a severe plague. This verse is part of the prophet Joel's opening message, which details an unprecedented locust invasion and subsequent drought, understood as a direct judgment from God.

Context

The book of Joel opens with a graphic account of a locust plague so severe that it strips the land bare. Verse 10 specifically enumerates the consequences: the "field is wasted" and "the land mourneth" because the staple cropsโ€”"corn" (grain), "new wine" (grapes), and "oil" (olives)โ€”are utterly destroyed. For an agrarian society like ancient Israel, this signified total economic ruin, famine, and a profound disruption of daily life and religious practice. This calamity serves as a stark warning and a call to national repentance, emphasizing the people's absolute dependence on God for their sustenance and well-being. For more on the initial description of the plague, see Joel 1:4.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Consequences: The destruction is presented not as a natural disaster but as a direct act of God's judgment against the nation's spiritual complacency or sin. It highlights the severe consequences of straying from God's path.
  • Economic Ruin and Famine: The loss of grain, wine, and oil meant widespread hunger and poverty. These were not just food sources but also vital for trade, offerings, and celebrations, indicating a complete societal breakdown.
  • Mourning and Despair: The personification of the land mourning ("the land mourneth") underscores the depth of the catastrophe and the pervasive sense of grief and despair that gripped the people. This imagery reinforces the idea that the very fabric of their existence was under attack.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "wasted" (ืฉึธืื“ึทื“, shadad) implies violent destruction, pillage, or ruin, suggesting the thoroughness of the devastation wrought by the locusts. "Mourneth" (ืึธื‘ึทืœ, abal) is a term often used for human mourning, here applied to the land itself, powerfully conveying the immense sorrow and desolation. The "new wine" refers to the fresh grape juice, and "oil" to olive oil, both essential elements of the Israelite diet, economy, and religious rituals. Their drying up and languishing signifies a complete cessation of blessing and prosperity.

Practical Application

Joel 1:10 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths:

  • God's Sovereignty: It demonstrates God's ultimate control over nature and human circumstances, using even natural phenomena as instruments of His will or judgment.
  • Call to Repentance: The severity of the judgment was intended to drive the people to sincere repentance and a renewed relationship with God. This aligns with themes seen in other prophetic books, such as Amos 4:6-9, where God sends various afflictions to bring people back to Him.
  • Dependence on God's Provision: The verse underscores our fundamental dependence on God for all provision. When these basic provisions are withheld, it exposes humanity's vulnerability and need for divine grace. This echoes warnings found in the Mosaic Law, like the curses for disobedience in Deuteronomy 28:15-18.

Ultimately, Joel 1:10 calls believers to reflect on the consequences of spiritual drift and the importance of seeking God's face in times of hardship, understanding that even in judgment, there is a call to restoration and hope, as promised later in Joel (e.g., Joel 2:12-13).

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hosea 4:3 (5 votes)

    Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.

  • Hosea 9:2 (4 votes)

    The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, and the new wine shall fail in her.

  • Jeremiah 12:11 (4 votes)

    They have made it desolate, [and being] desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth [it] to heart.

  • Joel 1:5 (3 votes)

    Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

  • Jeremiah 14:2 (2 votes)

    Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.

  • Jeremiah 14:6 (2 votes)

    And the wild asses did stand in the high places, they snuffed up the wind like dragons; their eyes did fail, because [there was] no grass.

  • Isaiah 24:11 (2 votes)

    [There is] a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.