Joel 1:15

Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD [is] at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

Alas {H162} for the day {H3117}! for the day {H3117} of the LORD {H3068} is at hand {H7138}, and as a destruction {H7701} from the Almighty {H7706} shall it come {H935}.

"Oh no! The Day! The Day of ADONAI is upon us! As destruction from Shaddai it is coming!

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

Alas for the day! for the day of Jehovah is at hand, and as destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

Joel 1:15 serves as a stark warning, encapsulating the prophet Joel's urgent message concerning a looming divine intervention. The verse highlights the imminence and severity of what is known throughout prophetic literature as the "Day of the LORD."

Context

This verse is situated amidst Joel's lament over a devastating locust plague and severe drought that has gripped the land of Judah, causing widespread famine and despair. The prophet interprets this natural disaster not merely as misfortune, but as a direct precursor and a dire sign of the greater, more terrifying "Day of the LORD." He calls upon the priests, elders, and all inhabitants to mourn, fast, and cry out to God, recognizing the agricultural destruction described earlier in Joel 1:4-7 as a taste of the coming judgment.

Key Themes

  • The Imminence of Judgment: The phrase "is at hand" emphasizes the pressing nature of God's impending judgment. It signifies that the time for reckoning is not distant but immediate, demanding an urgent response from the people.
  • The Day of the LORD: This central prophetic theme refers to a specific time when God decisively intervenes in human history. While it often brings judgment upon the wicked, it also encompasses deliverance and salvation for the righteous. In Joel's immediate context, it refers to the judgment manifested through the plague, but it also points to a future, ultimate day of reckoning, as seen in Joel 2:1 and Zephaniah 1:14.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Destruction: The phrase "as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come" underscores God's absolute power and control over all events, including natural calamities and acts of judgment. It signifies that this "destruction" is not random but a purposeful act of God, the Almighty (Hebrew: Shaddai), who is sovereign over all creation and history.
  • Lament and Urgency: "Alas for the day!" (Hebrew: ʼahah) is an exclamation of deep sorrow, distress, and lamentation. It conveys the prophet's profound grief and the urgency of his warning, urging the people to recognize the gravity of their situation and the need for repentance.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "Alas" (ʼahah) is an interjection expressing pain, grief, or dread, perfectly capturing the prophet's anguish. The term "Day of the LORD" (yom Yahweh) is a crucial theological concept used throughout the Old Testament prophets to describe a time of God's decisive action, whether in judgment or blessing. "Almighty" (Shaddai) is one of the names of God, emphasizing His omnipotence, self-sufficiency, and power to fulfill His purposes.

Practical Application

Joel 1:15 serves as a timeless reminder of the seriousness of sin and the certainty of divine judgment. While the immediate context was a physical plague, the principle applies to God's ultimate reckoning. It calls individuals and communities to a posture of humility, self-examination, and sincere repentance, as encouraged in Joel 2:12-13. For believers, it highlights the importance of living in readiness for the Day of the Lord, which will bring ultimate justice and the full establishment of God's kingdom. For those who do not know God, it stands as a solemn warning to turn to Him before it is too late.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 13:6

    ¶ Howl ye; for the day of the LORD [is] at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

  • Isaiah 13:9

    Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

  • Zephaniah 1:14

    ¶ The great day of the LORD [is] near, [it is] near, and hasteth greatly, [even] the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

  • Zephaniah 1:18

    Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

  • Jeremiah 30:7

    Alas! for that day [is] great, so that none [is] like it: it [is] even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

  • Ezekiel 7:2

    Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.

  • Ezekiel 7:12

    The time is come, the day draweth near: let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn: for wrath [is] upon all the multitude thereof.

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