Joel 1:7

He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast [it] away; the branches thereof are made white.

He hath laid {H7760} my vine {H1612} waste {H8047}, and barked {H7111} my fig tree {H8384}: he hath made it clean {H2834} bare {H2834}, and cast it away {H7993}; the branches {H8299} thereof are made white {H3835}.

He has reduced my vines to waste, my fig trees to splinters - he plucked them bare, stripped their bark and left their branches white."

It has laid waste My grapevine and splintered My fig tree. It has stripped off the bark and thrown it away; the branches have turned white.

He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig-tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

Commentary

Joel 1:7 (KJV) graphically describes the devastating effects of a severe plague, likely a locust invasion, on the agricultural landscape of Judah. The verse paints a picture of utter desolation, emphasizing the complete destruction of vital crops.

Context

This verse is part of the opening chapter of the Book of Joel, which begins with a vivid depiction of an unprecedented natural disaster. The prophet Joel addresses the elders and inhabitants of Judah, calling them to lament and recognize the severity of the catastrophe. The "he" in this verse refers to the destructive force, often interpreted as the locust plague detailed in Joel 1:4, which has consumed everything in its path. For an agrarian society like ancient Israel, the destruction of vineyards and fig trees signified economic ruin and potential famine, serving as a powerful metaphor for divine judgment or a call to national repentance.

Key Themes

  • Agricultural Devastation: The primary theme is the complete ruin of the land's produce. Vines and fig trees were staple crops, representing prosperity and sustenance in Israel. Their destruction means livelihood is stripped away.
  • Utter Desolation: Phrases like "laid my vine waste," "barked my fig tree," "made it clean bare," and "branches thereof are made white" vividly convey total and irreversible destruction. The "white" branches signify death and decay, bleached by the sun after being stripped of all life.
  • Consequence of Judgment: While not explicitly stated as God's direct action in this verse, the scale of destruction points to a profound consequence, often understood within the prophetic context as a form of divine discipline or a warning. This severe judgment serves to prompt a spiritual awakening, as seen in Joel's subsequent calls for repentance and fasting.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's use of "barked" (from Hebrew qissem) powerfully conveys the stripping of the tree's outer layer, leaving it vulnerable and exposed. Similarly, "made white" (from chawer) is not just a color description but signifies the drying out and death of the branches, bleached by the sun, stripped of their vitality. These vivid images are chosen to evoke a strong sense of loss and hopelessness, underscoring the completeness of the agricultural ruin.

Related Scriptures

  • The imagery of the vine and fig tree often symbolizes Israel's prosperity and security, as seen in passages like Micah 4:4, where sitting under one's vine and fig tree represents peace and abundance.
  • The destructive power of locusts as an instrument of judgment is also seen in the plagues of Egypt (Exodus 10:14).
  • This devastation sets the stage for Joel's urgent plea for the people to return to the Lord, as echoed in Joel 2:13, emphasizing a change of heart over outward display.

Practical Application

Joel 1:7 serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of earthly blessings and the potential for severe consequences when a community, or even an individual, strays from God. It highlights:

  1. God's Sovereignty: Even in natural disasters, the prophet implicitly points to God's ultimate control and purpose, using such events to call His people to Himself.
  2. The Call to Repentance: The severity of the judgment described here is meant to humble and lead to genuine repentance, a turning back to God with all one's heart.
  3. Focus on Eternal Value: When earthly provisions are stripped away, it forces a re-evaluation of what truly matters, shifting focus from material wealth to spiritual health and a relationship with the Creator.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

Cross-References

  • Amos 4:9

    I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured [them]: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.

  • Isaiah 5:6

    And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

  • Joel 1:12

    The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, [even] all the trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

  • Exodus 10:15

    For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt.

  • Hosea 2:12

    And I will destroy her vines and her fig trees, whereof she hath said, These [are] my rewards that my lovers have given me: and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall eat them.

  • Habakkuk 3:17

    Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither [shall] fruit [be] in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and [there shall be] no herd in the stalls:

  • Jeremiah 8:13

    ¶ I will surely consume them, saith the LORD: [there shall be] no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and [the things that] I have given them shall pass away from them.
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