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Joel 1:14

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¶ 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,

Sanctify {H6942} ye a fast {H6685}, call {H7121} a solemn assembly {H6116}, gather {H622} the elders {H2205} and all the inhabitants {H3427} of the land {H776} into the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068} your God {H430}, and cry {H2199} unto the LORD {H3068},

Proclaim a holy fast, call for a solemn assembly, gather the leaders and all who live in the land to the house of ADONAI your God, and cry out to ADONAI,

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

Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the old men and all the inhabitants of the land unto the house of Jehovah your God, and cry unto Jehovah.

Commentary

Joel 1:14 is a powerful command from the prophet Joel, urging the people of Judah to engage in a profound act of national repentance and supplication in response to a devastating locust plague and severe drought that has ravaged their land.

Context

This verse comes amidst a vivid description in Joel Chapter 1 of an unprecedented natural disaster. A swarm of locusts has consumed every green thing, followed by a severe drought, leading to widespread famine and despair. The land is mourning, the fields are desolate, and even the priests are lamenting because the offerings have ceased. In this dire situation, Joel, acting as God's messenger, issues a specific, urgent directive for the entire nation. It’s a desperate call to national repentance and seeking God's face when faced with overwhelming calamity.

Key Themes

  • Corporate Repentance and Humility: The command to "sanctify a fast" and "call a solemn assembly" underscores the need for a unified, communal act of humility before God. It's an acknowledgment of sin and a desperate plea for mercy, moving beyond individual lament to a collective response.
  • Solemn Assembly and Worship: Gathering "the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God" emphasizes the centrality of public worship and communal prayer in times of crisis. The temple, or "house of the LORD," was the designated place for the people to meet with God and offer sacrifices and petitions.
  • Desperate Supplication: The phrase "and cry unto the LORD" highlights the urgency and desperation of their plea. It's not a casual prayer but an impassioned, heartfelt cry for divine intervention and deliverance from the judgment they are experiencing. This collective cry is an act of acknowledging God's sovereignty and their dependence on Him.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "sanctify" (qadash - קָדַשׁ) means to set apart or consecrate. When applied to a fast, it signifies that this is not merely abstaining from food but a holy act dedicated to God, intended to draw near to Him in purity and sincerity. The "solemn assembly" (Hebrew: atzarah - עֲצָרָה) refers to a sacred, often restricted, gathering for religious purposes, emphasizing its serious and binding nature. The command to "cry unto the LORD" uses the Hebrew word za'aq (זָעַק), which denotes a loud, urgent, and often distressed cry for help, signifying a deep sense of need and dependence on God for rescue.

Practical Application

Joel 1:14 offers timeless principles for how communities and nations can respond to severe crises, whether natural disasters, pandemics, or moral decay. It teaches that:

  • Corporate Humility is Essential: There are times when collective repentance and a turning to God are necessary. This requires leaders and all people to acknowledge their need for God's mercy.
  • Prayer is Powerful: Corporate prayer, especially when accompanied by genuine humility and fasting, is a powerful spiritual discipline. It demonstrates a profound reliance on God and opens the door for His intervention. Seeking God with all your heart is key to finding Him.
  • The Church's Role: The "house of the LORD" today often symbolizes the gathered body of believers. This verse reminds the church of its vital role in leading communities in prayer and intercession during times of adversity, demonstrating faith and hope in God's power to restore.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • Joel 2:15 (7 votes)

    Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

  • Joel 2:16 (7 votes)

    Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:3 (4 votes)

    And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:4 (4 votes)

    And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask [help] of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

  • Jonah 3:8 (4 votes)

    But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that [is] in their hands.

  • Leviticus 23:36 (4 votes)

    Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it [is] a solemn assembly; [and] ye shall do no servile work [therein].

  • 2 Chronicles 20:13 (4 votes)

    And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.