New International Version Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. New Living Translation Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. Bring the leaders and all the people of the land into the Temple of the LORD your God, and cry out to him there. English Standard Version Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. Berean Standard Bible 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. Berean Literal Bible Consecrate a fast, call a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all those dwelling in the land to the house of YHWH your⁺ God, and cry out to YHWH. King James Bible 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, New King James Version Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD. New American Standard Bible Consecrate a fast, Proclaim a solemn assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land To the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD. NASB 1995 Consecrate a fast, Proclaim a solemn assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land To the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD. NASB 1977 Consecrate a fast, Proclaim a solemn assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land To the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD. Legacy Standard Bible Set apart a fast as holy, Call for a solemn assembly; Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land To the house of Yahweh your God, And cry out to Yahweh. Amplified Bible Consecrate a fast, Proclaim a solemn assembly, Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land To the house of the LORD your God, And cry out to the LORD [in penitent pleadings]. Berean Annotated Bible 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 {YHWH Eloheikem}, and cry out to the LORD. Christian Standard Bible Announce a sacred fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land at the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. Holman Christian Standard Bible Announce a sacred fast; proclaim an assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land at the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. American Standard Version 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. Contemporary English Version Tell the leaders and people to come together at the temple. Order them to go without eating and to pray sincerely. English Revised Version Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the old men and all the inhabitants of the land unto the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD. GOD'S WORD® Translation Schedule a time to fast! Call for an assembly! Gather the leaders and everyone who lives in the land. Bring them to the temple of the LORD your God, and cry to the LORD for help. Good News Translation Give orders for a fast; call an assembly! Gather the leaders and all the people of Judah into the Temple of the LORD your God and cry out to him! International Standard Version Set apart time for a fast! Call a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and everyone living in the land to the Temple of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD!" NET Bible Announce a holy fast; proclaim a sacred assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the temple of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. New Heart English Bible Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders, and all the inhabitants of the land, to the house of the LORD, your God, and cry to the LORD. Webster's Bible Translation 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 to the LORD, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleConsecrate 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. World English Bible Sanctify a fast. Call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of Yahweh, your God, and cry to Yahweh. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionSanctify a fast, proclaim a restraint, "" Gather [the] elderly [and] all those inhabiting the land, "" [Into the] house of your God YHWH, Berean Literal Bible Consecrate a fast, call a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all those dwelling in the land to the house of YHWH your⁺ God, and cry out to YHWH. Young's Literal Translation Sanctify a fast, proclaim a restraint, Gather the elders -- all the inhabitants of the land, Into the house of Jehovah your God, Smith's Literal Translation Consecrate a fast, call an assembly, gather together the old men, all the inhabitants of the land to the house of Jehovah your God, and cry to Jehovah. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSanctify ye a fast, call an assembly; gather together the ancients, all the inhabitants of the land into the house of your God: and cry ye to the Lord: Catholic Public Domain Version Sanctify a fast, call an assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of your God. And cry out to the Lord: New American Bible Proclaim a holy fast! Call an assembly! Gather the elders, all who dwell in the land, To the house of the LORD, your God, and cry out to the LORD! New Revised Standard Version Sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSanctify 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 to the LORD your God, and say, Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Hallow a fast! Call the assembly! Have the Elders gathered and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of LORD JEHOVAH your God. Cry to LORD JEHOVAH your God and say: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Sanctify ye a fast, Call a solemn assembly, Gather the elders And all the inhabitants of the land Unto the house of the LORD your God, And cry unto the LORD. Brenton Septuagint Translation Sanctify a fast, proclaim a solemn service, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of your God, and cry earnestly to the Lord, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context A Call to Repentance13Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, because the grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. 14Consecrate 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. 15Alas for the day! For the Day of the LORD is near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty.… Cross References Consecrate a fast; 2 Chronicles 20:3 Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah. Jeremiah 36:9 Now in the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, a fast before the LORD was proclaimed to all the people of Jerusalem and all who had come there from the cities of Judah. Ezra 8:21 And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. proclaim a solemn assembly! 2 Chronicles 7:9 On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for the dedication of the altar had lasted seven days, and the feast seven days more. Deuteronomy 16:8 For six days you must eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day you shall hold a solemn assembly to the LORD your God, and you must not do any work. Numbers 29:35 On the eighth day you are to hold a solemn assembly; you must not do any regular work. Gather the elders and all the residents of the land 2 Kings 23:1 Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 34:29-30 Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. / And he went up to the house of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as well as the priests and the Levites—all the people great and small—and in their hearing he read all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD. Joshua 24:1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. to the house of the LORD your God, 2 Kings 19:14 So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 2 Chronicles 20:5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard 1 Kings 8:33 When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, praying and pleading with You in this temple, and cry out to the LORD. Psalm 107:6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. 2 Chronicles 20:9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’ Jonah 2:2 saying: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice. Jonah 3:5-9 And the Ninevites believed God. They proclaimed a fast and dressed in sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least. / When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. / Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let no man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything at all. They must not eat or drink. … Treasury of Scripture Sanctify you 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 to the LORD, Sanctify. Joel 2:15,16 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: … 2 Chronicles 20:3,4 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah… solemn assembly. Leviticus 23:36 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. Nehemiah 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner. the elders. Deuteronomy 29:10,11 Ye stand this day all of you before the LORD your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, … 2 Chronicles 20:13 And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. Nehemiah 9:2,3 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers… cry. Jonah 3:8 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. Jump to Previous Assembly Consecrate Cry Crying Declare Elders Fast Fixed Food Gather Hallow Holy House Inhabitants Live Meeting Proclaim Sacred Sanctify Solemn Summon TimeJump to Next Assembly Consecrate Cry Crying Declare Elders Fast Fixed Food Gather Hallow Holy House Inhabitants Live Meeting Proclaim Sacred Sanctify Solemn Summon TimeJoel 1 1. Joel, declaring various judgments of God, exhorts to observe them,8. and to mourn. 14. He prescribes a solemn fast to deprecate those judgments. Consecrate a fast; Set apart a time of abstinence from food as an act of humility before God. In the face of devastation, the people were to acknowledge their dependence on Him and seek His mercy. 2Ch 20:3 Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD.… proclaim a solemn assembly! Call the nation together for public worship, mourning, and repentance. The crisis required more than private grief; the whole community was to seek the Lord together. 2Ch 7:9 On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly… Gather the elders and all the residents of the land Israel’s leaders and every inhabitant were included. No group was exempt from the need to recognize the nation’s condition before God and respond in repentance. 2Ki 23:1 Then the king summoned all the elders of Judah… to the house of the LORD your God, The people were to assemble at the temple, the appointed center of Israel’s worship and the place associated with God’s presence among His covenant people. 2Ki 19:14 So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers… and cry out to the LORD. Their gathering was to culminate in earnest prayer for mercy, deliverance, and restoration. The command recognizes that only the Lord could remove the judgment and restore the land. Psa 107:6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,… Persons / Places / Events 1. JoelThe prophet who delivers God's message to the people of Judah, calling them to repentance and spiritual renewal. 2. Elders The leaders and decision-makers of the community, responsible for guiding the people in spiritual and communal matters. 3. Residents of the Land The general population of Judah, who are called to participate in the communal act of repentance. 4. House of the LORD The temple in Jerusalem, the central place of worship and sacrifice for the people of Israel. 5. Fasting and Sacred Assembly A communal act of humility and repentance, seeking God's mercy and intervention in times of crisis. Teaching Points The Call to RepentanceJoel 1:14 highlights the importance of turning back to God in times of crisis. Repentance is not just an individual act but a communal responsibility. The Role of Leadership The elders are called to lead the people in repentance. Spiritual leaders today have a responsibility to guide their communities in seeking God earnestly. The Power of Fasting and Prayer Fasting is a powerful spiritual discipline that helps believers focus on God and seek His intervention. It is a way to humble ourselves and express our dependence on Him. The Importance of Community The call to gather all residents emphasizes the strength and unity found in communal worship and repentance. The church today should foster a sense of community in seeking God together. Crying Out to the LORD Genuine prayer involves crying out to God with sincerity and urgency. It reflects a heart that recognizes its need for God's mercy and intervention. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joel 1:14?2. How can we "declare a holy fast" in our modern Christian communities today? 3. What does it mean to "call a sacred assembly" in today's church context? 4. How does Joel 1:14 connect with other biblical calls to repentance and fasting? 5. Why is gathering "all who live in the land" important for communal repentance? 6. How can we apply the urgency of Joel 1:14 to our spiritual lives? 7. What is the significance of fasting in Joel 1:14 for modern believers? 8. How does Joel 1:14 emphasize the importance of communal prayer and worship? 9. Why does Joel 1:14 call for a sacred assembly during a crisis? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joel 1? (14) A solemn assembly.--The Hebrew word strictly means a festival day, on which the people gathered themselves together, being relieved from work. Here they are summoned for a fast. The word may also be translated, as in the margin, "a day of restraint," its root signifying to shut, to hold back.Verses 14-20. - After urging the priests to lead the way in the matter, he proceeds to summon all classes of the people, and particularly the elders, to engage in penitence, fasting, and solemn supplications, in order to avert the calamities that were impending, or to escape from them if they had already begun. Verse 14. - 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. The command is addressed to the priests as the representatives and rulers of the people in all matters of religion; they communicated to the people the commands of Jehovah. This verse directs attention to three things - the duty commanded; the persons called upon to discharge it; and the place of its performance. 1. The duty required was a fast and a solemn assembly; and the priests are strictly enjoined to see to it that both these shall be duly announced and rightly observed. The fast was abstention from food in token of sorrow for sin; it was intended to be the external evidence of penitential sorrow for sin. The solemn assembly, or "day of restraint," as it stands in the margin, was a public meeting of the people for the purpose of solemn supplication that the Almighty might be entreated to deliver them from the sore calamity with which he had seen fit to visit them. It was a season during which they were restrained from all servile work, and attention given exclusively to humiliation and prayer. 2. The persons summoned for this purpose were the elders, those who were so both by age and office - the magistrates as examples to others, and as having been implicated in the sins from which they now suffered. With the word "elders" are joined all the inhabitants of the land - the whole of the people, poor ann rich alike; all had had their share in the national sin, all were sharers in the national suffering, and it therefore behoved all to repent of their sins and seek the Lord. 3. The place of assembly was the house of the Lord; that is, the temple, or that portion of it called "the court of the Israelites." Nor were they to assemble there without an errand; the purpose of their assembling in that sacred place was to supplicate the Lord to alleviate their distress, or rather remove it altogether. They were directed to cry mightily to the Lord; to cry unto him with vehement earnestness and importunate perseverance till he would be pleased to send relief. The proclamation of a fast was a common expedient, to which people, Jewish and Gentile, according to their respective light, resorted in the day of their difficulty and distress. We read of it on many occasions; for example, by King Jehoshaphat in prospect of a hostile attack by the allied armies of Moab, Ammon, and Edom; again in the reign of Jehoiakim; also by Ezra in the day of danger; and by the people of Nineveh in consequence of the preaching of Jonah. Joel 1:14 prescribes a six-fold remedy for national disaster: set apart a fast, halt normal life with a holy assembly, involve leaders first, include every citizen, gather at God’s house, and pour out urgent prayer. The verse underscores that genuine repentance is communal, visible, and God-directed. When devastation strikes, Scripture’s literal call is unmistakable: seek the Lord together, and He will hear.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Consecrateקַדְּשׁוּ־ (qad·də·šū-) Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 6942: To be set apart or consecrated a fast; צוֹם֙ (ṣō·wm) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 6685: Fasting, a fast proclaim קִרְא֣וּ (qir·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read a solemn assembly! עֲצָרָ֔ה (‘ă·ṣā·rāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6116: An assembly, on a, festival, holiday Gather אִסְפ֣וּ (’is·p̄ū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove the elders זְקֵנִ֗ים (zə·qê·nîm) Adjective - masculine plural Strong's 2205: Old and all כֹּ֚ל (kōl) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the residents יֹשְׁבֵ֣י (yō·šə·ḇê) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry of the land הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land to the house בֵּ֖ית (bêṯ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house of the LORD יְהוָ֣ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel your God, אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative and cry out וְזַעֲק֖וּ (wə·za·‘ă·qū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 2199: To shriek, to announce, convene publicly to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to the LORD. יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel Additonal Resources Joel 1:14 Blue Letter BibleJoel 1:14 Bible Gateway Joel 1:14 Bible.com Joel 1:14 NIV |
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