The word of the lord that came to joel son of pethuel Listen, all who live in the land The book of joel primarily addresses the nation of judah and its people collectively, rather than focusing on individual characters The text is rich with imagery and prophecy concerning a locust plague, a call to repentance, and the promise of future blessings and the outpouring of god's spirit. The overriding theme of the book of joel is the day of the lord, a day of god’s wrath and judgment This is the day in which god reveals his attributes of wrath, power, and holiness, and it is a terrifying day to his enemies.
Joel identifies himself as the son of pethuel, a name mentioned nowhere else in the old testament (joel 1:1) Some believe joel may have been a priest of the tribe of levi, given his passion for temple sacrifices (joel 1:9 We know little of the prophet joel beyond a few personal details contained in the book itself He identified himself as the son of pethuel, preached to the people of judah, and expressed a great deal of interest in jerusalem. The book of joel is a prophetic work highlighting vivid imagery and a dual emphasis on judgment and restoration It calls for repentance amidst divine judgment, illustrated by the locust plague and an invading army.
Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story. “the name joel means ‘jehovah is god’ and therefore constitutes a short confession of faith, somewhat like the primary new testament confession, ‘jesus is lord.’” (boice) Read the book of joel from the bible with full chapters, summary and outline, bible commentary, and our favorite verses to help you study and understand scripture.
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