King James Version

What Does Joel 1:14 Mean?

Joel 1:14 in the King James Version says “Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the ...” — study this verse from Joel chapter 1 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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, solemn: or, day of restraint”

Joel 1:14 · KJV

Context

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.

13

Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.

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, solemn: or, day of restraint

15

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

16

Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?

Read Joel 1 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly" commands corporate repentance. The Hebrew qadash (sanctify) means to set apart as holy—the fast isn't mere hunger but sacred act of humiliation and seeking God. "Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God" requires universal participation—age, status, and occupation don't exempt anyone. Covenant community faces judgment together, must repent together. "And cry unto the LORD" uses za'aq, intense crying out in distress. This isn't polite prayer but desperate pleading. Reformed theology emphasizes that genuine repentance includes confession, contrition, and turning from sin. Corporate repentance requires leadership modeling humility, community acknowledging corporate guilt, and united seeking of God's mercy.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Fasting involved abstaining from food and water, wearing sackcloth, sitting in ashes, and prayer. Old Testament fasts occurred for various reasons: mourning (1 Samuel 31:13), repentance (1 Kings 21:27), seeking guidance (Judges 20:26), and averting judgment (Jonah 3:5-9). The "solemn assembly" (atsarah) was formal religious gathering, often at major festivals. Joel commands extraordinary fast—interrupting normal life to seek God.

Reflection Questions

  1. When did you last engage in serious fasting and prayer over personal or corporate sin?
  2. What would corporate church repentance look like in modern context?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
קַדְּשׁוּ1 of 15

“Sanctify”

H6942

to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)

צוֹם֙2 of 15

“ye a fast”

H6685

a fast

קִרְא֣וּ3 of 15

“call”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

עֲצָרָ֔ה4 of 15

“a solemn assembly”

H6116

an assembly, especially on a festival or holiday

אִסְפ֣וּ5 of 15

“gather”

H622

to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)

זְקֵנִ֗ים6 of 15

“the elders”

H2205

old

כֹּ֚ל7 of 15
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

יֹשְׁבֵ֣י8 of 15

“and all the inhabitants”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

הָאָ֔רֶץ9 of 15

“of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

בֵּ֖ית10 of 15

“into the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יְהוָֽה׃11 of 15

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֑ם12 of 15

“your God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

וְזַעֲק֖וּ13 of 15

“and cry”

H2199

to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly

אֶל14 of 15
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָֽה׃15 of 15

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Joel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Joel 1:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Joel 1:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Joel 2:15-162 Chronicles 20:3-4Deuteronomy 29:10-11Leviticus 23:36Jonah 3:82 Chronicles 20:13

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