King James Version

What Does Joel 1:5 Mean?

“Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.”

Context

Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.

That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. That which the palmerworm: Heb. The residue of the palmerworm

Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.

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. barked: Heb. laid my fig tree for a barking

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(5) **Awake, ye drunkards—***i.e.,* awake from such an insensibility as wine causes. The people failed to see the hand of God in the terrible calamity, like an acted parable, of the locusts. Insensate, as the revellers in the halls of Belshazzar, they carried on their feasting even while the enemies were at the city gates. **It is cut off from your mouth.**—Either joy and gladness, as given in the LXX., or the means of indulgence have been suddenly taken away.

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

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 1:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.