Joel 1:7

Context

1:7 They¹ have destroyed our² vines;³

they have turned our⁴ fig trees into mere splinters.

They have completely stripped off the bark⁵ and thrown them aside;

the⁶ twigs are stripped bare.⁷

Joel 1:10-12

Context

1:10 The crops of the fields⁸ have been destroyed.⁹

The ground is in mourning because the grain has perished.

The fresh wine has dried up;

the olive oil languishes.

1:11 Be distressed,¹⁰ farmers;

wail, vinedressers, over the wheat and the barley.

For the harvest of the field has perished.

1:12 The vine has dried up;

the fig tree languishes –

the pomegranate, date, and apple¹¹ as well.

In fact,¹² all the trees of the field have dried up.

Indeed, the joy of the people¹³ has dried up!

[1:7] ¹tn Heb “it.” Throughout vv. 6-7 the Hebrew uses singular forms to describe the locust swarm, but the translation uses plural forms because several details of the text make more sense in English as if they are describing the appearance and effects of individual locusts.

[1:7] ²tn Heb “my.”

[1:7] ³tn Both “vines” and “fig trees” are singular in the Hebrew text, but are regarded as collective singulars.

[1:7] ⁴tn Heb “my.”

[1:7] ⁵tn Heb “it has completely stripped her.”

[1:7] ⁶tn Heb “her.”

[1:7] ⁷tn Heb “grow white.”

[1:10] ⁸tn Heb “the field has been utterly destroyed.” The term “field,” a collective singular for “fields,” is a metonymy for crops produced by the fields.

[1:10] ⁹tn Joel uses intentionally alliterative language in the phrases שֻׁדַּד שָׂדֶה (shuddad sadeh, “the field is destroyed”) and אֲבְלָה אֲדָמָה (’avlah ’adamah, “the ground is in mourning”).

[1:11] ¹⁰tn Heb “embarrassed”; or “be ashamed.”

[1:12] ¹¹tn This Hebrew word וְתַפּוּחַ (vÿtappuakh) probably refers to the apple tree (so most English versions), but other suggestions that scholars have offered include the apricot, citron, or quince.

[1:12] ¹²tn These words are not in the Hebrew text but are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[1:12] ¹³tn Heb “the sons of man.”