Joel | The Bible (KJV) King James Version | Old Testament

Listen to the full Book of Joel in the King James Version (KJV) with text.

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📖 Chapters
0:00 Joel 1. A Devastating Locust Plague and a Call to Repentance
3:38 Joel 2. The Day of the Lord: Judgment and a Promise of Restoration
10:17 Joel 3. The Judgment of Nations and the Future Blessing of God’s People

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The Book of Joel is one of the Twelve Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Christian Old Testament, delivering a powerful message of divine judgment, repentance, and ultimate restoration. While the exact date of its composition remains uncertain, scholars propose a broad range of possible periods, with many suggesting it was written between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, possibly during or after the Babylonian exile. The book speaks to a time of crisis in Israel, marked by a devastating locust plague that becomes a central metaphor for both immediate disaster and future divine judgment.

Joel is structured into two main sections. The first half (Joel 1–2) describes an unprecedented locust invasion, consuming crops, causing famine, and bringing national devastation. This catastrophe is not merely a natural disaster but a divine warning, foreshadowing the coming "Day of the Lord," a key theme in prophetic literature referring to God’s decisive intervention in human history. Joel calls the people, including priests, elders, and all inhabitants of the land, to gather in fasting, mourning, and repentance, urging them to return to God with sincere hearts rather than empty religious rituals.

The second half of the book (Joel 2:18–3:21) shifts dramatically to restoration and hope. In response to genuine repentance, God promises to restore the land, bless His people abundantly, and defeat their enemies. One of the most significant passages is Joel 2:28-29, where God declares: "I will pour out my Spirit on all people", foretelling a time when prophecy, visions, and divine presence will no longer be limited to certain individuals but will be universally available. This prophecy is later cited in the New Testament (Acts 2:16-21) by the apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost, marking its deep influence on Christian theology regarding the Holy Spirit.

Thematically, the Book of Joel connects judgment with mercy, destruction with renewal, and human repentance with divine blessing. It reinforces the idea that God’s justice is real, but so is His compassion—those who turn back to Him will experience restoration and an outpouring of divine presence. It also develops the apocalyptic vision of the "Day of the Lord," emphasizing both a near-term fulfillment (such as Israel’s deliverance from oppression) and a future, cosmic fulfillment involving ultimate divine judgment and the triumph of God’s kingdom.

Ultimately, the Book of Joel remains deeply relevant, offering a powerful message about spiritual renewal, divine justice, and the hope of restoration. It calls readers to recognize signs of crisis as opportunities for repentance, while also affirming that God’s plans for His people are not only about judgment but about redemption, renewal, and the fullness of His presence among them.

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