Joel 1:14 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The prophet calls for a holy fast and a gathering of the whole community to cry out together to the LORD.
What Does Joel 1:14 Mean?
Here is the response Joel has been building toward. He commands a sanctified fast, a solemn assembly, and a gathering of everyone, elders and all the inhabitants alike, into the house of the LORD. The purpose of the gathering is singular: to cry unto the LORD. The disaster is to drive the people not to despair but to united, earnest prayer.
This verse marks the turning point of the chapter. Sorrow that only looks at the loss leads nowhere; sorrow that turns the whole community Godward becomes the seedbed of mercy. To cry unto the LORD is to admit that He alone can help, and to come together is to confess that no one stands outside the need. Fasting here is not a ritual to impress but a way of saying with the body what the heart means: we are emptied, and only You can fill us. This is the posture God delights to answer.
Joel 1:14 in the Original Language
To 'sanctify' a fast (קָדַשׁ) means to set it apart as holy, marking it off from ordinary days for a sacred purpose before God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Joel 1:14
What does Joel 1:14 mean?
The prophet calls for a holy fast and a gathering of the whole community to cry out together to the LORD.