Joel 1:9
What does Joel 1:9 mean?
A plain-English look at Joel 1:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Joel 1:9 means
The grain (meal) offering and drink offering have ceased in Jehovah’s house because there is nothing to bring. The priests, who serve at the altar, now mourn. This is more than empty ritual; these daily offerings expressed ongoing fellowship with God and gratitude for His provision. Their absence announces a breach: the land cannot sustain worship, and the people feel the loss of communion. Priests, as mediators of public devotion, embody the nation’s grief. When the means of worship fail, it signals a spiritual crisis calling for repentance and intercession, not simply a logistical pause until supplies return.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The meal-offering and the drink-offering are cut off from the house of Jehovah; the priests, Jehovah’s ministers, mourn.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the Lord; the priests, the Lord’s ministers, mourn.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The meal-offering and the drink-offering are cut off from the house of Jehovah; the priests, Jehovah’s ministers, mourn.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The meal offering and the drink offering have been cut off from the house of the Lord; the priests, the Lord's servants, are sorrowing.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Cut off hath been present and libation from the house of Jehovah, Mourned have the priests, ministrants of Jehovah.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Sacrifice and libation is cut off from the house of the Lord: the priests, the Lord's ministers, have mourned:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The oblation and the drink-offering are cut off from the house of Jehovah; the priests, Jehovah's ministers, mourn.
Context
Joel moves from personal lament to the public, liturgical consequences of the plague. By highlighting the cessation of offerings, he shows that the calamity has theological meaning: the covenant community’s rhythm with God is interrupted. In the next verses he will widen the lens again to the whole land—fields, grain, wine, oil—and summon farmers and vinedressers to wail. The structure alternates between spiritual center and societal periphery to emphasize that all sectors are implicated, and thus all must participate in the coming call to a solemn fast.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Exodus 28:1
And bring thou near unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
- Lamentations 1:16
For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water; Because the comforter that should refresh my soul is far from me: My children are desolate, because the enemy hath prevailed.
- Lamentations 1:4
The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly; All her gates are desolate, her priests do sigh: Her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness.
- 2 Chronicles 13:10
But as for us, Jehovah is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and we have priests ministering unto Jehovah, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites in their work:
- Joel 2:14
Who knoweth whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal-offering and a drink-offering unto Jehovah your God?
- Joel 1:16
Is not the food cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God?
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