Joel is book 29 of the 39 books of the Old Testament and belongs to the Minor Prophets section. See how it fits with the rest in our guide to all 66 books of the Bible.
Quick facts
- Section
- Old Testament · Minor Prophets
- Genre
- Prophecy: poetic oracles
- Author (traditional)
- Joel son of Pethuel (Joel 1:1); nothing else is known about him.
- Other views on authorship
- Generally accepted as the work of a prophet named Joel, possibly with some editorial shaping.
- Date (traditional)
- Often placed in the 9th century BC, during the reign of the boy-king Joash, because of its position among early prophets.
- Other views on dating
- Many scholars prefer a post-exilic date, about 500–350 BC, because the book mentions the temple and elders but no king. The book gives no date itself.
- Chapters
- 3
- Verses
- 73
- Reading time
- About 9 minutes (1,852 words in the BSB)
What is Joel about?
Joel opens with a disaster: wave after wave of locusts has stripped the fields, vines and fig trees, and drought has followed. Grain and drink offerings at the temple have stopped. Joel calls elders, farmers, priests and everyone else to mourn and cry out to God.
The prophet sees in the locusts a preview of something greater, the Day of the LORD, pictured as an invading army darkening the sky. But the warning leads to an invitation: tear your hearts, not your garments, and return to a God who is gracious and compassionate. When the people respond, God promises to restore what the locusts ate.
The final part looks further ahead. God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh, sons and daughters, old and young, servants included. The nations will be judged in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and Judah and Jerusalem will be secure, with God dwelling in Zion.
Outline of Joel
| ChaptersCh. | Section |
|---|---|
| 1 | The locust disaster Fields destroyed; a call to lament and to gather at the temple. |
| 2:1–17 | The Day of the LORD and a call to return An unstoppable army approaches; return to God with fasting and weeping. |
| 2:18–32 | God's answer Restored harvests, years the locusts ate repaid, and the Spirit poured out. |
| 3 | Judgment and restoration The nations judged in the valley of decision; blessing for Judah and Jerusalem. |
Key themes
- The Day of the LORD. This phrase is at the centre of Joel's message: a day of judgment on sin, but also the day God sets the world right.
- Wholehearted repentance. God wants changed hearts, not just outward rituals. He is gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love (Joel 2:13), echoing God's self-description to Moses.
- Restoration. God promises to repay the years the locusts ate, a message many readers take to heart after seasons of loss.
- The Spirit for everyone. Joel foresees God's Spirit given not only to prophets or kings but to all his people, regardless of age, gender or status.
Key people and places
- Joel — Prophet, son of Pethuel; otherwise unknown.
- Priests and elders — Leaders called to gather the people in repentance.
Places: Judah, Jerusalem (Zion), the temple, Valley of Jehoshaphat, Tyre and Sidon, Egypt and Edom.
Key verses in Joel
Quoted from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
““Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.” So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.”
“I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts— the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust — My great army that I sent against you.”
“And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”
“And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD.”
How Joel fits the big story
Joel sits second among the minor prophets, between Hosea and Amos, and Joel 3:16 and Amos 1:2 share the image of the LORD roaring from Zion. The Day of the LORD theme runs through prophets like Zephaniah and Malachi. Joel's promise of the Spirit is quoted by Peter in Acts 2 to explain Pentecost, and Paul quotes Joel 2:32 in Romans 10 to show that salvation is open to everyone who calls on the Lord.
How to read Joel
At 3 chapters a day you can read Joel in 1 day — in one sitting. Joel takes about ten minutes to read. Read it in one sitting and watch how it moves from disaster to repentance to hope.