At a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authorship | Joel son of Pethuel |
| Date | Uncertain, possibly 9th c. or post-exilic |
| Audience | Judah |
| Genre | Prophecy |
| Purpose | Locust plague as call to repent + Day of the Lord prophecy + Spirit-outpouring |
| Chapters | 3 (Hebrew/English) / 4 (Brenton LXX) |
Outline
| Section | Content |
|---|---|
| Locust plague | Disaster as call to repentance |
| Day of the LORD | Future judgment + restoration |
| Spirit-outpouring promise | Joel 2:28-32 |
Main themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Day of the LORD | Both near (locust judgment) + eschatological |
| Repentance | hearts rent rather than garments (Joel 2:13) |
| Spirit promised | Joel 2:28-32, fulfilled at Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21) |
| Restoration | After judgment + repentance |
Key passages
- Joel 2:12-14, call to repentance
- Joel 2:28-32, Spirit outpouring (cited Acts 2:16-21)
- Joel 3, Day of the LORD + judgment