Joel 1:17
The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered.
Original Language Analysis
תַּ֚חַת
H8478
תַּ֚חַת
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
3 of 11
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
מֶגְרְפֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם
under their clods
H4053
מֶגְרְפֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם
under their clods
Strong's:
H4053
Word #:
4 of 11
something thrown off (by the spade), i.e., a clod
נָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙
are laid desolate
H8074
נָשַׁ֙מּוּ֙
are laid desolate
Strong's:
H8074
Word #:
5 of 11
to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)
נֶהֶרְס֖וּ
are broken down
H2040
נֶהֶרְס֖וּ
are broken down
Strong's:
H2040
Word #:
7 of 11
to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy
כִּ֥י
H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
9 of 11
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Historical Context
Ancient agricultural storage was crucial for survival. Israelite pillared houses often included ground-floor storage rooms for grain jars. Excavations at sites like Hazor and Tel Batash show granaries. Their collapse signaled economic catastrophe, leaving communities vulnerable to famine and enemy attack.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'seeds' in your life have 'rotted under the clods'—efforts and plans that never materialized?
- How does comprehensive failure (seed, harvest, storage) reflect God's total sovereignty over human endeavors?
- When have you experienced 'empty barns'—depleted resources despite hard work—and what did God teach you?
Analysis & Commentary
The seed is rotten under their clods (avshuh peruldot tachat megrefoteihem)—'Rotten' (avshuh) describes shriveled, dried-up seed. 'Clods' (megrefoteihem) are earth lumps, dried and hard. Seeds planted with hope now rot unproductive—a farmer's nightmare and biblical symbol of futility (Leviticus 26:16, Haggai 1:6).
The garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered (nashammu otsarot nehersu mamggurot ki hovish dagan)—'Desolate' (nashammu) conveys appalling emptiness. Unused storage buildings collapse from neglect. 'Corn' (dagan) means grain generally (wheat, barley). The comprehensive agricultural failure—seed, harvest, storage—points beyond natural disaster to covenant curse (Deuteronomy 28:38-42). Haggai 1:9-11 describes similar conditions as divine discipline for misplaced priorities.