Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "destruction from the Almighty" highlights a profound connection between God's power and His judgment, suggesting that His might is the very force bringing about this devastation, a terrifying reminder that His power can both create and, when provoked, utterly destroy. This isn't just any destruction; it's a devastating act stemming directly from the One who holds all power, underscoring the absolute inevitability and overwhelming nature of His judgment.
Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Joel has just described a devastating locust plague and drought, urging the priests and elders to call for a solemn fast and assembly for repentance. This verse, Joel 1:15, immediately follows those calls, proclaiming that a far greater "Day of the LORD" is not only coming but is imminent. This day of judgment, unlike ordinary hardship, is presented as an overwhelming and irresistible "destruction from the Almighty" that will bring utter ruin unless repentance is sincere and swift.
The prophet Joel doesn't just warn; he cries out in anguish. What makes this 'day' so terrifying?
Joel's cry, 'Alas for the day!' isn't just a sigh of regret. It's a profound recognition of an approaching, divinely ordained judgment. This isn't just any bad day; it's 'the Day of the LORD.' This title signifies a time when God steps in directly and powerfully to deal with sin and rebellion. It's a concept that appears throughout Scripture, from the prophets to the New Testament, often signifying a climactic moment of divine intervention. It's a day of reckoning, a time when God's justice is fully revealed and executed. Joel emphasizes its closeness: 'is near' and 'is at hand.' This proximity demands immediate attention and response. It’s a stark reminder that God's patience has limits, and His judgment, though sometimes delayed, is certain.
The source of this impending doom is described with a powerful title for God. What does this name reveal about His nature in judgment?
Joel intensifies the warning by describing the Day of the LORD as coming 'as destruction from the Almighty.' The Hebrew word used here, 'Shaddai,' is a title for God that emphasizes His omnipotence and sovereignty, particularly His power to overwhelm and destroy. It's a name associated with God's mighty acts, often linked to judgment. This isn't a random catastrophe; it's a purposeful, powerful act initiated by God Himself. The original language even plays on words, linking 'destruction' (shod) with 'Almighty' (Shaddai), highlighting the source and nature of this judgment – it is power unleashed for devastation. It implies an overwhelming, irresistible force that leaves no room for escape for those under its judgment.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
yowm Yahweh · Hebrew Noun phrase
A technical term referring to a time of divine intervention, usually involving judgment, purification, or the final eschatological coming of God to establish His kingdom. It is a day of terror for the wicked and vindication for the righteous.
shod · Hebrew Noun
A devastating, overwhelming, or violent event that brings ruin; often used in the context of divine judgment upon the disobedient.
Shadday · Hebrew Noun
A title for God emphasizing His sufficiency, omnipotence, and power to provide, protect, or judge. It signifies that God is the source of all things.
The 'Day of the LORD' Joel describes was not a distant, abstract concept, but a terrifying reality foreshadowed by devastating historical events. The locust plague serves as a potent symbol of the greater destruction already experienced through Assyrian and Babylonian conquests, highlighting the imminent threat of God's judgment against Judah's unfaithfulness.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Dominance
The powerful Assyrian Empire exerted significant influence over the region, including Judah. Their military might and imperial ambitions set a backdrop of fear and potential conquest for many smaller nations.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
Under King Sennacherib, Assyria invaded Judah, conquering many fortified cities. Jerusalem itself was besieged, though it was ultimately spared destruction due to divine intervention and Hezekiah's tribute.
626 BC - 609 BC
Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire
The Babylonian Empire rose to power, challenging Assyrian dominance. This shift created a volatile geopolitical landscape, with both empires vying for control of the region.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon defeated the Egyptians and Assyrians. As part of consolidating his power, he deported a significant number of Judean elites and skilled workers to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar again besieged Jerusalem. He deported King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, further weakening the kingdom.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
After a prolonged siege and further rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroyed Jerusalem and its sacred Temple. This marked the end of the southern kingdom of Judah and the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This event eventually led to the decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem.
This passage directly echoes Joel's language, describing the 'day of the LORD' as a day of destruction from the Almighty coming upon nations.
Jeremiah 46:10Jeremiah uses similar imagery of a divine judgment, the 'day of the Lord,' that will be a time of slaughter and destruction, emphasizing God's power to bring it about.
Zephaniah 1:15This verse paints a vivid picture of the 'day of the LORD' as a day of wrath, distress, and ruin, highlighting its overwhelming and destructive nature.
1 Corinthians 5:5While speaking of a different kind of 'destruction,' this New Testament passage also references handing someone over to Satan 'for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus,' connecting 'destruction' with a divine, ultimate purpose on a specific 'day.'
Luke 19:41-42Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, lamenting that they missed their 'day' of peace, which parallels Joel's sense of urgency and the profound consequences of failing to recognize and respond to God's presence and impending judgment.
barnesJoel 1:15: "Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come."
Alas for the day! for the Day of the Lord is at hand - The judgment of God, then, which they were to deprecate, was still to come. : "All times and all days are God's. Yet they are said to be our days, in which God leaves us to our own freedom, to do as we will," and which we may use to repent and turn to Him. "Whence Christ saith, 'O Jerusalem - if thou hadst known in this t…
jfbJoel 1:15: "Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come."
- day of the Lord—(Joe 2:1, 11); that is, the day of His anger (Isa 13:9; Ob 15; Zep 1:7, 15). It will be a foretaste of the coming day of the Lord as Judge of all men, whence it receives the same name. Here the transition begins from the plague of locusts to the worse calamities (Joe 2:1-11) from invading armies about to come on Judea, of which the locusts were the prelude…
The phrase "destruction from the Almighty" highlights a profound connection between God's power and His judgment, suggesting that His might is the very force bringing about this devastation, a terrifying reminder that His power can both create and, when provoked, utterly destroy. This isn't just any destruction; it's a devastating act stemming directly from the One who holds all power, underscoring the absolute inevitability and overwhelming nature of His judgment.
The prophet Joel has just described a devastating locust plague and drought, urging the priests and elders to call for a solemn fast and assembly for repentance. This verse, Joel 1:15, immediately follows those calls, proclaiming that a far greater "Day of the LORD" is not only coming but is imminent. This day of judgment, unlike ordinary hardship, is presented as an overwhelming and irresistible "destruction from the Almighty" that will bring utter ruin unless repentance is sincere and swift.
The prophet Joel has just described a devastating locust plague and drought, urging the priests and elders to call for a solemn fast and assembly for repentance. This verse, Joel 1:15, immediately follows those calls, proclaiming that a far greater "Day of the LORD" is not only coming but is imminent. This day of judgment, unlike ordinary hardship, is presented as an overwhelming and irresistible "destruction from the Almighty" that will bring utter ruin unless repentance is sincere and swift.
"Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes." — The phrase "destruction from the Almighty" highlights a profound connection between God's power and His judgment, suggesting that His might is the very force bringing about this devastation, a terrif…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026