Joel 1:8

8 Lament like a virgin girded in sackcloth for the husband of her youth.

Joel 1:8 Meaning and Commentary

Joel 1:8

Lament like a virgin
This is not the continuation of the prophet's speech to the drunkards; but, as Aben Ezra observes, he either speaks to himself, or to the land the Targum supplies it, O congregation of Israel; the more religious and godly part of the people are here addressed; who were concerned for the pure worship of God, and were as a chaste virgin espoused to Christ, though not yet come, and for whom they were waiting; these are called upon to lament the calamities of the times in doleful strains, like a virgin: girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth;
either as one that had been betrothed to a young man, but not married, he dying after the espousals, and before marriage; which must be greatly distressing to one that passionately loved him; and therefore, instead of her nuptial robes, prepared to meet him and be married in, girds herself with sackcloth; a coarse hairy sort of cloth, as was usual, in the eastern countries, to put on in token of mourning: or as one lately married to a young man she dearly loved, and was excessively fond of, and lived extremely happy with; but, being suddenly snatched away from her by death, puts on her widow's garments, and mourns not in show only, but in reality; having lost in her youth her young husband, she had the strongest affection for: this is used to express the great lamentation the people are called unto in this time of their distress.

Joel 1:8 In-Context

6 Because a nation has {invaded} my land, strong {and beyond counting}. Its teeth [are] the teeth of a lion, and its fangs [are those] of a lioness.

7 It has made my vine a desolation, and my fig tree a completely splintered stump. It has stripped them bare and thrown [them] down; their branches have turned white.

8 Lament like a virgin girded in sackcloth for the husband of her youth.

9 The offering and libation are withheld from the house of Yahweh. The priests mourn, the ministers of Yahweh.

10 The field is destroyed; the earth mourns because [the] grain is destroyed, [the] new wine dries up, [the] olive oil languishes.