Joel 1:8

8 Lloren como una recién casada vestida de luto,
quien llora la muerte de su esposo.

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 Un inmenso ejército
de langostas ha invadido mi tierra,
un ejército terrible, imposible de contar.
Sus dientes son como los del león
y sus colmillos se parecen a los de la leona.

7 Destruyó mis vides
y arruinó mis higueras;
les arrancó la corteza y la destruyó,
dejando sus ramas blancas y desnudas.

8 Lloren como una recién casada vestida de luto,
quien llora la muerte de su esposo.

9 Pues no hay grano ni vino
para ofrecer en el templo del Señor
.
Por eso los sacerdotes están de luto;
los ministros del Señor
están llorando.

10 Los campos están arruinados,
la tierra quedó desnuda.
El grano está destruido,
las uvas se secaron
y se acabó el aceite de oliva.