Lexical Summary abash: To be ashamed, to dry up, to wither Original Word: עָבַשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be rotten A primitive root; to dry up -- be rotten. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to shrivel NASB Translation shrivel (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [עָבַשׁ] verb shrivel (compare Arabic ![]() Qal Perfect3masculine plural עָֽבְשׁוּ פְרֻדוֺת Joel 1:17 the grains have shrivelled (compare Dr Now). Topical Lexicon Biblical Context The term appears a single time in the Hebrew Scriptures, within Joel 1:17: “The seeds lie shriveled beneath the clods; the storehouses are in ruins, the granaries are broken down, for the grain has withered away” (Berean Standard Bible). It captures the graphic moment in which the prophet depicts seed-grain that has become useless before it can even germinate. The word, therefore, serves as a vivid emblem of hopeless barrenness at the very first stage of agricultural life. Agricultural Imagery in Prophetic Literature Joel places ruined seed alongside ruined storehouses, dried vines, and devastated flocks (Joel 1:10–20). Prophets frequently employ such agricultural collapse to illustrate covenant discipline (for example, Deuteronomy 28:38–40; Amos 4:9). The picture of seed decaying in the earth rather than sprouting underscores a total judgment that reaches from field to temple, for without healthy grain the daily grain offering ceases (Joel 1:9, 13). All subsequent stages of growth—stem, ear, harvest—are aborted at inception, highlighting the severity of divine interruption. Historical Background of Joel’s Lament Joel’s audience appears to be facing successive waves of locust devastation (Joel 1:4) compounded by drought (Joel 1:19–20). Whether the description is literal, metaphorical, or both, the prophet’s aim is clear: awaken Judah to national repentance so that covenant blessings may be restored (Joel 2:12–14). The ruined seed becomes a tangible sign that the nation’s future is imperiled; only wholehearted return to the Lord can reverse the curse. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Accountability: The unusable seed dramatizes the consequences of covenant neglect. Famine and pestilence were forewarned in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. Practical and Ministry Applications • Personal Examination: Just as seed can rot unseen beneath the surface, so unrepentant sin can fester in a hidden heart. Pastors may employ Joel 1:17 to call believers to transparent confession (1 John 1:9). Christological and Eschatological Connections Jesus applies agricultural imagery to His own death and resurrection: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a seed” (John 12:24). Where Joel’s seed dies and yields nothing, Christ’s self-sacrifice yields “much fruit,” reversing the curse. Ultimately, Revelation 22:2 portrays a restored creation where fruitfulness is perpetual, sealing the promise that divine restoration will surpass every former loss. Related Biblical Motifs • Withered fig tree—Matthew 21:19: an enacted parable of fruitlessness under judgment. Key Insights for Preaching and Teaching 1. A single, obscure verb can open a window onto the breadth of redemptive history. Thus the lone biblical use of עָבַשׁ serves as a concise yet forceful reminder that when seed fails, the only remedy is humble return to the Lord who alone gives growth. Forms and Transliterations עָבְשׁ֣וּ עבשו ‘ā·ḇə·šū ‘āḇəšū aveShuLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joel 1:17 HEB: עָבְשׁ֣וּ פְרֻד֗וֹת תַּ֚חַת NAS: The seeds shrivel under their clods; KJV: The seed is rotten under their clods, INT: shrivel the seeds under 1 Occurrence |