Ἰωήλ
Joel
Definition
Ἰωήλ (Joel) is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name יוֹאֵל (Yo'el), meaning 'Yahweh is God.' In the New Testament, it refers exclusively to the Old Testament prophet Joel, the author of the Book of Joel. The sole New Testament occurrence is in Acts 2:16, where Peter quotes from Joel 2:28-32 to explain the events of Pentecost. This usage identifies Joel specifically as the prophetic source for a key messianic prophecy about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 2:16. It is used in a direct quotation context, where the Apostle Peter cites the prophet Joel by name to authoritatively interpret the miraculous speaking in tongues at Pentecost as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. The usage establishes a direct link between Old Testament prophecy and its New Testament fulfillment in the early church.
Etymology
The name is a direct transliteration from the Hebrew יוֹאֵל (Yo'el) into Greek. It is a compound name: יוֹ (Yo/Yah, a short form of Yahweh) and אֵל (El, meaning 'God'). Thus, its core meaning is 'Yahweh is God.' This etymology underscores a confession of monotheistic faith in the God of Israel.
Semantic Range
The mention of Joel in Acts 2:16 is theologically significant as it anchors the Pentecost event firmly within the framework of Old Testament prophecy. By citing Joel, Peter demonstrates that the coming of the Holy Spirit upon all believers is not a novel occurrence but the planned fulfillment of God's promise. Understanding this Greek name connects the identity of the prophet to a pivotal moment in salvation history, enriching our reading by showing the continuity between the Testaments and the inauguration of the 'last days' (Acts 2:17).
In its original Hebrew context, the name 'Joel' was a common personal name affirming loyalty to Yahweh. In the Greek New Testament, its use as a proper noun for the prophet carries the full weight of his authoritative scriptural writing. For Peter's Jewish audience in Acts 2, citing 'Joel' by name would have immediately invoked the recognized authority of that prophetic book.
There are no direct synonyms for this proper name. Prophets are sometimes referenced by title, but not by a different personal name meaning the same thing.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
Full methodology & sources →