Joel

Joel is a common first name in many Western countries. It is derived from the Hebrew name יוֹאֵל (Yo'el), meaning "Yahweh is God". The name appears in the Biblical Book of Joel, which is part of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible.

Etymology

The name Joel is of Semitic origin, specifically from the Hebrew language. It is a compound of two elements: "Yo", a short form of יהוה (YHWH), which is the distinctive personal name of the God of Israel, and "El", a generic word for god that could be used for any god, including Hadad, Moloch, or Yahweh.

Biblical Joel

In the Bible, Joel is one of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament, the author of the Book of Joel. The details of his life are not mentioned in the book bearing his name, and his historical existence is still a matter of discussion among scholars.

People named Joel

The name Joel has been used by many notable people throughout history, including:

• Joel Madden, lead vocalist for the American pop punk band Good Charlotte.
• Joel Osteen, a televangelist based in Houston, Texas.
• Joel Coen, an American filmmaker, part of the Coen brothers duo.

See also

• Joel (given name)
• Joel (surname)
• Joel (prophet)