Joel 2:15-27

15 1Blow the trumpet in Zion; 2consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people. 3Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; 4gather the children, even nursing infants. 5Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.
17 6Between the 7vestibule and the 8altar 9let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep and say, "Spare your people, O LORD, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations.[a] 10Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"

The Lord Had Pity

18 11Then the LORD became jealous for his land 12and had pity on his people.
19 The LORD answered and said to his people, "Behold, 13I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, 14and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.
20 "I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard[b] into 15the eastern sea, and his rear guard[c] into 16the western sea; 17the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things.
21 "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for 18the LORD has done great things!
22 Fear not, 19you beasts of the field, for 20the pastures of the wilderness are green; 21the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and 22vine give their full yield.
23 23"Be glad, O children of Zion, and 24rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given 25the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, 26the early and 27the latter rain, as before.
24 "The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 I will restore to you the years that 28the swarming locust has eaten, 29the hopper, 30the destroyer, and 31the cutter, 32my great army, which I sent among you.
26 33"You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people 34shall never again be put to shame.
27 35You shall know that I am 36in the midst of Israel, and that 37I am the LORD your God 38and there is none else. And my people 39shall never again be put to shame.

Joel 2:15-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOEL 2

In this chapter a further account is given of the judgment of the locusts and caterpillars, or of those who are designed by them, Joe 2:1-11; the people of the Jews are called to repentance, humiliation, and fasting, urged from the grace and goodness of God, his jealousy and pity for his people, and the answer of prayer that might he expected from him upon this, even to the removal of the calamity, Joe 2:12-20; a prophecy of good things, both temporal and spiritual, in the times of the Messiah, is delivered out as matter and occasion of great joy, Joe 2:21-27; and another concerning the effusion of the Spirit, which was fulfilled an the day of Pentecost, Joe 2:28-29; and the chapter is concluded with the judgments and desolations that should come upon the land of Judea after this, for their rejection of Christ, though the remnant according to the election of grace should be delivered and saved from the general destruction, Joe 2:30-32.

Cross References 39

  • 1. See ver. 1
  • 2. See Joel 1:14
  • 3. See Joshua 3:5
  • 4. [2 Chronicles 20:13]
  • 5. [Deuteronomy 24:5; Ecclesiastes 3:5; Zechariah 12:12-14; 1 Corinthians 7:5]
  • 6. Ezekiel 8:16
  • 7. 1 Kings 6:3; 2 Chronicles 3:4
  • 8. 2 Chronicles 4:1
  • 9. See Joel 1:9
  • 10. Psalms 42:3; Psalms 79:10; Psalms 115:2
  • 11. Zechariah 1:14; Zechariah 8:2
  • 12. [Psalms 103:13]
  • 13. [Joel 1:10; Psalms 4:7]; See Malachi 3:10-12
  • 14. [Joel 1:10; Psalms 4:7]; See Malachi 3:10-12
  • 15. Ezekiel 47:18; Zechariah 14:8
  • 16. Zechariah 14:8
  • 17. Isaiah 34:3; [Amos 4:10]
  • 18. Psalms 126:2, 3
  • 19. See Joel 1:18
  • 20. [Joel 1:19]
  • 21. [Zechariah 8:12]
  • 22. [Zechariah 8:12]
  • 23. Psalms 100:1, 2; Habakkuk 3:18; Zechariah 10:7
  • 24. Psalms 100:1, 2; Habakkuk 3:18; Zechariah 10:7
  • 25. Deuteronomy 11:14; Jeremiah 5:24
  • 26. Deuteronomy 11:14; Jeremiah 5:24
  • 27. Hosea 6:3
  • 28. Joel 1:4
  • 29. Joel 1:4
  • 30. Joel 1:4
  • 31. Joel 1:4
  • 32. ver. 11
  • 33. Leviticus 25:19
  • 34. [Isaiah 49:23]
  • 35. Joel 3:17
  • 36. Hosea 11:9; See Ezekiel 37:26
  • 37. See Exodus 20:2
  • 38. [Isaiah 44:8]
  • 39. [See ver. 26 above]

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Or reproach, that the nations should rule over them
  • [b]. Hebrew face
  • [c]. Hebrew his end
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.