Joel 2:10

10 Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.

Joel 2:10 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
English Standard Version (ESV)
10 The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
New Living Translation (NLT)
10 The earth quakes as they advance, and the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars no longer shine.
The Message Bible (MSG)
10 They arrive like an earthquake, sweep through like a tornado. Sun and moon turn out their lights, stars black out.
American Standard Version (ASV)
10 The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
10 The earth quakes in their presence, and the sky shakes. The sun and the moon turn dark, and the stars no longer shine.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
10 The earth quakes before them; the sky shakes. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars cease their shining.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
10 As they march forward, the earth shakes. The sky trembles as they approach. The sun and moon grow dark. And the stars stop shining.

Joel 2:10 Meaning and Commentary

Joel 2:10

The earth shall quake before them
The inhabitants of it, because of the desolating judgments they bring with them, and those enemies that are signified by them: the heavens shall tremble;
being obscured by them: the sun and moon shall be dark;
the locusts sometimes come in such large numbers as to intercept the rays of the sun. Pliny F20 says they sometimes darken it; and though some thought they did not fly in the night, because of the cold; this he observes is owing to their ignorance, not considering that they pass over wide seas to distant countries; and this will account for it how the moon also may be darkened by them, and the stars, as follows: and the stars shall withdraw their shining;
though all this may be understood in a figurative sense of the great consternation that all sorts of persons should be in at such calamities coming upon the land, either by locusts, or by enemies; as the king, queen, nobles, and the common people of the land, signified by sun, moon, and stars, heaven and earth.


FOOTNOTES:

F20 Ibid. (Nat. Hist. l. 11. c. 29.)

Joel 2:10 In-Context

8 They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks.
9 They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows.
10 Before them the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.
11 The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?
12 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Cross References 4

  • 1. Psalms 18:7; Nahum 1:5
  • 2. S Ezekiel 38:19
  • 3. S ver 2; S Isaiah 5:30; S Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24; Revelation 9:2
  • 4. S Job 9:7; S Psalms 102:26; Isaiah 13:10; S Ezekiel 32:8
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