Joel 3:4

4 "Moreover, what are you to Me, O ¹Tyre, Sidon and all the regions of ²Philistia? Are you rendering Me a recompense? But if you do recompense Me, swiftly and speedily I will ³return your recompense on your head.

Joel 3:4 Meaning and Commentary

Joel 3:4

Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all
the coasts of Palestine?
&c.] The Tyrians, Zidonians, and Philistines, were near neighbours of the Jews, and implacable enemies to them; and are here put for the enemies of the true church of Christ, the Papists and Turks, and in whose possession those places now are: these are addressed by the Lord, inquiring or demanding the reason of their ill usage of him and his people: "what have ye to do with me?" to be called by my name, or accounted my people? I know you not, nor will I have any fellowship with you: or what have ye to do with my people, to disturb and distress them? what wrong have I or they done you, that you thus use them? will ye render me a recompence?
for turning you out of your land, and putting my people into it? do you think to retaliate this? and if ye recompense me;
by doing an injury to my people: swiftly [and] speedily will I return your recompence upon your own
head;
bring swift and sudden destruction upon you.

Joel 3:4 In-Context

2 I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat. Then I will enter into judgment with them there On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; And they have divided up My land.

3 "They have also cast lots for My people, Traded a boy for a harlot And sold a girl for wine that they may drink.

4 "Moreover, what are you to Me, O Tyre, Sidon and all the regions of Philistia? Are you rendering Me a recompense? But if you do recompense Me, swiftly and speedily I will return your recompense on your head.

5 "Since you have taken My silver and My gold, brought My precious treasures to your temples,

6 and sold the sons of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their territory,

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 23:1-18; Amos 1:9, 10; Zechariah 9:2-4; Matthew 11:21, 22; Luke 10:13, 14
• 2. Isaiah 14:29-31; Jeremiah 47:1-7; Ezekiel 25:15-17; Amos 1:6-8; Zechariah 9:5-7
• 3. Isaiah 34:8; Isaiah 59:18