Joel 2

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 2 of 3

1 Blow a rams' horn in Zion, and shout an alarm in My holy mountain. Let all those living in the land tremble. For the day of Jehovah comes; it is near,

2 a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the dawn spread out on the mountains, a great and a strong people. After it not has been like it from the past, and not will be again until the years of generation and generations;

3 a fire devours before it, and a flame burns behind it. The land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them is a desolate wilderness; yea, also there is no escape to them.

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Chapter Summary

Jehovah's terrifying judgment. He demands repentance. He comforts Zion.

Key Hebrew Words

יוֹם day (of Jehovah) H3117 · TWOT 852
חַנּוּן gracious H2587 · TWOT 694d
שׁוּב turn back, repent H7725 · TWOT 2340
חֶ֫סֶד lovingkindness H2617 · TWOT 698a
שֹׁפָר rams' horn H7782 · TWOT 2449c
אַרְבֶּה swarming locust H697 · TWOT 2103a

Cross-References

People & Context

Jehovah

God who sends the locust army, calls for repentance, pities His people, and pours out His Spirit

Israel

Jehovah's people, called to turn with fasting and weeping, then promised restoration and His indwelling presence

Timeline

Sounding the Alarm

A rams' horn is blown in Zion to tremble the inhabitants because **the terrifying, dark, and gloomy Day of Jehovah is approaching** .

Joel 2:1-2
The Unstoppable Army

**A massive, unstoppable army advances like a fire**, turning the garden of Eden into a desolate wilderness . As this mighty force scales walls and enters houses like a thief, the earth quakes and the heavens shake .

Joel 2:3-11
Call to Deep Repentance

Jehovah urges the people to **turn to Him with all their heart through fasting, weeping, and tearing their hearts** . The priests are instructed to weep between the porch and altar, pleading for God to spare His inheritance from shame .

Joel 2:12-17

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Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.

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