Joel 2:13
What does Joel 2:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Joel 2:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Joel 2:13 means
The prophet clarifies that true repentance involves a deep, internal transformation rather than merely outward displays of sorrow. Instead of tearing their garments, a common sign of mourning, God desires His people to "rend their heart" – to experience sincere contrition and brokenness over sin. This call is rooted in the character of Jehovah, who is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abundant in lovingkindness, and willing to relent from calamity, emphasizing His benevolent nature as the foundation for their hope.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Let your hearts be broken, and not your clothing, and come back to the Lord your God: for he is full of grace and pity, slow to be angry and great in mercy, ready to be turned from his purpose of punishment.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And rend your heart, and not your garments, And turn back unto Jehovah your God, For gracious and merciful <FI>is<Fi> He, Slow to anger, and abundant in kindness, And He hath repented concerning the evil.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And rend your hearts, and not your garments and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah yourGod: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving-kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Context
Building on the call to repentance in verse 12, this verse provides a crucial explanation of what true repentance entails. It distinguishes between external rituals versus internal heart change, drawing the reader's attention to the genuine spiritual transformation desired by God and grounding this hope in God's merciful character, thereby encouraging a response to the previous call.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezekiel 9:4
And Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.
- 1 Timothy 4:8
for bodily exercise is profitable for a little; but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.
- Romans 5:20
And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:
- 2 Kings 6:30
And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes (now he was passing by upon the wall); and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.
- 2 Kings 22:11
And it came to pass, when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes.
- Ephesians 2:4
but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
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