Joel 2:18
What does Joel 2:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Joel 2:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Joel 2:18 means
In response to the sincere repentance and fervent prayers of His people and priests, Jehovah is moved with zeal and compassion. His "jealousy for his land" indicates His protective and possessive love for His chosen territory and people, while His pity demonstrates His tender mercy. This verse serves as a crucial turning point, signaling that God has heard their lament and is now prepared to act on their behalf, transitioning from a posture of judgment to one of mercy and restoration.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Then was Jehovah jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Then was Jehovah jealous for his land, and had pity on his people.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Then the Lord had a care for the honour of his land and had pity on his people.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And let Jehovah be zealous for His land, And have pity on His people.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The Lord hath been zealous for his land, and hath spared his people.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Then Jehovah will be jealous for his land, and will have pity on his people.
Context
This verse marks a crucial turning point in the chapter, directly following the fervent prayers of the priests and the comprehensive call to repentance. It introduces God's positive and merciful response, indicating that His heart has been moved by His people's contrition and intercession; this compassion paves the way for the specific promises of restoration that begin in the subsequent verses.
v.17Let the priests, the ministers of Jehovah, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Jehovah, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the peoples, Where is their God?
v.18This passage
v.19And Jehovah answered and said unto his people, Behold, I will send you grain, and new wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Judges 10:16
And they put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Jehovah; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
- Zechariah 8:2
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.
- Lamentations 3:22
It is of Jehovah’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
- Isaiah 42:13
Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man; he will stir up his zeal like a man of war: he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud; he will do mightily against his enemies.
- Psalms 103:13
Like as a father pitieth his children, So Jehovah pitieth them that fear him.
- Luke 15:20
And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
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