Joel 2:22
What does Joel 2:22 mean?
A plain-English look at Joel 2:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Joel 2:22 means
The prophet extends the joyful announcement to the beasts of the field, commanding them not to be afraid. The reason for their renewed hope is the visible sign of restoration in nature: the wilderness pastures are springing forth with new growth, and trees, specifically the fig-tree and vine, are yielding their fruit. This vivid imagery underscores the completeness of God’s ecological restoration, assuring even the wild animals of renewed sustenance and life, thereby reversing the blight described in chapter 1.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth its fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do yield their strength.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field; for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth its fruit, the fig-tree and the vine do yield their strength.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Have no fear, you beasts of the field, for the grass-lands of the waste are becoming green, for the trees are producing fruit, the fig-tree and the vine give out their strength.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Do not fear, O cattle of the field! For sprung forth have pastures of a wilderness, For the tree hath borne its fruit, Fig-tree and vine have given their strength!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Fear not, ye beasts of the fields: for the beautiful places of the wilderness are sprung, for the tree hath brought forth its fruit, the fig tree, and the vine have yielded their strength.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring; for the tree beareth its fruit; the fig-tree and the vine yield full increase.
Context
Having called the land to rejoice in verse 21, this verse specifically addresses the animals, assuring them of renewed sustenance. It vividly describes the immediate signs of ecological recovery, such as springing pastures and fruitful trees, which reinforces the comprehensiveness of God's restoration and naturally leads to a similar call for the people to rejoice in the next verse.
v.21Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice; for Jehovah hath done great things.
v.22This passage
v.23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 3:7
So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
- Hosea 14:5
I will be as the dew unto Israel; he shall blossom as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
- Isaiah 51:3
For Jehovah hath comforted Zion; he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
- Psalms 107:35
He turneth a wilderness into a pool of water, And a dry land into watersprings.
- Isaiah 30:23
And he will give the rain for thy seed, wherewith thou shalt sow the ground; and bread of the increase of the ground, and it shall be fat and plenteous. In that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures;
- Jonah 4:11
and should not I have regard for Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
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