Joel 2:28
What does Joel 2:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Joel 2:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Joel 2:28 means
This verse presents a pivotal future promise: God will "pour out my Spirit upon all flesh." This extraordinary outpouring will enable prophesying, dreams, and visions among all people—sons and daughters, old men and young men alike. This signifies a universal, inclusive spiritual empowerment, moving beyond traditional religious hierarchies to democratize divine communication. It points forward to the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), when this prophecy was fulfilled through Jesus Christ, commencing a new era of the Spirit's indwelling for all believers.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
KJV
King James Version · 1611And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And after that, it will come about, says the Lord, that I will send my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will be prophets, your old men will have dreams, your young men will see visions:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And it hath come to pass afterwards, I do pour out My Spirit on all flesh, And prophesied have your sons and your daughters, Your old men do dream dreams, Your young men do see visions.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And it shall come to pass after this, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And it shall come to pass afterwards [that] I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.
Context
Having completed the promises of immediate physical and national restoration in the preceding verses, this verse introduces a significant eschatological shift. It transitions from local, temporal blessings to a far-reaching, future outpouring of God's Spirit on "all flesh," setting the stage for a new spiritual dispensation and the accompanying cosmic signs leading up to the final Day of the Lord.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 3:6
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
- Isaiah 40:5
and the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.
- Acts 2:16
but this is that which hath been spoken through the prophet Joel:
- Proverbs 1:23
Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you.
- Acts 11:15
And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
- Acts 21:9
Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied.
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