Joel 3:16
What does Joel 3:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Joel 3:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Joel 3:16 means
The Lord’s voice thunders from Zion like a lion’s roar, shaking heaven and earth. This is not mere display; it is the decisive word that judges. Yet within the quake there is safety: “Jehovah will be a refuge unto his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.” The same presence that unmakes the proud stabilizes the faithful. Security comes not from geography but from God Himself. For believers, this anticipates the ultimate refuge God provides in His Messiah—salvation amid judgment. The verse holds both edges of the Day of the Lord together: terror for rebels, shelter for those who belong to Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be a refuge unto his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be a refuge unto his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the Lord will be thundering from Zion, and his voice will be sounding from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will be shaking: but the Lord will be a breastplate for his people and a strong place for the children of Israel.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Jehovah from Zion doth roar, And from Jerusalem giveth forth His voice, And shaken have the heavens and earth, And Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> a refuge to his people, And a stronghold to sons of Israel.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the Lord shall roar out of Sion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem: and the heavens and the earth shall be moved, and the Lord shall be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: and Jehovah will be a shelter for his people, and the refuge of the children of Israel.
Context
Having announced cosmic dimming, Joel presents the theophany proper: God speaking from Zion. The shaking links back to the threatened nations, while the refuge promise transitions toward restoration themes. The next verse makes that turn explicit—God’s people will know Him dwelling in Zion, and Jerusalem will be sanctified and secure.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 61:3
For thou hast been a refuge for me, A strong tower from the enemy.
- Isaiah 51:5
My righteousness is near, my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the peoples; the isles shall wait for me, and on mine arm shall they trust.
- Jeremiah 16:19
O Jehovah, my strength, and my stronghold, and my refuge in the day of affliction, unto thee shall the nations come from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Our fathers have inherited nought but lies, even vanity and things wherein there is no profit.
- Zechariah 12:5
And the chieftains of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in Jehovah of hosts their God.
- Joel 2:10
The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
- Revelation 11:13
And in that hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell; and there were killed in the earthquake seven thousand persons: and the rest were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
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