Devine Scripture

Joel 3:21

What does Joel 3:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Joel 3:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Joel 3:21 means

The book closes with a decisive promise: “I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion.” The phrase can mean both avenging innocent blood and purging His people’s bloodguilt. In either sense, God brings moral order—He settles accounts and removes defilement so fellowship may be unbroken. The ground of this cleansing is His presence: He dwells in Zion. Where God abides, sin is addressed and life is restored. This anticipates the fuller cleansing God provides through the Messiah’s atoning work, by which He makes a people fit to dwell with Him. Judgment and mercy thus meet in His abiding presence.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwelleth in Zion.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And I will send punishment for their blood, for which punishment has not been sent, for the Lord is living in Zion.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And I have declared their blood innocent, <FI>That<Fi> I did not declare innocent, And Jehovah is dwelling in Zion!

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And I will cleanse their blood, which I had not cleansed: and the Lord will dwell in Sion.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And I will purge them from the blood from which I had not purged them: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion.

Context

This final verse explains the permanence promised in verse 20. Judah endures because God Himself resolves the problem of blood—by avenging wrongs and purifying guilt—and because He dwells among His people. It leaves the reader with God at the center: Zion’s holiness, security, and abundance all flow from His presence. The book ends where all hope rests—on the Lord who judges, restores, and remains.

v.20But Judah shall abide for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation.

v.21This passage

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 21:3

    And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and betheir God:

  • Isaiah 4:4

    when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning.

  • Joel 3:17

    So shall ye know that I am Jehovah your God, dwelling in Zion my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

  • Ezekiel 36:29

    And I will save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the grain, and will multiply it, and lay no famine upon you.

  • Matthew 27:25

    And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

  • Ezekiel 36:25

    And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

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