Joel 3:8
What does Joel 3:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Joel 3:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Joel 3:8 means
In a startling reversal, the Lord says He will sell their sons and daughters into Judah’s hand, and Judah will sell them to the men of Sheba—a far-off nation. This is poetic justice: those who enslaved will taste enslavement. The point is not to commend cruelty but to underline God’s just recompense. By naming Sheba, Joel signals an even more distant horizon than the earlier “Grecians,” emphasizing complete reversal of the intended exile. The seal, “for Jehovah hath spoken it,” leaves no doubt. God’s sentence is certain, His word effectual. The oppressors who thought themselves secure in wealth and distance will find both turned against them.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the men of Sheba, to a nation far off: for Jehovah hath spoken it.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the Lord hath spoken it.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the men of Sheba, to a nation far off: for Jehovah hath spoken it.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I will give your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah for a price, and they will give them for a price to the men of Sheba, a nation far off: for the Lord has said it.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And have sold your sons and your daughters Into the hand of the sons of Judah, And they have sold them to Shabeans, Unto a nation far off, for Jehovah hath spoken.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I will sell your sons, and your daughters, by the hands of the children of Juda, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far off, for the Lord hath spoken it.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far off: for Jehovah hath spoken.
Context
This verse completes the immediate judgment against the coastal and Philistine powers. It mirrors their crimes and closes the case with the divine oath-formula. What follows marks a shift: from punishing specific offenders to convening a global confrontation. Verses 9–12 summon all nations to assemble for war—ironically, to enter God’s courtroom—preparing for the agricultural images that portray the final execution of judgment.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 32:30
How should one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Except their Rock had sold them, And Jehovah had delivered them up?
- Job 1:15
and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away: yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
- Isaiah 60:14
And the sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee The city of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
- Isaiah 14:1
For Jehovah will have compassion on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the sojourner shall join himself with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
- Jeremiah 6:20
To what purpose cometh there to me frankincense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing unto me.
- Ezekiel 23:42
And the voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with men of the common sort were brought drunkards from the wilderness; and they put bracelets upon the hands of them twain, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.
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