Joel 2
Study sheet, King James Version, with the original-language words this chapter turns on.
The text
1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.
4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.
5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.
7They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
8Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
9They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.
10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
12Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
14Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
15Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
18Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
19Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen:
20But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
21Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.
22Be 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.
23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
28And 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:
29And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Words in this chapter
Definitions are Strong's own wording from his Exhaustive Concordance (1890). Counts are how often each word appears in this chapter, from the tagged text.
- יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâhH306818× in this chapter
Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
- כִּיkîyH358813× in this chapter
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
- עַםʻamH597110× in this chapter
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
- לֹאlôʼH38089× in this chapter
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
- עַלʻalH59219× in this chapter
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
- אֵתʼêthH8539× in this chapter
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
- פָּנִיםpânîymH64408× in this chapter
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
- יוֹםyôwmH31176× in this chapter
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
- אֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîymH4306× in this chapter
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
- נָתַןnâthanH54146× in this chapter
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
- אֶרֶץʼeretsH7766× in this chapter
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
- אֲשֶׁרʼăsherH8346× in this chapter
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
- הָיָהhâyâhH19615× in this chapter
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
- אַחַרʼacharH3105× in this chapter
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
- כֹּלkôlH36055× in this chapter
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
- אָכַלʼâkalH3985× in this chapter
to eat (literally or figuratively)
- הַרharH20224× in this chapter
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
- יָרֵאyârêʼH33724× in this chapter
to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten
- אַלʼalH4084× in this chapter
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (Job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
- אֵלʼêlH4134× in this chapter
near, with or among; often in general, to
- אָמַרʼâmarH5594× in this chapter
to say (used with great latitude)
- עָלָהʻâlâhH59274× in this chapter
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
- עָשָׂהʻâsâhH62134× in this chapter
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
- צִיּוֹןTsîyôwnH67264× in this chapter
Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem
- גָּדוֹלgâdôwlH14193× in this chapter
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
- גַּםgamH15713× in this chapter
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
- חַיִלchayilH24283× in this chapter
probably a force, whether of men, means or other resources; an army, wealth, virtue, valor, strength
- עוֹלָםʻôwlâmH57693× in this chapter
properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always
- עָצוּםʻâtsûwmH60993× in this chapter
powerful (specifically, a paw); by implication, numerous
- אָסַףʼâçaphH6223× in this chapter
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
- קוֹלqôwlH69633× in this chapter
a voice or sound
- קָרָאqârâʼH71213× in this chapter
to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
- רַבrabH72273× in this chapter
abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
- רוּץrûwtsH73233× in this chapter
to run (for whatever reason, especially to rush)
- שׁוּבshûwbH77253× in this chapter
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again
- אֵשׁʼêshH7843× in this chapter
fire (literally or figuratively)
- בּוֹאbôwʼH9353× in this chapter
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
- בֵּןbênH11212× in this chapter
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
- בְּעַדbᵉʻadH11572× in this chapter
in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc.
- גָּדַלgâdalH14312× in this chapter
to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)