Joel 2:12

An Appeal for Repentance

2:12 “Yet even now,” the Lord says,

“return to me with all your heart –

with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

Tear your hearts, ¹ 

not just your garments!”

Joel 2:14

2:14 Who knows?

Perhaps he will be compassionate and grant a reprieve, ² 

and leave blessing in his wake ³  –

a meal offering and a drink offering for you to offer to the Lord your God! ⁴ 

Joel 3:1

The Lord Plans to Judge the Nations

3:1 (4:1) ⁵  For look! In those ⁶  days and at that time

I will return the exiles ⁷  to Judah and Jerusalem. ⁸ 

Joel 3:7

3:7 Look! I am rousing them from that place to which you sold them.

I will repay you for what you have done! ⁹ 

Joel 2:13

2:13 Return to the Lord your God,

for he is merciful and compassionate,

slow to anger and boundless in loyal love ¹⁰  – often relenting from calamitous punishment. ¹¹ 

Joel 3:4

3:4 Why are you doing these things to me, Tyre and Sidon? ¹² 

Are you trying to get even with me, land of Philistia? ¹³ 

I will very quickly repay you for what you have done! ¹⁴ 

[2:12]  ¹ sn The figurative language calls for genuine repentance, and not merely external ritual that goes through the motions.

[2:14]  ² tn Heb “turn” or “turn back.”

[2:14]  ³ tn Heb “leave a blessing behind him.”

[2:14]  ⁴ tn The phrase “for you to offer” does not appear in the Hebrew, but is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.

[3:1]  ³ sn Joel 3:1 in the English Bible is 4:1 in the Hebrew text (BHS). See also the note at 2:28.

[3:1]  ⁴ tc The MT and LXX read “in those days,” while MurXII reads “in that day.”

[3:1]  ⁵ tc The Kethib reads אָשִׁיב (’ashiv, “return the captivity [captives]), while the Qere is אָשׁוּב (’ashuv, “restore the fortunes”). Many modern English versions follow the Qere reading. Either reading seems to fit the context. Joel refers to an exile of the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem in 3:2-6 and their return from exile in 3:7. On the other hand, 2:25-26 describes the reversal of judgment and restoration of the covenant blessings. However, the former seems to be the concern of the immediate context.

[3:1]  ⁶ map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[3:7]  ⁴ tn Heb “I will return your recompense on your head.”

[2:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “and great of loyal love.”

[2:13]  ⁶ tn Heb “and he relents from calamity.”

[3:4]  ⁶ tn Heb “What [are] you [doing] to me, O Tyre and Sidon?”

[3:4]  ⁷ tn Or “districts.”

[3:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “quickly, speedily, I will return your recompense on your head.” This is an idiom for retributive justice and an equitable reversal of situation.