The Alarm: The Day of the Lord Approaches
Joel 2:1-11
Joe.2.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- תקעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- שופר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בציון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והריעו: VERB,hif,imp,2,m,pl
- בהר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- קדשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ירגזו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- ישבי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- בא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- קרוב: ADJ,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 27:13 (verbal): Both speak of a great trumpet/blowing on Zion at an eschatological day of the LORD—an explicit verbal echo of trumpet-as-gathering imagery.
- Zephaniah 1:14-16 (thematic): Announces that the day of the LORD is near with trumpet-like alarms and a tone of terror and judgment, closely matching Joel’s summons and warning.
- Amos 3:6 (verbal): Uses the image of a trumpet in a city as a warning that should provoke fear; parallels Joel’s use of the blast to alarm inhabitants about impending divine judgment.
- Exodus 19:16-19 (structural): Both portray a trumpet/sound on a holy mountain in the context of God’s manifest presence, causing trembling among the people—a theophanic structural parallel.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (allusion): Paul’s language about the coming “day of the Lord” (unexpected and near) echoes Joel’s eschatological warning that the day of the LORD is coming and near.
Alternative generated candidates
- Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain. Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near.
- Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near.
Joe.2.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חשך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ואפלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ענן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וערפל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כשחר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פרש: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- ההרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- עם: PREP
- רב: ADJ,m,sg
- ועצום: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- כמהו: PRT+PRON,3,ms
- לא: PART_NEG
- נהיה: VERB,niphal,impf,1,pl
- מן: PREP
- העולם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואחריו: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- יוסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- שני: NUM,m,pl,construct
- דור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ודור: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Amos 5:18-20 (thematic): Both depict the 'day of the LORD' as a time of darkness rather than light—an unexpected day of judgment bringing gloom and terror rather than blessing.
- Zephaniah 1:14-16 (verbal): Similar language about the imminent 'day of the LORD' described as a day of wrath, distress, ruin, darkness and gloom, emphasizing sudden, overwhelming destruction.
- Isaiah 13:9-10 (thematic): Portrays the day of the LORD as a cosmic, terrifying judgment—sun and moon darkened and stars losing their light—paralleling Joel's imagery of profound darkness.
- Ezekiel 30:3 (verbal): Announces that 'the day is near' and characterizes it by clouds and thick darkness over the land, echoing Joel's phraseology about clouds, darkness and imminent calamity.
Alternative generated candidates
- A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness—like the dawn spread over the mountains: a people great and mighty; there has never been its like from of old, nor will there be again after it to the years of many generations.
- A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness—like the dawn spreading over the mountains: a great and mighty people; there has never been the like of it from of old, nor shall there be after it for generations to come.
Joe.2.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- אכלה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- אש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואחריו: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- תלהט: VERB,qal,imperf,3,f,sg
- להבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כגן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עדן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,prop
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ואחריו: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- מדבר: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- שממה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וגם: CONJ
- פליטה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- היתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Exodus 10:15 (thematic): The plague of locusts covers the land, devours vegetation and leaves desolation—parallel imagery of consuming devastation and a land turned from garden to waste.
- Revelation 9:3-4 (allusion): Apocalyptic locust imagery coming out of smoke with destructive power—echoes Joel’s vision of a devouring force with smoke/fire and overwhelming devastation.
- Nahum 2:3 (verbal): The invading forces are described with firelike imagery (‘their appearance is like torches’), paralleling Joel’s motif of fire devouring before the host.
- Judges 6:5 (thematic): Enemies come like locusts, without number, consuming the produce of the land—similar simile of swarming devastation and ensuing desolation.
- Habakkuk 1:6-7 (thematic): The Chaldean/foreign army is pictured as a swift, devastating force that leaves ruin—resonates with Joel’s portrayal of an unstoppable destroyer leaving the land desolate.
Alternative generated candidates
- Before them fire devours, and behind them a flame burns; the land before them is like the garden of Eden, and behind them a desolate wilderness—nothing escapes them.
- Before them fire devours, and after them a flame burns; the land before them is like the garden of Eden, and behind them a desolate wilderness—nothing escapes them.
Joe.2.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כמראה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- סוסים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- מראהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,3ms-suff
- וכפרשים: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כן: ADV
- ירוצון: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Habakkuk 1:8 (verbal): Uses similar imagery of mounted troops: the enemy's horses are swift and fierce—paralleling Joel's simile comparing the approaching force to horses/riders.
- Nahum 2:4 (verbal): Describes chariots and horses rushing like lightning/torches in the streets; echoes Joel's depiction of rapid, overwhelming cavalry-like advance.
- Revelation 9:7–9 (allusion): John's apocalyptic locusts are described 'like horses prepared for battle,' reflecting and reworking the Old Testament motif (as in Joel) of locusts/armies compared to cavalry.
- Zechariah 6:1–5 (thematic): Vision of chariots and horses (the four chariots) representing swift divine agents—themewise related to prophetic portrayals of horsemen as decisive, advancing forces.
Alternative generated candidates
- Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like horsemen they run.
- Its appearance is like horses; like horsemen, so they run.
Joe.2.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כקול: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מרכבות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- על: PREP
- ראשי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- ההרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ירקדון: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- כקול: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- להב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אכלה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- קש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כעם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עצום: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- ערוך: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- מלחמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Nahum 2:3 (verbal): Portrays chariots racing and appearing like torches/lightning—parallel verbal imagery of chariots and a fiery, rapid advance.
- Isaiah 5:24 (verbal): Uses the image of fire consuming stubble/dry grass to describe swift, consuming judgment—same simile as Joel 2:5.
- Joel 2:4 (structural): Immediate context in the same chapter: the invading force is depicted as warriors, horses, and chariots—continuation of the battle/locust army imagery.
- Habakkuk 3:8 (thematic): A theophanic/military depiction with chariots and horses and God marching in judgment—echoes the motif of a mighty, arrayed fighting host bringing devastation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Like the noise of chariots on the mountaintops they leap; like the sound of a flaming fire that devours the stubble—like a mighty people set in battle array.
- Like the noise of chariots on the mountaintops they leap; like the crackling of a fire that devours the stubble; like a mighty people set in battle array.
Joe.2.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- מפניו: PREP+3ms
- יחילו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עמים: NOUN,pl,m,abs
- כל: DET
- פנים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- קבצו: VERB,qal,imp,2,mp
- פארור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 13:7-8 (thematic): Describes nations' collapse and terror—'all hands feeble, every heart melts'—paralleling Joel's image of peoples terrified and faces growing pale before judgment.
- Zephaniah 1:14-15 (thematic): The 'day of the LORD' as a day of wrath, distress, darkness and panic; thematically parallels the universal dread and anguish pictured in Joel 2:6.
- Joel 2:11 (structural): Within the same oracle—portrays the invading host causing the earth to quake and nations to be terrified; a close structural parallel that amplifies the effect described in 2:6.
- Revelation 6:12-17 (allusion): Apocalyptic scene of cosmic signs and people hiding, calling to the rocks to fall on them—echoes the motif of pale faces and widespread terror before divine wrath found in Joel 2:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- Before them peoples tremble; all faces grow pale;
- Before them peoples are in dread; all faces grow pale; they gather, trembling like warriors.
Joe.2.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כגבורים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ירצון: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- כאנשי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- מלחמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יעלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- חומה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בדרכיו: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,suff3ms
- ילכון: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ולא: CONJ
- יעבטון: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl
- ארחותם: NOUN,f,pl,abs,poss:3,m,pl
Parallels
- Habakkuk 1:8-9 (thematic): Describes a swift, disciplined invading force—horses and riders coming from afar with set faces—echoing Joel’s image of troops running like mighty men and not breaking ranks.
- Psalm 18:29 (verbal): Uses similar combat imagery—'by you I can run against a troop, by my God I can leap over a wall'—paralleling Joel’s motifs of running like warriors and climbing walls.
- Jeremiah 4:13 (thematic): Portrays an oncoming force 'like clouds' with chariots and swift horses that overrun the land, comparable to Joel’s depiction of an unstoppable martial advance.
- Nahum 2:4 (structural): Depicts organized military movement—chariots, cavalry, and a relentless assault—mirroring Joel’s emphasis on trained fighters scaling defenses and maintaining their ranks.
- Revelation 9:7-10 (allusion): The vision of locusts as a disciplined, warlike host (breastplates, the sound of chariots) echoes Joel’s metaphor of locusts behaving like men of war who climb walls and march in formation.
Alternative generated candidates
- They run like warriors; they climb the wall like soldiers; every one marches in his path, and they do not swerve from their ranks.
- Like mighty men they run; like soldiers they scale the wall. Each goes in his path; they do not break ranks.
Joe.2.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואיש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- ידחקון: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- גבר: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- במסלתו: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,3ms
- ילכון: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ובעד: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- השלח: NOUN,prop,m,sg,def
- יפלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- יבצעו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 10:12-15 (thematic): The Egyptian plague of locusts — a vast, devouring swarm that darkens the land and consumes vegetation — parallels Joel's portrayal of an overwhelming, destructive host.
- Joel 2:4 (verbal): Nearby verse in the same oracle uses the same military/locust imagery (men running like warriors, keeping their ranks); closely parallels the language of orderly march and unbroken ranks.
- Nahum 2:4 (structural): Battle imagery of chariots and a charging host; structurally parallels Joel's martial description of an advancing force (here Nahum emphasizes confusion/jostling, a pointed contrast to Joel's orderly march).
- Revelation 9:3-10 (allusion): John's apocalyptic locusts are depicted as a disciplined, terrifying swarm with martial attributes — an explicit New Testament echo/allusion to prophetic locust-as-army imagery found in Joel.
- Psalm 78:46 (thematic): The psalm recounts God sending locusts/caterpillars to consume the produce of the land, thematically paralleling Joel's image of a ravaging swarm that leaves devastation in its path.
Alternative generated candidates
- None pushes another; each walks in his way; though they fall upon the sword, they are not cut off.
- They thrust no one aside; each walks in his track; though they fall by the sword, they do not break their line.
Joe.2.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בעיר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ישקו: VERB,qal,yiqtol,3,pl
- בחומה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ירצון: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בבתים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- יעלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בעד: PREP
- החלונים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- יבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כגנב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 38:11 (thematic): Describes nations coming against unwalled, secure towns and taking them by surprise—parallels Joel’s image of attackers overrunning walls, houses and entering through openings.
- Habakkuk 1:6–7 (thematic): Portrays a swift, overwhelming invading force that seizes dwellings and moves like an unstoppable tide—echoes Joel’s language of sudden assault and taking of houses.
- Zechariah 14:2 (thematic): Foretells a sudden assault on Jerusalem with people carried off and houses violated—similar prophetic motif of cities breached and inhabitants seized.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2 (allusion): Uses the image of coming 'like a thief' to describe the suddenness of the day of the Lord; echoes Joel’s simile of attackers entering 'like a thief' through windows.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the city they run to and fro upon the wall; they climb into the houses; through the windows they enter like a thief.
- They rush to the city, they run upon the wall; they enter the houses, they come through the windows like a thief.
Joe.2.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- רגזה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ארץ: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- רעשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- שמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שמש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וירח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- קדרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- וכוכבים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אספו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- נגהם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,pl
Parallels
- Isaiah 34:4 (verbal): Very similar cosmic imagery—heavens upheaved and stars affected; language of the heavens and stars being darkened or falling parallels Joel's description.
- Isaiah 13:10 (verbal): Speaks of stars and constellations losing their light and celestial bodies being darkened, closely matching Joel's sun, moon and stars motif.
- Ezekiel 32:7 (verbal): Explicit language about God darkening the heavens, covering the sun with clouds and causing stars to lose their light—directly echoing Joel's cosmic signs.
- Amos 8:9 (thematic): Proclaims a sudden darkening of the sun ('I will make the sun go down at noon'), a related motif of unexpected celestial disturbance linked to judgment.
- Matthew 24:29 (allusion): New Testament echo of OT apocalyptic imagery—sun darkened, moon not giving light, stars falling—used by Jesus to describe end-time cosmic signs (paralleling Joel's language).
Alternative generated candidates
- Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars withdraw their brightness.
- Before them the earth quakes, the heavens tremble; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars withdraw their light.
Joe.2.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהוה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- קולו: NOUN,m,sg,poss3ms
- לפני: PREP
- חילו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+pr3ms
- כי: CONJ
- רב: ADJ,m,sg
- מאד: ADV
- מחנהו: NOUN,m,sg,suf
- כי: CONJ
- עצום: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דברו: INF,qal,inf+3ms
- כי: CONJ
- גדול: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- יום: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ונורא: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg
- מאד: ADV
- ומי: PRON,interr
- יכילנו: VERB,qal,impf,3,pl+obj1pl
Parallels
- Nahum 1:2-6 (verbal): God pictured as a jealous, avenging warrior whose wrath is mighty and overwhelming — echoing Joel’s language of the LORD’s powerful voice/army and the terror of his coming (who can stand before him).
- Zephaniah 1:14-18 (thematic): Announces the ‘great day of the LORD’ as near, terrible and bringing distress with no escape — closely parallels Joel’s declaration that the day of the LORD is great and very dreadful and that none can endure it.
- Isaiah 13:6-13 (thematic): Prophetic portrayal of the day of the LORD as a day of vengeance and terror when the heavens and earth are shaken — parallels Joel’s emphasis on the enormity and terror of the LORD’s day and its cosmic effects.
- Habakkuk 3:2-6 (structural): A vision of the LORD coming with power like an army, shaking the earth and making nations tremble — echoes Joel’s image of God’s voice before his host and the awesome, nation-shaking nature of his action.
- Joel 2:1-10 (verbal): Immediate literary parallels within the chapter: trumpet alarms, the advance of a vast, terrifying host, and cosmic shaking prepare the description in v.11 of the LORD’s voice, the greatness of his camp and the dreadfulness of the day of the LORD.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD gives his voice before his host; for his camp is very great—mighty is he who carries out his word. For the day of the LORD is great and very dreadful; who can endure it?
- The LORD gives his voice before his army, for his camp is very great; mighty is he who carries out his command. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible—who can endure it?
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near.
A day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness—like dawn spreading over the mountains: a people great and mighty; their like has not been from of old, nor will there be after them for generations to come.
Before them fire devours, and behind them a flame burns. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, and behind them a desolate wilderness; there is no escape, not even a remnant.
Their appearance is like horses; like cavalry they rush on.
With the sound of chariots on the mountaintops they leap—like the noise of a blazing fire that devours the stubble; like a mighty people arrayed for battle.
Before them nations are in anguish; all faces grow pale.
Like heroes they rush; like warriors they scale the wall. Each marches in his course; they do not swerve from their ranks.
They do not push one another; each walks in his path. Though they press through the weapons, they will not be broken.
They surge into the city; they run upon the wall; they enter the houses; through the windows they break in like a thief.
Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars withdraw their light.
The LORD thunders before his host, for his army is very great; mighty is the one who carries out his command. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible—who can endure it?