God’s Word Translation
Joel 2:1
1Blow the ram’s horn in Zion. Sound the alarm on my holy mountain. Everyone who lives in the land should tremble, because the day of the Lord is coming. Certainly, it is near.
Joel 2:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Blow 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;
- New International Version (NIV)Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand—
- English Standard Version (ESV)Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Blow 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 is coming, For it is at hand:
Context of Joel 2:1
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion. Sound the alarm on my holy mountain. Everyone who lives in the land should tremble, because the day of the Lord is coming. Certainly, it is near. 2It is a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and overcast skies. A large and mighty army will spread over the mountains like the dawn. Nothing like this has ever happened. Nothing like this will ever happen again. 3In front of this army a fire burns. Behind it flames are blazing. In front of it the land is like the garden of Eden. Behind it the land is like a barren desert. Nothing escapes it!
Read all of Joel 2Joel 2:1 word by word
תִּקְע֨וּ שׁוֹפָ֜ר בְּצִיּ֗וֹן וְהָרִ֙יעוּ֙ בְּהַ֣ר קָדְשִׁ֔י יִרְגְּז֕וּ כֹּ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ כִּֽי־בָ֥א יוֹם־יְהוָ֖ה כִּ֥י קָרֽוֹב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Blowתָּקַעtâqa‛ · to blowH8628
- ye the trumpetשֹׁפָרshôphâr shôphâr · trumpetH7782
- in Zionצִיּוֹןtsîyôn · ZionH6726
- and sound an alarmרוּעַrûa‛ · to shoutH7321
- in my holyקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944
- mountainהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
- let all the inhabitantsיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- of the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- trembleרָגַזrâgaz · to trembleH7264
- for the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- comethבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- nigh at handקָרֹבqârôb qârôb · nearH7138
Cross-references for Joel 2:1
- Joel 2:15Blow the ram’s horn in Zion. Schedule a time to fast. Call for an assembly.
- Numbers 10:3When you blow both trumpets, the whole community will meet with you at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
- Jeremiah 4:5Report this message in Judah. Make it heard in Jerusalem. Say, “Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land.” Shout loudly and say, “Gather together! Let’s go into the fortified cities.”
- Hosea 8:1“Sound the alarm on the ram’s horn. The enemy swoops down on the Lord’s temple like an eagle. The people of Israel have rejected my promise and rebelled against my teachings.
- 1 Chronicles 15:28All Israel brought the ark of the Lord’s promise with shouts of joy and the sounding of rams’ horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, and lyres.
- Hosea 5:8“Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah. Blow the trumpet in Ramah. Sound the alarm at Beth Aven, you descendants of Benjamin.
- Numbers 10:5When they hear the trumpet fanfare, the tribes that are camped on the east side will break camp first.
- Ezekiel 33:3If he sees the enemy coming to attack the country, he will blow his horn to warn the people.
- Amos 3:6If a ram’s horn sounds an alarm in a city, won’t the people be alarmed? If there is a disaster in a city, hasn’t the Lord done it?
- Zephaniah 1:16a day of rams’ horns and battle cries against the fortified cities and against the high corner towers.
- Joel 3:17“You will know that I am the Lord your God. I live on my holy mountain, Zion. Jerusalem will be holy. Foreigners will never invade it again.
- Psalms 87:1⌞The city⌟ the Lord has founded ⌞stands⌟ on holy mountains.
- Daniel 9:16Lord, since you are very righteous, turn your anger and fury away from your city, Jerusalem, your holy mountain. Jerusalem and your people are insulted by everyone around us because of our sins and the wicked things our ancestors did.
- Zephaniah 3:11On that day you will no longer be ashamed of all your rebellious acts against me. Then I will remove your arrogance and never again will you act proud on my holy mountain.
- Zechariah 8:3This is what the Lord says: I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth. The mountain of the Lord of Armies will be called the holy mountain.
- Ezra 9:3When I heard this, I tore my clothes ⌞in distress⌟, pulled hair from my scalp and my beard, and sat down in shock.
Commentaries on Joel 2:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion - This verse also shows that the temple was still standing. All assemblies of the people were collected by the sound of the trumpet. The day of the Lord cometh - This phrase generally means a day of judgment or punishment.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Blow ye the trumpet - The trumpet was accustomed to sound in Zion, only for religious uses; to call together the congregations for holy meetings, to usher in the beginnings of their months and their solemn days with festival gladness. Now in Zion itself, the stronghold of the kingdom, the Holy City, the place which God chose to put His Name there, which He had promised to establish, the trumpet was to be used, only for sounds of alarm and fear. Alarm…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1God's judgments. (Joel 2:1-14) Exhortations to fasting and prayer; blessings promised. (Joel 2:15-27) A promise of the Holy Spirit, and of future mercies. (Joel 2:28-32) Verses 1-14 The priests were to alarm the people with the near approach of the Divine judgments. It is the work of ministers to warn of the fatal consequences of sin, and to reveal the wrath from heaven against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. The striking description which…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1When attackers threatened an ancient city, the watchmen on the city wall would sound the alarm by blowing a trumpet. This trumpet was a ram’s horn instrument called a shofar (see also Joel 2:15). The sound called all the defenders to fight the enemy.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-32A more terrific judgment than that of the locusts is foretold, under imagery drawn from that of the calamity then engrossing the afflicted nation. He therefore exhorts to repentance, assuring the Jews of Jehovah's pity if they would repent. Promise of the Holy Spirit in the last days under Messiah, and the deliverance of all believers in Him. 1. Blow ... trumpet--to sound an alarm of coming war (Nu 10:1-10; Ho 5:8; Am 3:6); the office of the priests. Joe…Read the comment
Topics related to Joel 2:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Joel 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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