God’s Word Translation
Joel 2:18
18Then the Lord became concerned about his land, and he had pity on his people.
Joel 2:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people.
- New International Version (NIV)Then the Lord was jealous for his land and took pity on his people.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the Lord will be zealous for His land, And pity His people.
Context of Joel 2:18
16Gather the people. Prepare them for a holy meeting. Assemble the leaders. Gather the children, even the nursing infants. Grooms leave their rooms. Brides leave their chambers. 17The priests who serve the Lord cry between the altar and the entrance to the temple. They say, “Spare your people, O Lord. Don’t let the people who belong to you become a disgrace. Don’t let the nations ridicule them. Why should people ask, ‘Where is their God?’ ” Then the Lord became concerned about his land, and he had pity on his people. 19The Lord said to his people, “I am going to send grain, new wine, and olive oil to you. You will be satisfied with them. I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations. 20“I will keep the northern ⌞army⌟ far from you, and I will force it into a dry and barren land. The soldiers in front will be forced into the eastern sea. The soldiers in back will be forced into the western sea. A foul odor will rise from the dead bodies. They will stink.” He has done great things!
Read all of Joel 2Joel 2:18 word by word
וַיְקַנֵּ֥א יְהוָ֖ה לְאַרְצ֑וֹ וַיַּחְמֹ֖ל עַל־עַמּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Joel 2:18
- Isaiah 42:13The Lord marches out like a warrior. He prepares himself for battle like a soldier. He shouts, gives the battle cry, and overpowers his enemies.
- Zechariah 1:14The angel who was speaking with me said, “Announce: This is what the Lord of Armies says: I’m very jealous about Jerusalem and Zion,
- Zechariah 8:2This is what the Lord of Armies says: I am very jealous about Zion. I am fiercely possessive of it.
- Deuteronomy 32:16They made him furious because they worshiped foreign gods and angered him because they worshiped worthless idols.
- Judges 10:16Then they got rid of the foreign gods they had and served the Lord. So the Lord could not bear to have Israel suffer any longer.
- Psalms 103:13As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
- Isaiah 60:10“Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. In my anger I struck you, but in my favor I have compassion on you.
- Isaiah 63:9In all their troubles he was troubled, and he was the Messenger who saved them. In his love and compassion he reclaimed them. He always held them and carried them in the past.
- Jeremiah 31:20Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? Even though I have often spoken against him, I still think fondly of him. That is why my heart longs for him, and I will certainly have compassion on him,” declares the Lord.
- Lamentations 3:22the Lord’s mercy. We were not completely wiped out. His compassion is never limited.
- Hosea 11:8“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboim? I have changed my mind. I am deeply moved.
- Luke 15:20“So he went at once to his father. While he was still at a distance, his father saw him and felt sorry for him. He ran to his son, put his arms around him, and kissed him.
- James 5:11We consider those who endure to be blessed. You have heard about Job’s endurance. You saw that the Lord ended Job’s suffering because the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
Commentaries on Joel 2:18
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Then will the Lord be jealous for His land - Upon repentance, all is changed. Before, God seemed set upon their destruction. It was His great army which was ready to destroy them; He was at its head, giving the word. Now He is full of tender love for them, which resents injury done to them, as done to Himself. The word might more strictly perhaps be rendered, “And the Lord is jealous”. He would show how instantaneous the mercy and love of God for His…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-27Verses 15-27 The priests and rulers are to appoint a solemn fast. The sinner's supplication is, Spare us, good Lord. God is ready to succour his people; and he waits to be gracious. They prayed that God would spare them, and he answered them. His promises are real answers to the prayers of faith; with him saying and doing are not two things. Some understand these promises figuratively, as pointing to gospel grace, and as fulfilled in the abundant comforts…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18So far, the book of Joel has discussed God's judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. From now on, it talks about God's promise to restore them. If the people truly repented, God would respond with kindness.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Then--when God sees His people penitent. be jealous for his land--as a husband jealous of any dishonor done to the wife whom he loves, as if done to himself. The Hebrew comes from an Arabic root, "to be flushed in face" through indignation.Read the comment
Topics related to Joel 2:18
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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