God’s Word Translation
Joel 2:8
8They do not crowd one another. They keep in their own lines. Even when they break through the defenses, they do not break their ranks.
Joel 2:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
- New International Version (NIV)They do not jostle each other; each marches straight ahead. They plunge through defenses without breaking ranks.
- English Standard Version (ESV)They do not jostle one another; each marches in his path; they burst through the weapons and are not halted.
- New King James Version (NKJV)They do not push one another; Every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, They are not cut down.
Context of Joel 2:8
6People are terrified in their presence. Every face turns pale. 7They run like warriors. They climb walls like soldiers. They march straight ahead. They do not leave their places. They do not crowd one another. They keep in their own lines. Even when they break through the defenses, they do not break their ranks. 9They rush into the city. They run along the wall. They climb into houses. They enter through windows like thieves. 10The earth quakes in their presence, and the sky shakes. The sun and the moon turn dark, and the stars no longer shine.
Read all of Joel 2Joel 2:8 word by word
וְאִ֤ישׁ אָחִיו֙ לֹ֣א יִדְחָק֔וּן גֶּ֥בֶר בִּמְסִלָּת֖וֹ יֵֽלֵכ֑וּן וּבְעַ֥ד הַשֶּׁ֛לַח יִפֹּ֖לוּ לֹ֥א יִבְצָֽעוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Neither shall oneאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- thrustדָּחַקdâchaq · to crowdH1766
- anotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
- they shall walkיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- every oneגָּבֶרgeber · great manH1397
- in his pathמְסִלָּהmesillâh · highwayH4546
- they fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- upon the swordשֶׁ֫לַחshelach · missileH7973
- they shall not be woundedבָּצַעbâtsa‛ · to cut off: to endH1214
Cross-references for Joel 2:8
- 2 Chronicles 23:10All the troops stood with their weapons drawn. They were stationed around the king and around the altar and the temple (from the south side to the north side of the temple).
- 2 Chronicles 32:5Hezekiah worked hard. He rebuilt all the broken sections of the wall, made the towers taller, built another wall outside ⌞the city wall⌟, strengthened the Millo in the City of David, and made plenty of weapons and shields.
- Nehemiah 4:17who were rebuilding the wall. The workers who were carrying loads did the work with one hand and held their weapons with the other,
- Job 33:18He keeps their souls from the pit and their lives from crossing the River ⌞of Death⌟.
- Job 36:12But if they don’t listen, they will cross the River ⌞of Death⌟ and die like those who have no knowledge.
Commentaries on Joel 2:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8They shall not be wounded - They have hard scales like a coat of mail; but the expression refers to the utter uselessness of all means to prevent their depredations. See Shaw's account above.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8When they fall upon the sword - (literally, “among the darts”) they shall not be wounded It may be that the prophet would describe how the locust seems armed as in a suit of armor. As one says, “Their form was wondrous; they had a sort of gorget round their neck like a lancer, and a helm on their head, such as soldiers wear.” But, more, he exhibits their indomitableness and impenetrableness, how nothing checks, nothing retards, nothing makes any…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-9The locusts invaded both cities and farms, moving like a well-trained army. They scaled city walls and swarmed over the city. They found every way to enter, even climbing through windows like thieves.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 7-97-9. Depicting the regular military order of their advance, "One locust not turning a nail's breadth out of his own place in the march" [Jerome]. Compare Pr 30:27, "The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands."Read the comment
Topics related to Joel 2:8
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
Commentaries