New Living Translation
Joel 2:11
11The Lord is at the head of the column. He leads them with a shout. This is his mighty army, and they follow his orders. The day of the Lord is an awesome, terrible thing. Who can possibly survive?
Joel 2:11 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
- New International Version (NIV)The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?
- English Standard Version (ESV)The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?
- New King James Version (NKJV)The Lord gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?
Context of Joel 2:11
9They swarm over the city and run along its walls. They enter all the houses, climbing like thieves through the windows. 10The earth quakes as they advance, and the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars no longer shine. The Lord is at the head of the column. He leads them with a shout. This is his mighty army, and they follow his orders. The day of the Lord is an awesome, terrible thing. Who can possibly survive? 12That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 13Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.
Read all of Joel 2Joel 2:11 word by word
וַֽיהוָ֗ה נָתַ֤ן קוֹלוֹ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י חֵיל֔וֹ כִּ֣י רַ֤ב מְאֹד֙ מַחֲנֵ֔הוּ כִּ֥י עָצ֖וּם עֹשֵׂ֣ה דְבָר֑וֹ כִּֽי־גָד֧וֹל יוֹם־יְהוָ֛ה וְנוֹרָ֥א מְאֹ֖ד וּמִ֥י יְכִילֶֽנּוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- shall utterנָתַןnâthan · to give: cry outH5414
- his voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- his armyחַ֫יִלchayil · armyH2428
- for his campמַחֲנֶהmachăneh · campH4264
- veryמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
- greatרַבrab · manyH7227
- strongעָצוּם‛âtsûm ‛âtsûm · mightyH6099
- that executethעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- his wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- for the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
- terribleיָרֵאyârê' · to fear: revereH3372
- and who can abideכּוּלkûl · to sustainH3557
Cross-references for Joel 2:11
- Joel 3:16The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel.
- 2 Samuel 22:14The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded.
- Psalms 46:6The nations are in chaos, and their kingdoms crumble! God’s voice thunders, and the earth melts!
- Isaiah 7:18In that day the Lord will whistle for the army of southern Egypt and for the army of Assyria. They will swarm around you like flies and bees.
- Isaiah 13:4Hear the noise on the mountains! Listen, as the vast armies march! It is the noise and shouting of many nations. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has called this army together.
- Isaiah 42:13The Lord will march forth like a mighty hero; he will come out like a warrior, full of fury. He will shout his battle cry and crush all his enemies.
- Jeremiah 25:30“Now prophesy all these things, and say to them, “‘The Lord will roar against his own land from his holy dwelling in heaven. He will shout like those who tread grapes; he will shout against everyone on earth.
- Amos 1:2This is what he saw and heard: “The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem! The lush pastures of the shepherds will dry up; the grass on Mount Carmel will wither and die.”
- Joel 2:25The Lord says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.
- Jeremiah 50:34But the one who redeems them is strong. His name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He will defend them and give them rest again in Israel. But for the people of Babylon there will be no rest!
- Revelation 18:8Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day— death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty.”
- Jeremiah 30:7In all history there has never been such a time of terror. It will be a time of trouble for my people Israel. Yet in the end they will be saved!
- Amos 5:18What sorrow awaits you who say, “If only the day of the Lord were here!” You have no idea what you are wishing for. That day will bring darkness, not light.
- Zephaniah 1:15It will be a day when the Lord’s anger is poured out— a day of terrible distress and anguish, a day of ruin and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,
- Numbers 24:23Balaam concluded his messages by saying: “Alas, who can survive unless God has willed it?
- Nahum 1:6Who can stand before his fierce anger? Who can survive his burning fury? His rage blazes forth like fire, and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence.
Commentaries on Joel 2:11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11The Lord shall utter his voice - Such a mighty force seems as if summoned by the Almighty, and the noise they make in coming announces their approach, while yet afar off.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11And the Lord shall utter His voice - The prophet had described at length the coming of God‘s judgments, as a mighty army. But lest amid the judgments, people should, (as they often do) forget the Judge, he represents God, as commanding this His army, gathering, ordering, marshalling, directing them, giving them the word, when and upon whom they should pour themselves. Their presence was a token of His. They should neither anticipate that command, nor…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army: The coming destruction was not just nature or human actions, but an act of God. His camp is very large: God carried out this judgment. Who can endure it?: Without God's grace and mercy, no one can.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. Lord ... his army--So among Mohammedans, "Lord of the locusts" is a title of God. his voice--His word of command to the locusts, and to the antitypical human foes of Judea, as "His army." strong that executeth his word--(Re 18:8).Read the comment
Topics related to Joel 2:11
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
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