Joel 1:3 kjv
Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.
Joel 1:3 nkjv
Tell your children about it, Let your children tell their children, And their children another generation.
Joel 1:3 niv
Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.
Joel 1:3 esv
Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.
Joel 1:3 nlt
Tell your children about it in the years to come,
and let your children tell their children.
Pass the story down from generation to generation.
Joel 1 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 4:9 | "...teach them to your children and to your grandchildren." | Intergenerational instruction and memory |
| Deut 6:7 | "You shall teach them diligently to your children..." | Diligent teaching to next generation |
| Ps 78:4 | "...we will not conceal them from their children, telling to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD..." | Narrating God's mighty acts to descendants |
| Exod 10:2 | "...that you may tell in the hearing of your son and your grandson how I have dealt severely with the Egyptians..." | Remembering God's plagues as lessons for future |
| Exod 12:26-27 | "When your children say to you, 'What does this service mean...?' you shall say, 'It is the Passover sacrifice...'" | Passover as an enforced memorial for children |
| Josh 4:6-7 | "...when your children ask in time to come, 'What do these stones mean...?' you shall tell them..." | Memorials to explain God's mighty works |
| Mal 4:6 | "He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers..." | Reconciliation and family continuity |
| Ps 145:4 | "One generation shall commend Your works to another..." | Praising God's works intergenerationally |
| Isa 38:19 | "...A father makes known Your faithfulness to his children." | Parents testifying to God's faithfulness |
| Judg 2:10 | "And also all that generation were gathered to their fathers; and there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel." | Danger of neglecting intergenerational teaching |
| Rom 15:4 | "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction..." | Scripture's historical narratives for teaching |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | "Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction..." | OT events as warnings and examples for believers |
| 2 Tim 3:15 | "...from childhood you have known the sacred writings..." | Importance of early Scriptural instruction |
| Prov 22:6 | "Train up a child in the way he should go..." | Foundational wisdom for child rearing |
| Eph 6:4 | "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." | Parental responsibility for spiritual nurture |
| Ps 103:7 | "He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel." | God revealing His ways and acts |
| Ps 71:18 | "Even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come." | Elderly transmitting God's power to new generations |
| Ps 44:1 | "We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us The work You did in their days..." | Hearing about God's past works from elders |
| Joel 2:28 | "And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy..." | The Spirit enabling new generations to proclaim |
| Acts 2:16-17 | "But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy...'" | Joel's prophecy's fulfillment and continuous testimony |
Joel 1 verses
Joel 1 3 Meaning
Joel 1:3 conveys a direct command for the people to meticulously transmit the memory and significance of the unprecedented calamity, described in Joel 1:2, across all successive generations. It emphasizes that this profound experience, being an act of divine judgment and a precursor to the Day of the Lord, must be ingrained in the collective memory, not merely as a historical event but as a theological lesson to inform and warn future descendants. The command underscores the urgency and unparalleled nature of the event, demanding a perpetual witness to the Lord's power and righteous dealings.
Joel 1 3 Context
Joel 1:3 directly follows Joel 1:2, where the prophet addresses the elders and all inhabitants, proclaiming an unprecedented natural disaster: a devastating series of locust plagues (cutter, swarmer, hopper, consumer) coupled with a severe drought. This calamity is presented not merely as a natural phenomenon but as a direct act of the Lord, unparalleled in their collective memory or their fathers' time. The immediate context of Joel 1 is one of national devastation, loss of crops, distress of animals, and widespread mourning, leading to a call for solemn assembly and repentance. Verse 3 serves as an emphatic command to ensure that this extraordinary divine judgment, with its profound implications for Judah's relationship with the Lord, is never forgotten but systematically transmitted as a vital theological and historical lesson to all future generations, preparing them for the ultimate "Day of the Lord."
Joel 1 3 Word analysis
- Tell ye: Hebrew sappěrû (סַפְּרוּ), derived from sāpar (סָפַר), meaning "to recount," "to narrate," "to declare in detail." It's more than a casual mention; it implies a thorough, intentional recounting of the experience and its theological significance, likely involving detailed description of the destruction and the call to lamentation and repentance. This act of "telling" establishes an authoritative record and preserves a key memory for the community's future.
- your children: Hebrew livnêḵem (לִבְנֵיכֶם), literally "to your sons." In Hebrew cultural context, "children" (and "sons") typically encompasses descendants, male and female, of any generation. This highlights the foundational unit of intergenerational instruction – the family, starting with parents teaching their direct offspring. It stresses familial responsibility for religious and historical education.
- of it: This refers directly back to the "thing" (הַזֹּאת, hazzōʾt) mentioned in Joel 1:2—the unique, unprecedented locust plague and accompanying devastation. The intensity and nature of "it" warrant perpetual remembrance, signifying that this was no ordinary event but a remarkable manifestation of divine displeasure or warning. It demands careful preservation of the memory.
- and let your children tell their children: This phrase, ûvnêḵem livnêhem (וּבְנֵיכֶם לִבְנֵיהֶם), establishes a direct, unbroken chain of transmission from one generation to the immediate next. It underscores the vital role of each succeeding generation as both receiver and transmitter of this crucial communal memory. This is active discipleship through historical narrative.
- and their children another generation: Hebrew ûvnêhem lĕḏôr ʾaḥēr (וּבְנֵיהֶם לְדוֹר אַחֵר). Dor ʾaḥēr translates as "another generation," implying even more distant or future generations, potentially reaching to the very end of time. This extends the scope of the command to perpetuate this memory infinitely, ensuring that the warning and lessons from this event—especially in anticipation of the "Day of the Lord"—remain perpetually relevant. This signifies that the events had enduring, eschatological implications beyond their immediate context.
- Intergenerational transmission: The entire verse forms a cohesive unit stressing the oral and instructional transmission of significant divine acts. This was the primary mode of preserving collective memory and covenant relationship in ancient Israel. It's a foundational principle seen throughout the Law and Prophets, vital for national identity and spiritual continuity. This counteracts the tendency of societies to forget or reinterpret past divine judgments or deliverances, serving as a safeguard against spiritual apathy or apostasy. The emphasis is on proactive, intentional narration rather than passive inheritance.
Joel 1 3 Bonus section
The Hebrew emphasis on "telling" (סַפְּרוּ, sappěrû) carries an instructional weight that goes beyond mere recounting. It implies deep reflection on the theological meaning and impact of the event, teaching future generations about divine attributes, the consequences of sin, and the call to repentance. This concept resonates with polemical undertones against contemporary pagan views that attributed natural calamities to capricious deities or random chance. Joel emphatically attributes this devastation to the Lord, transforming it into a powerful educational tool for the covenant community. This consistent and deliberate oral tradition was paramount for maintaining Israel's identity and covenant faithfulness in a world often prone to spiritual amnesia.
Joel 1 3 Commentary
Joel 1:3 functions as a pivotal command in the prophet's opening message, transcending a mere historical record. It elevates the devastating locust plague from a natural disaster to a profoundly significant divine act, demanding perpetual remembrance. The triple emphasis on successive generations—"you to your children," "your children to their children," and "their children to another generation"—highlights the crucial importance of intergenerational transfer of theological understanding. The event ("it") must be told not just as a factual account, but as a testimony to the Lord's absolute sovereignty, His justice in judgment, and a solemn warning foreshadowing the "Day of the Lord." This command establishes a heritage of spiritual vigilance, urging a deep fear of the Lord and preparing His people for future divine interventions.
- Practical example: Just as a family shares stories of significant hardships and lessons learned to caution younger members, Joel calls for the nation to do the same with God's acts.
- Practical example: Teaching children historical accounts from the Bible to show God's consistent character throughout ages.