Joel 2 18

Joel 2:18 kjv

Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

Joel 2:18 nkjv

Then the LORD will be zealous for His land, And pity His people.

Joel 2:18 niv

Then the LORD was jealous for his land and took pity on his people.

Joel 2:18 esv

Then the LORD became jealous for his land and had pity on his people.

Joel 2:18 nlt

Then the LORD will pity his people
and jealously guard the honor of his land.

Joel 2 18 Cross References

VerseTextReference
God's Jealousy/Zeal for His Own
Ex 34:14"...for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God."God's inherent nature of protective zeal.
Deut 4:24"For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."God's holy indignation against idolatry.
Deut 6:15"...for the LORD your God in your midst is a jealous God..."Warning against provocation due to jealousy.
Josh 24:19"He is a holy God; he is a jealous God..."God's absolute demand for sole worship.
Nah 1:2"The LORD is a jealous and avenging God..."God's righteous wrath against adversaries.
Zech 1:14"...Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion.'"Divine passion for His holy city and people.
Zech 8:2"...'I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and with great wrath I am jealous for her.'"Repeated affirmation of strong divine zeal.
God's Pity/Compassion
Ex 34:6-7"...abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness..."God's character of mercy and grace revealed.
Ps 103:8"The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."God's default inclination is towards mercy.
Ps 103:13"As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him."Illustration of tender parental care.
Ps 145:8"The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love."Reinforces God's compassionate nature.
Lam 3:32"For though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love..."Even in judgment, mercy prevails.
Jon 4:11"And should not I pity Nineveh..."God's universal compassion extends broadly.
Lk 1:78"...because of the tender mercy of our God..."Fulfillment in Christ's salvific work.
Repentance Leading to God's Response
Deut 30:1-3"...if you return to the LORD your God...the LORD your God will restore your fortunes..."Conditional promise of restoration after return.
2 Chr 7:14"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray...then I will forgive..."God's promise for national repentance.
Isa 55:7"let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him..."Invitation to repentance for mercy.
Jer 29:12-14"...You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart..."God responds to wholehearted seeking.
Hos 14:1-4"Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God...I will heal their apostasy..."Divine invitation to return and be healed.
Joel 2:12-14"Return to me with all your heart...He may turn and relent..."The immediate preceding call to repentance.
Jon 3:10"When God saw what they did...God relented of the disaster..."Divine change of plan due to repentance.
Restoration and Blessing
Joel 2:19-27"...I will send you grain...I will restore to you the years..."Direct promises of physical and spiritual restoration.
Eze 36:24-38"...I will put my Spirit within you...I will multiply them..."Comprehensive restoration and spiritual renewal.
Amos 9:14-15"I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel...never again be uprooted..."Final, secure restoration of Israel in the land.

Joel 2 verses

Joel 2 18 Meaning

Joel 2:18 signifies God's immediate and fervent response of compassion and protection towards His people and His land, triggered by their genuine corporate repentance as exhorted in the preceding verses. It assures that the LORD, the sovereign covenant God, passionately defends His possession and lovingly cares for His chosen people when they turn back to Him wholeheartedly.

Joel 2 18 Context

Joel chapter 2 dramatically describes a severe locust plague and drought, interpreted as the Day of the LORD's judgment. The prophet urgently calls the people of Judah to a solemn, sincere repentance, emphasizing a "rending of hearts" rather than garments (Joel 2:12-14). He pleads with the priests to intercede, crying out to the LORD not to bring reproach upon His inheritance (Joel 2:17). Joel 2:18 immediately follows this intense plea, marking a pivotal turning point in the prophecy. It is presented as God's swift, passionate, and merciful response to a people who have humbly turned back to Him. This verse sets the stage for the abundant blessings of restoration that are promised in the subsequent verses (Joel 2:19-27) and ultimately points to the greater spiritual outpouring and redemption in the future.

Joel 2 18 Word analysis

  • Then (וְאַחַר - ve'achar): This word indicates a clear sequence of events. It shows that God's action is a direct consequence of and response to the genuine repentance and collective cry of His people detailed in Joel 2:12-17. It signifies a decisive turning point in the divine-human interaction, moving from judgment and exhortation to compassionate intervention.

  • the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the covenant name of God, highlighting His relational and personal character within the context of His covenant with Israel. It emphasizes that the action is not from an arbitrary deity, but from the faithful and sovereign God who has a unique, abiding relationship with His people and their land. It underscores His absolute authority and unwavering commitment.

  • became zealous (קִנֵּא - qin·neh'): This word derives from the Hebrew root qana', which signifies intense passion, fervor, or strong emotion, often translated as "jealous" or "zealous." In the context of God, it is not a human envy driven by insecurity or malice. Instead, it denotes His holy and protective passion for His own honor, covenant, people, and possessions. It implies an active, powerful commitment to defend what belongs to Him and to maintain the integrity of His name and promises. It signifies a righteous indignation against anything that threatens His land or people and an ardent determination to restore what is rightfully His.

  • for his land (לְאַרְצוֹ - le'artzo): Refers specifically to the land of Israel, the Promised Land, which is God's own chosen inheritance and dwelling place among His people. It highlights God's special, proprietary claim and protective interest in the physical territory He has consecrated for His purposes and for His people. This underscores the theological connection between the land, the people, and the divine covenant.

  • and had pity (וַיַּחְמֹל - vai·yachmol): This verb, from the root chamal, means to have compassion, to show tender mercy, to spare, or to deal leniently with. It emphasizes God's profound empathy and willingness to withhold deserved punishment or to alleviate suffering. It demonstrates His gracious and compassionate character, reflecting His loving concern for the distress of His people.

  • on his people (עַל־עַמּוֹ - al 'am·mo): This phrase refers to the people of Israel, whom God chose as His covenant nation. It reinforces God's specific and tender concern for their well-being. Coupled with "His land," it portrays a holistic divine care for both the physical realm of His presence and the community He has chosen to dwell with.

  • Words-group Analysis: "became zealous for his land and had pity on his people": This phrase encapsulates God's dual and comprehensive protective love. The "zeal for his land" speaks to His divine sovereignty and territorial ownership, implying His restoration of the land's fruitfulness and defense against invaders (as seen in Joel 2:19-20). The "pity on his people" underscores His covenant faithfulness and compassionate care for their suffering, promising spiritual and material blessing (as seen in Joel 2:23-27). This pairing showcases both His unyielding holiness and His boundless mercy working in tandem for the salvation and flourishing of His creation. It highlights a God who is passionately involved and deeply caring.

Joel 2 18 Bonus section

This verse implicitly addresses a significant polemic against the pagan deities worshipped by surrounding nations. Unlike gods like Baal, who were believed to be bound to specific fertile areas and often unresponsive or fickle, the LORD YHWH demonstrates absolute control over the land (even in bringing desolation) and, crucially, an active, merciful engagement with His people rooted in a moral covenant. His zeal and pity are not earned by manipulation or forced appeasement but flow from His inherent character in response to a turning of the heart. This divine response is certain and complete, guaranteeing physical and spiritual restoration. This verse's assurance became a touchstone of hope for generations facing judgment, solidifying the understanding that genuine contrition inevitably leads to divine clemency and renewal, foreshadowing the greater restoration found in Christ.

Joel 2 18 Commentary

Joel 2:18 serves as the assured answer to the heartfelt repentance God sought. Following a devastating plague and a passionate call for all Israel to turn back to Him with whole hearts, this verse pivots from judgment to restoration. It reveals two fundamental aspects of God's character: His righteous zeal and His tender compassion. God's "jealousy" (or zeal) for His land is not human envy, but His holy and protective passion for what is His own—the Promised Land where His presence dwells and where His name is glorified. Simultaneously, His "pity" for His people manifests as deep, unwavering compassion, prompting Him to spare them from further judgment and restore their fortunes. This verse provides the foundational promise for the magnificent blessings detailed later in the chapter, guaranteeing that true repentance will always invoke God's faithful and loving response. It underscores the profound truth that when humanity seeks Him earnestly, God unfailingly demonstrates His commitment to His covenant, His land, and His people.