Joel 2 23

Joel 2:23 kjv

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

Joel 2:23 nkjv

Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you? The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month.

Joel 2:23 niv

Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.

Joel 2:23 esv

"Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before.

Joel 2:23 nlt

Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem!
Rejoice in the LORD your God!
For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness.
Once more the autumn rains will come,
as well as the rains of spring.

Joel 2 23 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Deut 11:14"...I will give you the rain of your land in its season, the early rain..."God's promise of seasonal rain to faithful Israel
Jer 5:24"...let us fear the Lord our God, who gives early and latter rain in its season..."God as the sovereign provider of rain
Hos 6:3"...He will come to us like the showers, like the spring rain to the earth."Metaphor for God's refreshing presence
Zech 10:1"Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the latter rain..."Emphasizes dependence on God for rain
Isa 30:20-21"...your Teacher will not hide Himself anymore, but your eyes will see your Teacher..."Prophecy of divine instruction/Teacher
Isa 44:3"...I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground..."Prophecy of spiritual refreshing/Holy Spirit
Ezek 36:26-27"...I will put My Spirit within you..."Promise of a new heart and God's Spirit
John 4:14"...whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty..."Jesus as the source of living water/Spirit
Acts 2:16-18"But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel..."Fulfillment of Joel's Spirit outpouring prophecy
Jer 31:33"...I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will write it..."New Covenant: God's teaching on hearts
Isa 45:8"Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds pour down righteousness..."Righteousness associated with divine rain
Jer 23:5-6"...a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king... Judah will be saved... Yahweh our Righteousness."Messianic King, source of righteousness
Psa 72:6-7"May he be like rain falling on a mown field... In his days may the righteous flourish..."Righteous reign brings refreshing prosperity
Matt 6:33"...seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added..."Seeking God's righteousness brings all good
Deut 30:1-3"...when all these things come upon you... then the Lord your God will restore you..."Restoration after repentance
Neh 9:15"...You gave them bread from heaven... You brought water for them out of the rock..."God's provision in the wilderness
Jer 14:22"...Are there any among the idols of the nations who can bring rain?... Are you not He, O Lord our God?"Polemic against idol worship, Yahweh alone gives rain
Psa 33:1"Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright."Call to rejoice in God
Psa 97:12"Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous ones, and give thanks at the mention of His holy name."Rejoice for God's holiness and righteousness
Phil 4:4"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!"Christian imperative for constant joy in God
Hos 10:12"...sow for yourselves righteousness... and He will rain righteousness on you."Sowing righteousness brings spiritual blessing
Psa 84:6"...who pass through the valley of Baca make it a spring..."From dryness to springs by God's provision
Zeph 3:14-17"Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion!... The Lord your God is in your midst..."Prophetic joy in God's presence and deliverance
Jas 5:7"Be patient... until the Lord sends the early and latter rains."Allusion to divine provision and patient waiting

Joel 2 verses

Joel 2 23 Meaning

Joel 2:23 is a prophecy of restoration and abundant blessing from God to His people following a time of judgment and their subsequent repentance. It assures the "children of Zion" that Yahweh, their covenant God, will provide bountiful former and latter rains, bringing physical restoration to their devastated land and ensuring prosperous harvests. Crucially, the verse also carries a dual meaning, pointing to a spiritual outpouring of blessings and divine instruction, fulfilling God's promise to restore not just the land but also the spiritual well-being of His people. It emphasizes God's faithfulness and righteousness in responding to a repentant heart.

Joel 2 23 Context

Joel chapter 2 depicts a terrifying locust plague and drought, described in military terms as a "day of the Lord" bringing severe judgment. The first eleven verses portray this devastation, calling for national repentance. Verses 12-17 constitute a powerful plea for sincere repentance, urging the people to "rend your hearts and not your garments." This repentance is to be accompanied by a solemn assembly, from the elders to the nursing infants. Following this heartfelt plea, God responds in verses 18-27 with a dramatic reversal of judgment and a promise of restoration. Verse 23 is a pivotal part of this restoration promise, assuring the cessation of the plague and the return of agricultural bounty. It is immediately followed by an even grander promise of the outpouring of God's Spirit (Joel 2:28-32), highlighting the intertwined physical and spiritual dimensions of God's restoration. Historically, the book of Joel likely addresses Judah, possibly after a specific natural disaster, serving as a call to repentance and a message of hope tied to the coming "day of the Lord" that encompasses both judgment and salvation.

Joel 2 23 Word analysis

  • Be glad, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God:
    • Be glad (גִּילוּ, _gilu_): An imperative, meaning to spin around, leap for joy, exult. It implies intense, outward expression of joy, often associated with a cause for great celebration like a harvest or divine victory.
    • rejoice (שִׂמְחוּ, _simchu_): Another imperative, meaning to be joyful, cheerful, or merry. This emphasizes a state of inner happiness and contentment. The dual call signifies complete joy in heart and expression.
    • children of Zion (בְּנֵי צִיּוֹן, _b'nei Tzion_): Refers specifically to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and, by extension, all the people of Judah, God's chosen people, distinct from the nations. It emphasizes their covenant relationship and privileged position.
    • the LORD your God (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, _Yahweh Eloheikem_): Highlights the covenant relationship (Yahweh) and His sovereign power as the true God (Eloheikem). This specific naming reaffirms that He, and no other deity, is the source of blessing, contrasting with common Canaanite beliefs in Baal as the bringer of rain. The possession "your" underlines a personal and exclusive relationship.
  • for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
    • given (נָתַן לָכֶם, _nathan lachem_): Signifies a divine act of bestowal, emphasizing that the provision is a gift from God.
    • the former rain (הַמּוֹרֶה, _ha-moreh_): Refers to the "early rain" (יורה, _yoreh_), which falls in autumn (October/November). It is essential for softening the soil for planting and seed germination. Its lack or improper timing caused severe hardship in Israel's agricultural society.
    • moderately (לִצְדָקָה, _litsedaqa_): This Hebrew word (צדקה, _tsedakah_) is pivotal. It can mean:
      • "for righteousness" or "according to righteousness": Implies rain given in its proper, just measure, precisely what is needed for crops. It also connects the rain to God's faithfulness and vindication, delivering His people as part of His righteous plan.
      • "as a teacher" or "for instruction/teaching" (מורה, _moreh_ also relates to teaching): Some interpretations, especially Septuagint, see this as "teacher of righteousness," often taken messianically (Isa 30:20-21, Jer 23:5-6) or as God's spiritual instruction. The "former rain" itself could symbolize divine teaching/blessing. This brings the verse a clear dual physical and spiritual interpretation. Both senses are rich and plausible, as physical rain serves as a divine object lesson.
      • cause to come down (וַיּוֹרֶד, _vayyored_): An intensive verbal form indicating God's direct, purposeful action in sending the rain.
      • the rain (גֶּשֶׁם, _geshem_): A general term for rain. The repetition emphasizes its abundance and significance.
      • the latter rain (וּמַלְקוֹשׁ, _u-malqosh_): Refers to the "spring rain" (מלקוש, _malqosh_), falling in spring (March/April). This rain is crucial for the final ripening of grains before harvest. Its timely arrival means the difference between bounty and famine.
      • in the first month (בָּרִאשׁוֹן, _bari'shon_): Refers to the month of Nisan (Abib), the first month of the religious and agricultural year (Exod 12:2; 13:4), typically March-April. This is the prime time for the latter rain and is significant for the ripening of spring crops like barley and wheat, just before Passover. This specific timing assures optimal agricultural yield.

    Commentary

    Joel 2:23 is a proclamation of God's forthcoming grace and bounty. It transforms a call to repentance into an assurance of physical and spiritual revival. The command to "be glad and rejoice" emphasizes that the basis for joy is not in external circumstances but in Yahweh, their God, who promises relief. The focus on the "former rain" (essential for planting) and "latter rain" (crucial for harvest) underlines a complete agricultural restoration, vital for a society dependent on agriculture. The challenging phrase "litsedakah" ("moderately" or "for righteousness") broadens the scope: it implies rain given in proper measure as a sign of God's just and faithful character, and simultaneously points to a "teacher of righteousness" or a teaching from God that comes like refreshing rain. This dual interpretation sees the verse not only as a promise of physical sustenance but also as a divine guarantee of spiritual truth and the pouring out of the Spirit, fulfilling the promise of renewed communion with God. The mention of the "first month" ties this restoration to the liturgical calendar, possibly alluding to God's continuous work of redemption from past deliverances. Ultimately, the verse illustrates that true restoration—physical prosperity and spiritual vibrancy—stems from a return to God, who always responds righteously to a repentant heart.

    Bonus section

    The mention of "former rain" and "latter rain" is particularly significant for ancient Israel's agrarian society. These two seasons of rain dictated the success of the harvest and, consequently, the well-being of the entire nation. Their timely provision was consistently viewed as a sign of divine blessing and covenant faithfulness (Deut 11:13-15; Jer 5:24), while their withholding was a sign of judgment for disobedience (Deut 28:23-24). The concept of rain was frequently used metaphorically in prophetic literature to denote spiritual blessings, wisdom, and the outpouring of God's Spirit, making Joel 2:23 a potent foreshadowing of the events on Pentecost as recounted in Acts chapter 2, where Joel 2:28-32 is directly quoted. The ambiguity in "litsedakah" allows for this layered understanding: God is righteous in providing physical needs, and His provision is inherently righteous/true, serving as divine instruction (His teaching/Word) and leading to righteousness in His people. Some rabbinic interpretations and Qumran writings also understand the "Teacher of Righteousness" (Moreh Tzedeq) in a distinct, human messianic or eschatological teaching figure, demonstrating the phrase's rich interpretive history.

Joel 2 23 Bonus section

The mention of "former rain" and "latter rain" is particularly significant for ancient Israel's agrarian society. These two seasons of rain dictated the success of the harvest and, consequently, the well-being of the entire nation. Their timely provision was consistently viewed as a sign of divine blessing and covenant faithfulness (Deut 11:13-15; Jer 5:24), while their withholding was a sign of judgment for disobedience (Deut 28:23-24). The concept of rain was frequently used metaphorically in prophetic literature to denote spiritual blessings, wisdom, and the outpouring of God's Spirit, making Joel 2:23 a potent foreshadowing of the events on Pentecost as recounted in Acts chapter 2, where Joel 2:28-32 is directly quoted. The ambiguity in "litsedakah" allows for this layered understanding: God is righteous in providing physical needs, and His provision is inherently righteous/true, serving as divine instruction (His teaching/Word) and leading to righteousness in His people. Some rabbinic interpretations and Qumran writings also understand the "Teacher of Righteousness" (Moreh Tzedeq) in a distinct, human messianic or eschatological teaching figure, demonstrating the phrase's rich interpretive history.

Joel 2 23 Commentary

Joel 2:23 is a proclamation of God's forthcoming grace and bounty. It transforms a call to repentance into an assurance of physical and spiritual revival. The command to "be glad and rejoice" emphasizes that the basis for joy is not in external circumstances but in Yahweh, their God, who promises relief. The focus on the "former rain" (essential for planting) and "latter rain" (crucial for harvest) underlines a complete agricultural restoration, vital for a society dependent on agriculture. The challenging phrase "litsedakah" ("moderately" or "for righteousness") broadens the scope: it implies rain given in proper measure as a sign of God's just and faithful character, and simultaneously points to a "teacher of righteousness" or a teaching from God that comes like refreshing rain. This dual interpretation sees the verse not only as a promise of physical sustenance but also as a divine guarantee of spiritual truth and the pouring out of the Spirit, fulfilling the promise of renewed communion with God. The mention of the "first month" ties this restoration to the liturgical calendar, possibly alluding to God's continuous work of redemption from past deliverances. Ultimately, the verse illustrates that true restoration—physical prosperity and spiritual vibrancy—stems from a return to God, who always responds righteously to a repentant heart.