Joel 2:24 kjv

And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Joel 2:24 nkjv

The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.

Joel 2:24 niv

The threshing floors will be filled with grain; the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

Joel 2:24 esv

"The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Joel 2:24 nlt

The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain,
and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil.

Joel 2 verses

Joel 2 24 Meaning

Joel 2:24 promises a divine reversal of the agricultural devastation previously experienced, specifically the replenishment of basic provisions like grain, new wine, and oil. It signifies God's complete restoration of fertility to the land, ensuring bountiful harvests. This abundance serves as a tangible sign of the Lord's presence among His people and His fulfillment of covenant promises following their repentance and His mercy.

Joel 2 24 Context

Joel 2:24 is part of a prophetic declaration of restoration following a severe national crisis, characterized by an unprecedented locust plague and drought (Joel 1). This devastating event served as a judgment and a call for the people of Judah to repent. In Joel 2:12-17, the prophet passionately urges genuine repentance—rending hearts, not just garments—with the promise that God might "relent and leave a blessing" (Joel 2:14). Immediately following this call and the description of God's zealous pity for His people (Joel 2:18), the Lord promises to send material provisions and remove the invading "northerner" (the locusts) (Joel 2:19-20). Verse 24 is a concrete promise within this restoration, detailing the reversal of the plague's effects through renewed agricultural prosperity. This promise of earthly bounty then transitions into the glorious outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the latter days (Joel 2:28-32), showing a holistic restoration encompassing both physical provision and spiritual renewal. For the agrarian society of ancient Israel, agricultural fertility was directly linked to divine favor and covenant blessings, making this promise deeply significant for their very survival and well-being.

Joel 2 24 Word analysis

• The threshing floors (גָּרְנוֹת; gornot):

  • This is the plural of goren, referring to a flat, open area, usually elevated and wind-swept, where grain was threshed to separate kernels from chaff.
  • Significance: Symbolizes the completion of the harvest and the primary stage of processing the staple food. Full threshing floors indicate an abundant yield, not just a crop in the field but successfully gathered and processed. It speaks to the successful conclusion of the agricultural year, which was crucial for the survival of Israelite communities.

• shall be full (מָלְאוּ; mal'u):

  • A verb indicating completion, satiety, or being completely filled. It often suggests overflowing or abundance, not merely sufficient quantity.
  • Significance: Reinforces the idea of overflowing plenty, rather than just enough to get by. This verb points to a superabundant harvest that transcends basic needs.

• of grain (בַר; bar):

  • Refers generally to cereals or corn, often specifically wheat.
  • Significance: This was the staple food and a primary commodity for ancient economies. Its abundance signals the fulfillment of basic needs and economic stability. In times of famine or scarcity, bar was the most desperately missed item.

• and the vats (יְקָבִים; yekavim):

  • Plural of yekev, a winepress or oil press. Typically consisted of an upper vat for treading grapes/olives and a lower vat for collecting the juice/oil.
  • Significance: Similar to threshing floors, these vats represent the processing stage of secondary, yet vital, agricultural products. Full and overflowing vats mean an abundant harvest of grapes and olives has been brought in and successfully processed, not merely a good crop in the field.

• shall overflow (יִשְׁקוּ; yishqu):

  • Derived from a root that can mean "to drink," "to irrigate," or "to overflow." In this context, it clearly means to overflow or pour forth abundantly.
  • Significance: This verb intensifies the image of abundance. It's not just "full," but actively gushing or overflowing, suggesting a surplus that cannot be contained by existing vessels. This hyperbolic language emphasizes God's generous provision.

• with new wine (תִּירוֹשׁ; tirosh):

  • Refers to unfermented grape juice or recently fermented wine.
  • Significance: Tirosh symbolizes joy, celebration, and the freshness of the harvest. It was a source of nourishment, and often associated with divine blessing (e.g., Dt 7:13).

• and oil (וְיִצְהָר; v'yitzhar):

  • Refers specifically to olive oil.
  • Significance: Olive oil was crucial in ancient Israel for food, cooking, light (lamps), anointing (for health, cosmetic, religious purposes), and ceremonial functions. Its abundance signals not only prosperity but also well-being and purification. It is sometimes seen as a symbol of the Holy Spirit's anointing in later Jewish and Christian thought.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "The threshing floors shall be full of grain, and the vats shall overflow...": This phrase creates a vivid image of superabundance. It contrasts sharply with the emptiness described in Joel 1:17-18. The combination of "full" and "overflow" is a poetic and powerful way to emphasize that the blessings will exceed expectation and capacity, demonstrating the completeness and lavishness of God's restoration.
  • "...grain, new wine and oil": These three products represent the core agricultural blessings and staple foods of the ancient Israelite diet and economy. Grain for sustenance (bread), wine for joy and celebration, and oil for nourishment, light, and various other essential uses. Their collective abundance indicates comprehensive material prosperity and the full return of covenant blessings from Yahweh, acting as a direct rebuttal to the earlier curses and desolation. This triad often appears in biblical passages as a metonym for agricultural prosperity and well-being. This triad also contrasts sharply with the deprivation described in Joel 1:10 ("field is ruined, the ground mourns; for the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, the oil languishes").

Joel 2 24 Bonus section

• This verse can be seen as a direct counter-polemic against the Canaanite fertility gods like Baal, who were worshipped by some Israelites. While Baal was thought to bring rain and fertility, Joel explicitly attributes the return of abundance and fertility directly and exclusively to Yahweh, emphasizing that it is the Lord who sends rain and provides the essential crops, not pagan deities. This reaffirms Yahweh's sole authority over creation and His covenant people.
• The progression of restoration in Joel moves from physical provision (2:19-27, with 2:24 central) to spiritual outpouring (2:28-32), indicating that God's restoration is comprehensive and multifaceted. The material blessings are a prelude or companion to the deeper spiritual blessings, showcasing God's holistic concern for His people's well-being in all aspects of life.
• While initially applicable to the literal land of Judah, the spiritual principle of seeking God and experiencing His restorative provision can extend to believers in all eras. The promise of God supplying all needs "according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4:19) echoes this theme, shifting the emphasis from primarily agricultural abundance to comprehensive spiritual and temporal provision within the New Covenant.
• The Hebrew verb yishqu (shall overflow) is rich. It paints a picture of gushing rivers, suggesting an unstoppable, effortless outpouring of blessings, like water flowing to quench thirst or irrigate fields. It's not just a passive filling but an active, vibrant gushing.

Joel 2 24 Commentary

Joel 2:24 serves as a magnificent declaration of God's faithful restoration following genuine repentance. It presents a tangible, agrarian picture of renewed divine favor, promising not just sufficiency, but superabundance. After the land was ravaged by locusts and drought, leaving threshing floors empty and vats dry, God assures His people that He will completely reverse the devastation. This promise highlights God's sovereignty over creation and His direct involvement in the prosperity of His people. The three key products—grain, new wine, and oil—were fundamental to the Israelite economy and daily life, representing sustenance, joy, and provision for anointing and light. Their promised overflowing presence demonstrates God's holistic concern, restoring physical well-being alongside spiritual renewal, signaling the complete reversal of His previous judgment and the confirmation of His covenant blessings upon a repentant nation. It underlines that seeking God first truly brings all necessary provisions.