Joel 2:25 kjv

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

Joel 2:25 nkjv

"So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

Joel 2:25 niv

"I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten? the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm? my great army that I sent among you.

Joel 2:25 esv

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.

Joel 2:25 nlt

The 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.

Joel 2 verses

Joel 2 25 Meaning

Joel 2:25 conveys a powerful promise from God to His people: to fully restore all that was lost and devoured by the devastating locust plague. This restoration is not merely material but signifies a comprehensive recovery of prosperity, well-being, and fruitfulness, explicitly given back "the years" that were consumed. The verse underscores God's sovereignty over both calamity (identifying the locusts as "my great army") and restoration, offering hope and recompense after a period of divine discipline.

Joel 2 25 Context

Joel chapter 2 vividly describes the "Day of the Lord," portraying it initially as a present reality through a devastating locust plague and severe drought. This ecological catastrophe is presented not merely as a natural disaster but as a direct instrument of God's judgment and a call to fervent national repentance (vv. 12-17). The verse (2:25) immediately follows God's merciful response to this call for repentance, where He promises to remove the "northern army" (locusts) and pour out His blessings (vv. 20-24), including physical abundance and later, spiritual outpouring. Thus, Joel 2:25 is a declaration of divine promise, a response of grace and faithfulness to a penitent people, ensuring material and temporal restitution for their losses. Historically, locust plagues were a known and dreaded agricultural scourge in the ancient Near East, capable of destroying an entire year's harvest, leaving populations destitute. This understanding amplifies the immense impact of the judgment and the magnitude of the promised restoration.

Joel 2 25 Word analysis

• And I will restore: The Hebrew word shuv (שוב), here in the Hiphil stem, implies causing to return or bringing back. It highlights God's active, intentional intervention to reverse the state of affairs. This is not passive healing, but a sovereign act of recompense, a complete reversal of the nation's fortunes from famine to abundance, signifying not just recovery, but renewed prosperity.
• to you: Directly addresses the nation of Judah/Israel, the covenant people who had endured the divine chastisement. It underscores the personal and covenantal nature of God's promise.
• the years: Hebrew hash-shanim (הַשָּׁנִים). This is profoundly significant. It's not just "the crops" or "the produce," but "the years." This means the time, effort, productivity, and prosperity of entire seasons or multiple years that were lost are to be redeemed and recompensed. It implies a total recovery of what seemed irrevocably gone, extending beyond immediate material goods to the very essence of national productivity and well-being.
• that the swarming locust has eaten: This begins a list of four specific terms for locusts or their stages, indicating the totality and completeness of the destruction.
  • swarming locust (אַרְבֶּה, arbeh): The most general and common Hebrew term for locust, often denoting the adult winged form, appearing in vast swarms that devour everything in their path.
  • crawling locust (יֶלֶק, yeleq): Potentially referring to the wingless, crawling larva or nymph stage, or a specific type of licking/crawling locust. They would consume everything close to the ground.
  • consuming locust (חָסִיל, chasil): Likely a locust that devastates or finishes off what others leave, representing total consumption. Some interpretations see it as a "cutter," or an immature stage.
  • cutting locust (גָּזָם, gazam): Derived from a root meaning "to cut off" or "to devour." It suggests an early stage of development, or a species that cuts leaves and branches.
  • This detailed catalog of four locust types (or stages) emphasizes the pervasiveness and completeness of the destruction. From the initial attack to the final sweep, nothing was left untouched, highlighting the severity of the judgment. Yet, all this thorough damage God promises to undo and restore.
• my great army: This phrase is crucial. It asserts God's ultimate sovereignty. The locusts, though natural creatures, are unequivocally identified as instruments of divine will. They were not a random catastrophe but agents serving God's purpose of discipline. This emphasizes that God is not just reactive but fully in control, orchestrating both judgment and subsequent mercy.
• which I sent among you: Further reinforcing the previous phrase, this reiterates divine agency in the locust plague. It directly links the calamity to God's hand, removing any notion of chance and underscoring that the suffering was a disciplinary act from their covenant Lord.

Joel 2 25 Bonus section

The restoration promised in Joel 2:25 often has deeper theological implications beyond just material well-being. While immediately addressing agricultural devastation, the "years" can also symbolize lost opportunities, emotional and spiritual depletion, and wasted potential due to disobedience or overwhelming trials. God's promise of restoration thus extends to areas beyond physical produce, touching upon inner healing and renewed purpose. The sequence in Joel—repentance, material blessing, then the outpouring of the Spirit (Joel 2:28-32)—suggests that physical restoration can precede or accompany profound spiritual renewal, indicating that God cares for the whole person and their entire life circumstances. This also points to a principle that divine discipline is not ultimately punitive but corrective and redemptive, designed to lead to reconciliation and blessing.

Joel 2 25 Commentary

Joel 2:25 is a cornerstone promise of divine restoration, revealing God's character as both righteous judge and merciful redeemer. Following a period of severe disciplinary judgment via a devastating locust plague, God pledges not just an alleviation of current suffering, but a full recompense for all lost time and productivity. The repeated specification of the locust types emphasizes the total, comprehensive nature of the devastation, mirroring the completeness of the promised restoration. The phrase "my great army" clearly identifies the calamity as divinely appointed, an act of intentional discipline rather than random misfortune. This means that God is fully sovereign over natural events and uses them for His purposes, including to call His people to repentance. Upon their turning to Him with sincere repentance, He unfailingly demonstrates His faithfulness by reversing the curse, showering abundance, and giving back "the years" themselves—signifying an experiential and temporal recovery of lost prosperity and well-being. This verse offers profound hope: no matter how utterly consumed or lost the past may seem, God possesses the power and the will to restore beyond measure when His people repent and trust Him.