Joel 2:28 kjv

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Joel 2:28 nkjv

"And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

Joel 2:28 niv

"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Joel 2:28 esv

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Joel 2:28 nlt

"Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions.

Joel 2 verses

Joel 2 28 Meaning

Joel 2:28 pronounces a divine promise of future spiritual outpouring. It declares that God will abundantly pour out His Spirit upon all humanity, removing previous distinctions in age or gender, so that everyone within the community of believers can receive direct divine revelation and inspiration. This includes prophetic utterances from sons and daughters, revelatory dreams for old men, and enlightening visions for young men, signifying a new era of universal access to God's presence and power.

Joel 2 28 Context

Joel 2:28 is a pivotal verse within the book of Joel, marking a profound shift from a call for repentance and promises of agricultural and material restoration (Joel 2:1-27) to an eschatological promise of spiritual revival. Chapters 1 and early Chapter 2 vividly describe a devastating locust plague and drought, interpreted as a direct manifestation of the "Day of the Lord"—a time of divine judgment. The prophet then issues an urgent call to the people of Judah to humble themselves and return to Yahweh (2:12-17). In response to their repentance, God promises to restore their land and crops (2:18-27). This material restoration serves as a prelude to an even greater spiritual outpouring. Joel 2:28-32 then announces a comprehensive and universal distribution of God’s Spirit, indicating that true restoration encompasses not only physical prosperity but, more importantly, a direct, intimate, and accessible relationship with God through His Spirit, empowering His people in an unprecedented way for the "Day of the Lord." This sets the stage for the climactic judgment and salvation of the nations described in Joel 3.

Joel 2 28 Word analysis

• And it shall come to pass afterward (וְהָיָה אַחֲרֵי-כֵן - v'hayah acharei-chen):

  • Signifies a definite future event, marking a chronological and thematic progression from the preceding promises of physical restoration.
  • This phrase indicates an eschatological epoch, distinguishing it from ordinary times, hinting at a new divine economy.
  • The "afterward" refers to the spiritual age inaugurated by the Messiah, the era of the New Covenant.

• that I will pour out (אֶשְׁפּוֹךְ - eshpoch):

  • The Hebrew verb shaphatsch denotes an abundant, profuse, and unrestrained flow, like pouring out water generously.
  • It emphasizes the lavish, unstinting nature of God's giving, contrasting with any scarcity of the Spirit in prior eras.
  • This action is God's sovereign initiative; He alone "pours out" His Spirit.

• My Spirit (רוּחִי - ruachi):

  • Refers to Yahweh's own Divine Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
  • The Spirit is the source of divine life, power, revelation, and presence.
  • Possession of the Spirit is not merely an influence but an indwelling and empowering divine presence.

• on all flesh (עַל-כָּל-בָּשָׂר - al-kol-basar):

  • A radical declaration for the Old Testament context where the Spirit typically empowered specific individuals (prophets, kings, judges) for particular tasks.
  • "All flesh" (literally "all humanity" or "all living beings" including Gentiles) expands the Spirit's reach beyond a select group, beyond Israel's boundaries, to encompass all humanity within the believing community.
  • It breaks down traditional socio-religious barriers, indicating universality and accessibility of God's presence and power to all who are receptive. This does not mean literally every human being, but all categories of people who comprise "flesh" within the scope of the believing community, regardless of ethnic, social, or gender identity.

• Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (בְּנֵיכֶם וּבְנוֹתֵיכֶם יִנָּבְאוּ - b'neychem uvinoteychem yinnab'u):

  • "Sons and daughters" explicitly includes both males and females, which was a significant departure from common Old Testament prophetic patterns where female prophets were rarer.
  • Yinnab'u (prophesy) means to speak under divine inspiration, to proclaim God's message, sometimes involving foretelling but more often forthtelling divine truth.
  • This highlights the Spirit's democratization, empowering women to publicly declare God's word.

• Your old men shall dream dreams (זִקְנֵיכֶם חֲלֹמוֹת יַחֲלֹמוּן - zikneychem chalomot yachalamu):

  • Dreams (chalomot) were a recognized mode of divine communication and revelation in the Old Testament (e.g., Joseph, Daniel).
  • "Old men" are often associated with wisdom, experience, and the past. This signifies that even the aged will receive fresh, living revelation from God, demonstrating continuous divine engagement regardless of age.

• Your young men shall see visions (בַּחוּרֵיכֶם חֶזְיוֹנוֹת יִרְאוּ - bachureychem chezyonot yiru):

  • Visions (chezyonot) are direct, often vivid, disclosures of God's will or future events received while awake.
  • "Young men" are associated with vigor, activity, and looking towards the future. Their seeing visions means that new, direct spiritual insight and guidance will be given to those in the prime of life, leading and building the new spiritual era.

• Words-group Analysis (The Listing of Ages and Genders):

  • The deliberate enumeration of "sons and daughters," "old men," and "young men" comprehensively illustrates the radical inclusivity and diversity of the Spirit's outpouring.
  • It transcends traditional barriers of gender and age, showing that no segment of the covenant community is excluded from receiving the Spirit's power and revelation.
  • This negates any elitism or restriction in the divine dispensation of spiritual gifts, emphasizing that spiritual empowerment will be a common, universal experience for all believers.

Joel 2 28 Bonus section

The ultimate goal of this Spirit outpouring is not merely individual spiritual experiences but the equipping of God's people for a radical new witness to His glory and salvation, especially as the "Day of the Lord" approaches. The indwelling and empowerment of the Spirit also signify God’s renewed covenant relationship, where His law is written on hearts (Jer 31:33), and His presence is tangible among His people. This prophetic promise laid the theological foundation for the New Testament church's understanding of its Spirit-filled mission to preach the Gospel to "all nations," for the Spirit is given to "all flesh" who call on the name of the Lord (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21).

Joel 2 28 Commentary

Joel 2:28 stands as a magnificent prophetic declaration, promising an unparalleled era of spiritual illumination. After foretelling national restoration and material abundance, the prophet reaches the climax with the promise of God’s own Spirit being poured out, not sparsely or on a select few, but in a vast, overflowing torrent upon all types of people—"all flesh." This signifies a revolutionary shift from the Old Covenant pattern of Spirit empowerment for a few to a New Covenant reality where the Spirit is universally accessible to believers, irrespective of their former status, gender, or age. The manifestations listed—prophesying, dreaming dreams, seeing visions—are concrete examples of this widespread, personal, and direct communion with God, enabled by His Spirit.

This prophecy found its climactic fulfillment at Pentecost (Acts 2), ushering in the Church Age, where every believer is indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit. It democratizes the priestly and prophetic functions, making divine access and revelation available to the common believer. This means believers are empowered for witness, discerning God's will, understanding scripture, and exercising spiritual gifts for the edification of the body of Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel to the world. The promise emphasizes that the Spirit enables communication from God across diverse individuals, vital for the ongoing life and mission of God’s people.