Joel 2:31 kjv

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

Joel 2:31 nkjv

The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.

Joel 2:31 niv

The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

Joel 2:31 esv

The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

Joel 2:31 nlt

The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and terrible day of the LORD arrives.

Joel 2 verses

Joel 2 31 Meaning

Joel 2:31 foretells striking celestial phenomena—the sun turning to darkness and the moon to blood—as definitive precursory signs of the coming "great and terrible day of the LORD." This verse presents a powerful, divinely orchestrated disruption of the natural order, signaling a pivotal time of God's decisive intervention, encompassing both a period of severe judgment upon the unrighteous and ultimate salvation for those who truly seek Him.

Joel 2 31 Context

Joel chapter 2 begins by depicting a terrifying, unprecedented locust plague that ravages the land, metaphorically portrayed as a vast invading army. This plague is understood as an immediate precursor or even an initial manifestation of "the day of the LORD" (Joel 2:1). The prophet calls for national repentance and solemn assembly (Joel 2:12-17). In response to this sincere plea, God promises to restore the land's fruitfulness (Joel 2:18-27) and, significantly, to pour out His Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2:28-29). Joel 2:30-31 then shifts back to a grander, cosmic scale, introducing "wonders in the heavens and on the earth"—specifically the sun and moon changing—that will occur before the ultimate and final "great and terrible day of the LORD." Thus, the verse bridges the immediate context of God's present acts of judgment and restoration with the broader eschatological climax of divine history.

Joel 2 31 Word analysis

• The sun (שֶׁמֶשׁ - shemesh): Refers to the primary source of natural light, order, and life. Its darkening signifies a radical departure from normalcy, an overturning of creation's regular functioning.

• shall be turned (הָפַךְ - hapach): Denotes a dramatic reversal or transformation. It implies a divine act, not merely an eclipse or atmospheric phenomenon, but a deliberate change by God.

• into darkness (חֹשֶׁךְ - choshek): Represents chaos, judgment, divine wrath, and the absence of life and comfort. In the Bible, darkness often accompanies moments of divine manifestation and judgment.

• and the moon (וְהַיָּרֵחַ - veha-yareach): The secondary celestial light, illuminating the night. Its transformation alongside the sun emphasizes the totality of the cosmic upheaval.

• into blood (לְדָם - l'dam): A powerful and dreadful image, signifying judgment, violence, death, and disruption. It recalls the plague in Egypt (Ex 7:19-21) and signals a catastrophic, divinely ordained event.

• before (בְּטֶרֶם - be-terem): This preposition is crucial. It establishes a temporal sequence, indicating that these celestial signs precede the "great and terrible day of the LORD." They serve as harbingers or warnings.

• the great (הַגָּדוֹל - hagadol): Emphasizes the immense scale, significance, and power of the upcoming "day." It's an event of unparalleled magnitude.

• and terrible (וְהַנּוֹרָא - vehanora): Means awe-inspiring, dreadful, or fearful. It conveys the immense solemnity and dread associated with God's ultimate manifestation of justice and judgment upon the wicked, yet simultaneously awesome and majestic for His faithful.

• day of the LORD (יוֹם יְהוָה - yom Yahweh): A central prophetic motif. It is not a literal 24-hour period, but an indeterminate period of divine visitation, encompassing God's judgment on the unrighteous and His decisive intervention on behalf of His people. It can refer to immediate historical events (like the locust plague or the Babylonian invasion) or the ultimate eschatological climax.

• The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood: This is a hyperbolic and literal depiction of total cosmic disruption. It signifies God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His power to suspend or reverse natural laws to herald His ultimate actions. This imagery serves to evoke fear in the unrepentant and solemn awe in the faithful.

• before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes: This phrase defines the celestial signs as clear and undeniable omens. They serve as a final, unmistakable warning from God, marking the proximity of His climactic intervention. The nature of this day, "great and terrible," underlines its dual impact: awesome deliverance for the redeemed, and terrifying judgment for the rebellious.

Joel 2 31 Bonus section

• Interpretive Spectrum: Scholars interpret the celestial signs of Joel 2:31 on a spectrum ranging from purely symbolic (representing chaos and judgment without literal astronomical events) to literal (foretelling actual physical darkening and blood-red appearance of the sun and moon). Many conservative scholars hold that while some initial fulfillments may be spiritual or metaphorical (as Acts 2 points to a "wonder" related to the Spirit), the emphatic language in passages like Matthew 24:29 and Revelation 6:12 points towards a future, undeniable, literal, cosmic upheaval preceding Christ's final advent.
• Precedence and Warning: The emphasis on these events occurring "before" the Day of the LORD serves as a divine warning. They are not merely signs during the Day but signals of its imminence, giving a final opportunity for humanity to repent and seek the Lord. This reflects God's character of both justice and mercy, providing clear signals before His ultimate actions.
• Universal Scope: The impact on the sun and moon, universal celestial bodies, implies a global and undeniable display of God's power and intent. No one will be able to miss or deny these events when they occur. They underscore that the Day of the LORD affects all of creation and all of humanity.

Joel 2 31 Commentary

Joel 2:31 is a vivid prophetic oracle highlighting cosmic signs that herald the climactic "Day of the LORD." These transformations of the sun and moon are not merely natural occurrences but supernatural portents of divine activity. The darkening of the sun and the turning of the moon to blood signify the dismantling of established order and the breaking forth of divine judgment upon a rebellious world, while also announcing the ushering in of God's perfect kingdom.

The dual nature of the "Day of the LORD"—"great" and "terrible"—is central. It is terrible for those who oppose God, signifying overwhelming judgment and retribution. Yet, for God's faithful, it is a day of awesome salvation and vindication, marking the complete outpouring of His Spirit as foretold in the preceding verses. The early church, through Peter in Acts 2, understood the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost as the beginning of these prophetic fulfillment, pointing to a progressive unfolding of the Day of the LORD. While a partial spiritual fulfillment occurred, the dramatic cosmic signs of Joel 2:31 point forward to an ultimate, cataclysmic, literal manifestation accompanying Christ's return and the final establishment of His kingdom. These signs serve as an urgent warning and a call to repentance before that unparalleled Day finally arrives.