Joel 2:32 kjv

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Joel 2:32 nkjv

And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.

Joel 2:32 niv

And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.

Joel 2:32 esv

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.

Joel 2:32 nlt

But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD
will be saved,
for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape,
just as the LORD has said.
These will be among the survivors
whom the LORD has called.

Joel 2 verses

Joel 2 32 Meaning

Joel 2:32 declares that salvation is available to anyone who sincerely calls upon the Name of the Lord. Amidst coming judgment and cosmic disturbances associated with the Day of the Lord, God assures that a chosen remnant in Mount Zion and Jerusalem will experience deliverance and escape, fulfilling His prophetic word. This promise emphasizes God's faithfulness to His people and the sovereign act of His calling in drawing individuals to Himself for salvation.

Joel 2 32 Context

Joel 2:32 appears at the culmination of Joel's prophecies concerning the "Day of the Lord." The chapter begins with a severe warning of an impending judgment, likened to a devastating locust invasion, serving as a type for a future invading army. Following this, Joel calls the people to repentance, promising divine mercy. The verses immediately preceding 2:32 describe God pouring out His Spirit on "all flesh" (2:28-29) and the appearance of extraordinary celestial and earthly signs, heralding the coming "great and terrifying Day of the Lord" (2:30-31). This specific verse, therefore, offers a beacon of hope and a pathway to deliverance amidst the foretold judgments, indicating that salvation is possible even in the darkest times for those who seek the Lord. It shifts from cosmic upheaval to the specific mechanism of salvation and the location of remnant preservation, placing emphasis on divine grace in a time of widespread judgment. Historically, this prophecy held significance for the original Jewish audience, who might have feared national destruction, offering hope for a physical and spiritual remnant centered in Jerusalem.

Joel 2 32 Word analysis

• And it shall come to pass (וְהָיָה - v'haya): Literally "and it will be" or "then it will happen." This common Hebrew phrase introduces a significant future event or consequence, often one promised or prophesied. It signals a shift from the immediate judgments to a future reality.
• everyone (כֹּל - kol): This means "all" or "every." It indicates the universality of the offer of salvation. The scope is broad, emphasizing that this divine promise is not restricted by social status, ethnicity, or gender. This is significant given later New Testament interpretations applying it beyond ethnic Israel.
• who calls (קֹרֵא - qore): This is the Piel participle of the verb קָרָא (qara), meaning "to call," "to call out," "to proclaim," or "to invoke." It implies more than a casual mention; it suggests an earnest, active invocation, a turning to God in prayer, worship, or reliance, especially in distress or recognition of His sovereignty. It's a personal, heartfelt plea for divine intervention or acknowledgement of divine authority.
• on the name (בְּשֵׁם - b'shem): "On the name" refers to the essence, character, and authority of the person. To call on the name of the Lord is to call upon His very being, His power, His nature, acknowledging His identity and character as the one true God. It's an expression of dependence and worship, entrusting oneself to Him.
• of the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): This is the Tetragrammaton, the sacred, personal Name of the God of Israel, often transliterated as Yahweh. It emphasizes the covenant God, who is faithful to His promises and is sovereign over all creation and history. Calling on this Name signifies a turning to the true and living God, distinct from any false deities or idols.
• shall be saved (יִמָּלֵט - yimmalet): This is the Niphal imperfect of the verb מָלַט (malat), meaning "to escape," "to be delivered," "to be saved," or "to be rescued." In this context, it implies not just physical preservation from judgment or destruction but also a deeper, spiritual salvation. It conveys being delivered from danger or destruction, highlighting God's act of intervention.
• For (כִּי - ki): "For" introduces a reason or explanation, grounding the preceding universal promise of salvation in a specific, divinely ordained reality.
• in Mount Zion (בְּהַר צִיּוֹן - b'har Tsiyyon): Mount Zion refers both to the literal hill in Jerusalem, often used poetically to refer to Jerusalem itself, and symbolically as God's holy habitation, the seat of His presence and government. It is the place from which God's word proceeds and where His people find refuge. It implies that true salvation and spiritual security are found in God's holy dwelling place.
• and in Jerusalem (וּבִירוּשָׁלַיִם - uvirushelayim): Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah, further specifies the location, underscoring its role as the center of Israel's spiritual life and the locus of God's redemptive activity. It reinforces the idea of a physical and spiritual refuge during times of tribulation.
• there shall be those who escape (פְּלֵיטָה - peletah): "Escape" or "deliverance" here is a noun, literally "an escaping." It denotes a remnant, those who survive a calamity or judgment. This term points to God's preserving power in the midst of devastation. It suggests not everyone will perish, but a specific group will be delivered.
• as the Lord has said (כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר יְהוָה - ka'asher amar YHWH): This phrase emphasizes the certainty and reliability of God's word. It highlights the prophetic nature of this promise – it is something divinely decreed and will unfailingly come to pass. This provides strong assurance and underscores divine sovereignty.
• and among the survivors (וּבַשְּׂרִידִים - uvasridim): This term, related to the word for "remnant," specifically means "among those who are left over" or "survivors." It further specifies the group who experiences deliverance as those who remain after a destructive event, a theme pervasive throughout prophetic literature.
• shall be those whom the Lord calls (אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה קֹרֵא - asher YHWH qore): This clause shifts focus from the universal invitation ("everyone who calls") to God's sovereign initiative. "Whom the Lord calls" implies a divine election or a gracious summoning by God Himself. This suggests that the ultimate escape and survival are not merely a human choice to call upon Him, but are intrinsically tied to God's proactive, sovereign choice and drawing of individuals to Himself, highlighting His divine plan in salvation.

Joel 2 32 Bonus section

The profound implications of Joel 2:32 extend significantly into New Testament theology. The apostles, particularly Peter on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:21) and Paul in Romans 10:13, directly quote this verse, interpreting "the Lord" (YHWH) as Jesus Christ. This demonstrates a key aspect of New Testament revelation: that salvation in the New Covenant is found by calling on the Name of Jesus, identifying Him as the Divine Lord. This interpretation validates Joel's prophecy for the broader scope of humanity, emphasizing that access to salvation is extended beyond ethnic Israel to all, both Jew and Gentile, who respond to the divine call through faith in Christ. Thus, the passage becomes a bridge, linking Old Testament promises of salvation and remnant preservation to their fulfillment in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, revealing God's singular plan of salvation throughout history.

Joel 2 32 Commentary

Joel 2:32 is a powerful and pivotal verse, providing a profound message of hope and divine sovereignty amidst the impending "Day of the Lord." It first establishes a universal principle: anyone, regardless of background, who genuinely "calls on the name of the Lord" will be "saved." This calling is not superficial; it signifies a deep, heartfelt invocation and trust in God's character and power. This emphasis on the accessibility of salvation lays the groundwork for later biblical developments, most notably in the New Testament where calling on the Name of Jesus Christ becomes the pathway to salvation (Acts 2:21; Rom 10:9-13).

The second part of the verse, "For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape," identifies the geographical and spiritual locus of this promised deliverance. Mount Zion and Jerusalem serve both as literal locations of refuge for a physical remnant of Israel and as symbols of God's dwelling place and the community of His true worshipers. The promise of "those who escape" highlights the concept of a "remnant," a recurring biblical theme where God preserves a faithful portion of His people through judgment.

The concluding phrase, "and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls," emphasizes divine sovereignty. While salvation is universally offered to those who call, it is ultimately those whom God Himself calls who become the true "survivors" or remnant. This duality of human responsibility (to call) and divine sovereignty (God's calling) is a profound theological tension, suggesting that while the invitation is open, genuine response is rooted in God's gracious initiation and election. Thus, Joel 2:32 serves as a beacon of hope, reminding us that even in the face of judgment, God provides a way of salvation for all who sincerely seek Him and for His chosen remnant, fulfilling His unwavering Word.

• Practical Example 1: A person facing a life-threatening illness, after exhausting all human efforts, genuinely cries out to the Lord for deliverance, trusting in His Name. Joel 2:32 speaks to this desperate but hopeful plea.
• Practical Example 2: In times of widespread societal moral decay, faithful believers who remain true to God's Word represent a spiritual "remnant" who call on the Lord and are preserved by His grace amidst the ungodliness.