Joel 2:5 kjv
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
Joel 2:5 nkjv
With a noise like chariots Over mountaintops they leap, Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, Like a strong people set in battle array.
Joel 2:5 niv
With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle.
Joel 2:5 esv
As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle.
Joel 2:5 nlt
Look at them as they leap along the mountaintops.
Listen to the noise they make ? like the rumbling of chariots,
like the roar of fire sweeping across a field of stubble,
or like a mighty army moving into battle.
Joel 2 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 10:14-15 | "Locusts came up over all the land of Egypt and settled... devoured all the produce of the land..." | Locusts as overwhelming judgment, total devastation. |
| Prov 30:27 | "The locusts have no king, yet all of them march in ranks;" | Describes the locusts' uncanny organized movement. |
| Rev 9:7-9 | "The appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle... sound of their wings was like the sound of many chariots..." | Apocalyptic locusts, battle-ready, sound like chariots. |
| Joel 2:2 | "A day of clouds and thick darkness... like blackness spread upon the mountains..." | Initial description of the invading host/locusts as dark and covering. |
| Joel 2:4 | "Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like war horses they run." | Directly compares them to horses and war horses. |
| Joel 2:7 | "They run like mighty men; they climb the wall like men of war..." | Further military comparisons, unhindered movement. |
| Jer 4:13 | "Behold, he comes up like clouds; his chariots like the whirlwind..." | Invading army with powerful, noisy chariots, swift as clouds. |
| Isa 5:26-30 | "He will raise a signal for nations far away... swiftly they come... their wheels are like a whirlwind." | God summoning an irresistible, swift, noisy army. |
| Zep 1:14-15 | "The great day of the Lord is near... a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress..." | Describes the fearful and destructive nature of the Day of the Lord. |
| Mal 4:1 | "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant... will be stubble..." | Day of the Lord described with consuming fire imagery and stubble. |
| Nah 3:1-2 | "Woe to the bloody city... the crack of a whip, and the rumble of a wheel..." | Describes a noisy, violent, invading army with chariots. |
| Deut 28:42 | "Locusts shall possess all your trees and the fruit of your ground." | Locusts as part of divine curses, overwhelming possession. |
| Ps 50:3 | "Our God comes; he does not keep silence; before him is a devouring fire..." | God's powerful arrival accompanied by consuming fire. |
| Num 11:1-3 | "The fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp." | God's fire as a consuming, judging force. |
| Isa 13:4 | "The sound of a tumultuous multitude in the mountains, like that of a great army!" | Noisy, numerous gathering army on mountains. |
| Hab 1:6-8 | "I am raising up the Chaldeans... dreaded and fearsome... Their horses are swifter than leopards..." | God raising a fearsome, swift, devouring nation. |
| Eze 38:9 | "You will ascend and come like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your hordes..." | Invading army covering the land, storm-like. |
| 2 Thess 1:7-8 | "When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance..." | Christ's future return in fiery vengeance. |
| Heb 12:29 | "For our God is a consuming fire." | Nature of God as consuming fire, judging all unholiness. |
| Ps 18:7-8 | "The earth quaked and trembled... and devouring fire went out from his mouth..." | God's power depicted with natural upheaval and consuming fire. |
Joel 2 verses
Joel 2 5 Meaning
Joel 2:5 vividly describes the overwhelming, formidable, and relentless advance of the impending judgment, portrayed first as a locust plague and then as an invading army. It emphasizes their terrifying sound, rapid, unhindered movement over difficult terrain, destructive capacity that leaves nothing behind, and disciplined, overwhelming power akin to a mighty, organized military force. The imagery conveys the utter helplessness of those in its path and the certainty of its consuming devastation.
Joel 2 5 Context
Joel chapter 2 is a vivid prophetic lament and call to repentance, describing the "Day of the Lord." This "day" is presented in two interwoven stages: first, as a devastating locust plague that acts as a type or forerunner; and second, as an invading military force, an actual army, which God employs as His instrument of judgment against Judah. Verse 5 is part of a series of similes and metaphors (Joel 2:2-9) that amplify the destructive power, speed, and disciplined advance of this divinely appointed scourge. The descriptions are so vivid that the line blurs between natural phenomenon (locusts) and military invasion, implying that even a natural disaster of such scale is God's 'army'. Historically, such a description would resonate with the agricultural societies of the ancient Near East, which frequently faced devastating locust plagues, and also with the constant threat of foreign invaders. The overall message is to impress upon the people the terrifying reality of God's coming judgment if they do not repent.
Joel 2 5 Word analysis
- Like the noise (קוֹל / qōl) of chariots (רֶכֶב / rekhev):
- Like the noise (קוֹל / qōl): The Hebrew word 'qōl' can mean noise, voice, or sound. Here, it emphasizes the intense auditory aspect of the advancing force. It's not just a visual threat; it's heard from a distance, instilling terror before it is even seen. This sonic imagery makes the threat immediate and terrifying.
- of chariots (רֶכֶב / rekhev): 'Rekhev' refers to chariots, the most advanced and formidable war machines of the ancient world, representing speed, power, and overwhelming force. The comparison elevates the threat from a mere pestilence to a military-grade assault.
- on the tops of mountains (רָאשֵׁי הֶהָרִים / rāšê hehārîm): 'Rāšê' means heads or tops, and 'hehārîm' means mountains. This imagery is striking as chariots do not typically operate on mountain tops. It signifies several possibilities: the sheer number and expanse of the force, so vast it seems to cover every part of the landscape; their incredible speed and agility, surmounting all natural obstacles; or perhaps their elevated position creating an ominous, unstoppable silhouette against the horizon. It points to an unimpeded and pervasive movement.
- they leap (יְרַקֵּדוּן / yəraqqēdûn): From the root 'raqad', meaning to leap, skip, or dance. This word emphasizes a dynamic, powerful, and almost erratic but relentless movement. It conveys energy and a sense of uncontrolled, wild momentum, whether it's the jumping movement of locusts or the charging of an army.
- like the noise (קוֹל / qōl) of a flame of fire (לֶהָבָה / lehavah) that devoureth (אָכְלָה / āḵəlāh) the stubble (קַשׁ / qaš):
- like the noise (קוֹל / qōl) of a flame of fire (לֶהָבָה / lehavah): This introduces another powerful auditory and visual simile. 'Lehavah' refers to a flickering flame or blaze. The sound is that of a raging fire, with its crackling and roar, indicating rapid and complete destruction.
- that devoureth (אָכְלָה / āḵəlāh): 'Āḵəlāh' means to eat or consume. This emphasizes the comprehensive and insatiable nature of the destruction. It suggests total annihilation of resources.
- the stubble (קַשׁ / qaš): 'Qaš' refers to dry straw or stubble, left after harvest. It is extremely flammable and quickly consumed. This metaphor highlights the ease and speed with which the advancing force will utterly consume everything in its path, leaving nothing behind.
- as a strong (עָצוּם / ʿāṣûm) people (עַם / ʿam) set in battle array (עָרוּךְ מִלְחָמָה / ʿārûḵ milḥāmâ):
- as a strong (עָצוּם / ʿāṣûm) people (עַם / ʿam): 'ʿam' is people or nation, and 'ʿāṣûm' means mighty, powerful, or numerous. This is the direct military comparison. The locusts (or the invaders) are not just an uncontrolled mob but an organized, mighty host, immensely strong in numbers and power.
- set in battle array (עָרוּךְ מִלְחָמָה / ʿārûḵ milḥāmâ): 'ʿārûḵ' means arranged or ordered, from a root signifying setting in order; 'milḥāmâ' means war or battle. This signifies a disciplined, well-organized, and strategically positioned army. It is not chaos but a calculated, formidable military assault, reinforcing the terror of its approach.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains they leap": This phrase powerfully conveys the auditory and visual impact of the approaching menace. The "noise of chariots" suggests a deafening, thunderous rumble indicative of a massive, military force. The "on the tops of mountains they leap" imagery describes their rapid, agile movement that conquers all geographical barriers, reinforcing their unstoppable nature and perhaps their vast numbers seemingly covering all high points.
- "like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble": This second simile highlights the destructive efficiency and completeness of the impending judgment. The "noise of a flame of fire" vividly describes a crackling, roaring sound associated with rapid combustion. The phrase "that devoureth the stubble" underlines how utterly and swiftly everything in their path will be consumed, leaving utter desolation.
- "as a strong people set in battle array": This culminating simile shifts directly to human military imagery. It removes any ambiguity, identifying the locusts/judgment as a "strong people," meaning a mighty, numerous nation or army. "Set in battle array" implies they are highly organized, disciplined, and prepared for conquest, adding a layer of strategic precision to their overwhelming power.
Joel 2 5 Bonus section
The three distinct similes in Joel 2:5 serve to compound the terror and demonstrate the multifaceted nature of God's impending judgment. The auditory terror ("noise of chariots," "noise of fire") combined with the visual devastation (consuming stubble) and the disciplined advance ("battle array") presents a picture of complete and inescapable doom for the unrepentant. The seamless blending of locust and army imagery is a masterstroke of prophetic language, suggesting that the very natural world is marshaled as an obedient force by the Lord, and any military threat likewise is under His sovereign command. This underscores the total sovereignty of the God of Israel over both creation and history, implicitly challenging any reliance on other gods or military strength apart from Him.
Joel 2 5 Commentary
Joel 2:5 encapsulates the horrifying nature of the "Day of the Lord" judgment through intensely sensory language. The verse transitions from natural imagery (locusts as consuming fire) to military analogy (organized army), showing that God uses both natural phenomena and human armies as His instruments. The "noise" of chariots and fire emphasizes the terrorizing impact, signifying a calamitous event that overwhelms both visually and audibly. Their "leaping on mountains" implies their swift, unhindered, and pervasive movement over all obstacles. The swift devouring of "stubble" signifies the ease and totality of the destruction, leaving no remnant. Ultimately, describing this force as "a strong people set in battle array" confirms that whether a plague of locusts or a foreign invasion, it is a disciplined, mighty, and unstoppable force orchestrated by God for judgment, demanding repentance.