Joel 3:17 kjv
So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
Joel 3:17 nkjv
"So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, And no aliens shall ever pass through her again."
Joel 3:17 niv
"Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her.
Joel 3:17 esv
"So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it.
Joel 3:17 nlt
"Then you will know that I, the LORD your God,
live in Zion, my holy mountain.
Jerusalem will be holy forever,
and foreign armies will never conquer her again.
Joel 3 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 52:1 | ...For never again will the uncircumcised and defiled come into you. | Jerusalem's future purity and security. |
| Zech 8:3 | "Thus says the LORD: 'I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; then Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth...'" | God's promised return and dwelling in Jerusalem. |
| Ezek 48:35 | "And the name of the city from that day shall be, 'The LORD Is There.'" | God's permanent presence in the holy city. |
| Rev 21:3 | "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man...'" | God's ultimate dwelling with His people. |
| Heb 12:22 | "...you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem..." | Believers' spiritual connection to the true Zion. |
| Isa 2:2-4 | "...the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains..." | Zion's ultimate exaltation and centrality. |
| Micah 4:1-2 | "It shall come to pass...the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest..." | Parallel prophecy of Zion's future preeminence. |
| Ps 76:2 | "His tabernacle is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion." | Historical reality of God's presence in Zion. |
| Ps 9:11 | "Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the peoples!" | Praise for God's dwelling in Zion. |
| Zech 2:10-11 | "...For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst...And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD..." | God's dwelling leading to global knowledge of Him. |
| Ezek 39:22 | "The house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God from that day forward." | Experiential knowledge of God. |
| Jer 24:7 | "I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD..." | God giving knowledge of Himself to His people. |
| John 17:3 | "And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." | Knowing God as essential to eternal life. |
| Obad 1:17 | "But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, and it shall be holy..." | Deliverance and holiness of Zion. |
| Rev 21:27 | "...nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood..." | Purity of the New Jerusalem. |
| Zech 9:8 | "Then I will encamp at my house as a guard...never again will an oppressor overrun them..." | God's protection against future oppressors. |
| Isa 60:18 | "...you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise." | Security and glorification of Jerusalem. |
| Joel 3:9-16 | (Previous verses describing judgment of nations in the "Valley of Jehoshaphat") | Context of God's judgment leading to vindication. |
| Dan 2:44 | "In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed..." | God's ultimate, everlasting kingdom. |
| Rev 11:15 | "...The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ..." | Christ's final reign over the world. |
| Ezek 38:23 | "...Then they will know that I am the LORD." | God's self-revelation through judgment. |
| 1 John 3:2-3 | "...when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself..." | Reflecting God's holiness through intimate knowing. |
| Gen 28:17 | "...This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven." | A place becoming holy due to God's presence. |
Joel 3 verses
Joel 3 17 Meaning
This verse declares God's ultimate self-revelation and manifest presence among His people, confirming His identity as the sovereign Lord of Israel. As a direct consequence of His dwelling in Zion, His holy mountain, Jerusalem will be set apart and become inherently sacred, marked by an inviolable purity and enduring security, free forever from foreign defilement and hostile invasion.
Joel 3 17 Context
Joel chapter 3 describes the climactic "Day of the LORD," where God actively intervenes to judge the nations assembled in the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" (which means "The LORD judges"). This judgment is specifically pronounced against nations who have wronged Israel by scattering them, dividing their land, and taking captives. Following this decisive vindication, Joel depicts the glorious restoration and blessing of Judah and Jerusalem. Verse 17 transitions from the judgment of hostile nations to the secure and sanctified state of God's chosen people and His dwelling place. Historically, Israel often suffered from foreign invasions and domination, making the promise of future inviolability profoundly significant. Prophecies of Zion's exaltation and Jerusalem's sanctity were deeply rooted in their national and religious identity, reflecting the hope of God's complete sovereign reign.
Joel 3 17 Word analysis
- So you will know (וְיָדַעְתֶּם - ve'yada'tem): "And you will know," implying experiential, deep understanding, not merely intellectual knowledge. This knowledge is gained through divine action, specifically God's judgment on the nations and His blessing on Israel. The "you" is primarily Judah/Israel, confirming their relationship with God, but potentially also the nations who witness His power.
- that I am (כִּי אֲנִי - ki ani): An emphatic self-declaration by God, affirming His unique identity and singular authority. This is a foundational covenant statement.
- the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant Name of God, often transliterated as "Yahweh," signifying His eternal, self-existent nature, His faithfulness, and His covenant relationship with Israel. This stands in stark contrast to pagan deities.
- your God (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - Eloheykhem): Emphasizes the particular and intimate covenant bond between the LORD and His people, highlighting His role as their protector and provider.
- who dwells (שֹׁכֵן - shokhen): From the root "shakan," meaning to settle, abide, or encamp. It signifies a permanent, stable, and glorious divine presence, reminiscent of the Shekinah glory of the Tabernacle and Temple.
- in Zion (בְּצִיּוֹן - be'Tziyon): Refers to Jerusalem, specifically the temple mount, symbolizing God's earthly dwelling and the spiritual center of His kingdom.
- my holy mountain (הַר־קָדְשִׁי - har-qodeshi): Reinforces Zion's sacredness as uniquely set apart for God's presence and activities. "Holy" (qodesh) means separated or consecrated for divine use, implying purity and inviolability. This also carries a polemic against pagan mountains, falsely attributed to other gods.
- Then Jerusalem (וְהָיְתָה יְרוּשָׁלַיִם - ve'hayetah Yerushalayim): "And Jerusalem will become." Prophetic declaration of a future transformation for the city, indicating a state brought about by God's direct intervention. Jerusalem represents both the physical city and God's gathered people.
- will be holy (קֹדֶשׁ - qodesh): Reiteration of holiness, now applied to the entire city. It suggests not merely ritual purity but an intrinsic, lasting sanctification, flowing directly from God's dwelling within it. It will be free from all defilement.
- and foreigners (וְזָרִים - ve'zarim): "And strangers/aliens." These refer to those outside the covenant, specifically pagan nations who had often invaded, defiled, and oppressed Jerusalem. It can also imply those who are unclean or profane.
- will never again invade it (לֹא יַעַבְרוּ־בָהּ עוֹד - lo ya'avru-vah od): Literally, "will not pass through it anymore." This signifies complete and permanent security from hostile forces, conquest, or desecration. The final word "anymore" (od) emphasizes the absolute and eternal nature of this promise, marking an end to past patterns of invasion and defilement.
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