Joel 3 18

Joel 3:18 kjv

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

Joel 3:18 nkjv

And it will come to pass in that day That the mountains shall drip with new wine, The hills shall flow with milk, And all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water; A fountain shall flow from the house of the LORD And water the Valley of Acacias.

Joel 3:18 niv

"In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the LORD's house and will water the valley of acacias.

Joel 3:18 esv

"And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Valley of Shittim.

Joel 3:18 nlt

In that day the mountains will drip with sweet wine,
and the hills will flow with milk.
Water will fill the streambeds of Judah,
and a fountain will burst forth from the LORD's Temple,
watering the arid valley of acacias.

Joel 3 verses

Joel 3 18 meaning

Joel 3:18 paints a vivid picture of unparalleled fertility, abundance, and divine blessing in the eschatological "Day of the LORD" when God's judgment gives way to the restoration of His people. It prophesies a future golden age where nature itself supernaturally flourishes with rich agricultural produce (wine, milk) and life-giving water, all originating from God's holy dwelling in Jerusalem. The barren and historically desolate Valley of Shittim will be miraculously transformed into a fertile paradise, symbolizing a comprehensive renewal and a complete reversal of prior curses and desolation, driven by divine presence and provision.

Joel 3 18 Context

Joel chapter 3, along with chapter 2:28-32, focuses on the glorious restoration of Judah and Jerusalem following the severe judgment depicted in the early chapters. This verse serves as the grand culmination of God's redemptive plan after the "Day of the LORD" of judgment on the nations (Joel 3:1-17). The nations that afflicted Judah will face divine reckoning in the "Valley of Jehoshaphat," after which Judah will be forever secure, sacred, and blessed. The abundance described in 3:18 is the result of God dwelling among His people in Zion (Joel 3:17, 21), marking the complete reversal of the previous desolation and drought (Joel 1:10-12). It transitions from judgment to a utopian vision of enduring peace, prosperity, and the manifestation of God's manifest presence among His people, bringing renewal to creation itself. Historically, the imagery taps into the deep dependence on water and agricultural prosperity in ancient Israel's agrarian society, making the promises particularly potent for the original audience, assuring them of divine favor and provision after affliction.

Joel 3 18 Word analysis

• And it shall come to pass in that day:
  • Hebrew: וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא (V'hayah bayyom hahu).
  • V'hayah (And it shall come to pass): A common prophetic marker signaling a future, often significant and divinely ordained event.
  • bayyom hahu (in that day): A crucial eschatological phrase used frequently by prophets (e.g., Isa, Zech, Mal). It points to a specific, future moment of God's decisive intervention in history, often combining judgment and salvation, culminating in a new order. It signals a shift from the present reality to a definitive divine age.
• That the mountains shall drip with new wine, the hills shall flow with milk:
  • Hebrew for new wine: עָסִיס (asis). Refers to sweet, fresh, unfermented grape juice, symbolizing purity and abundance.
  • Hebrew for milk: חָלָב (chalav).
  • Drip (יִטְּפוּ - yittfu): Implies an effortless, pervasive flow. The mountains themselves exude this abundance.
  • Flow (תֵּלַכְנָה - telakhnah): To move along, signifying a continuous and natural gushing forth.
  • Mountains...hills: Represents the entire elevated landscape, typically less fertile, becoming extravagantly productive. This imagery evokes a land so abundantly blessed that fertility extends even to its less arable regions, symbolizing total supernatural fruitfulness. It's a reversal of any curses on the ground (Gen 3:17-19) and a return to Edenic fertility, without human toil.
• And all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water:
  • Hebrew for streambeds: אֲפִיקִים (afiqim). Refers to wadis or dry riverbeds that typically only carry water during flash floods.
  • Flow with water: Implies permanent, continuous water supply, a drastic change from the often arid reality of the region. Water is vital for life, signifying consistent divine provision and restoration from drought (Joel 1:19-20). It speaks to God bringing ultimate life to previously barren regions.
• A fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD:
  • Hebrew for fountain: מַעְיָן (ma'yan). A natural, fresh spring—a consistent and pure source of water.
  • Hebrew for house of the LORD: מִבֵּית יְהוָה (mibeit YHWH). Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem.
  • From the house of the LORD: Crucially identifies the divine origin of all the promised blessings. It's not a natural phenomenon but a supernatural emanation from God's sacred dwelling, signifying that life, blessing, and transformation originate from His holy presence and Spirit (cf. Ezek 47). This establishes Jerusalem as the spiritual center and source of universal blessing in "that day."
• And water the Valley of Shittim:
  • Hebrew: נַחַל הַשִׁטִּים (Nachal HaShittim).
  • Valley of Shittim: Located east of the Jordan River, historically associated with Israel's grave sin (idolatry and immorality) and the plague at Baal Peor (Num 25:1-9). It was an arid, desolate region. The water reaching this specific valley signifies God's redemptive power reaching even places of historical desolation and sin, transforming them into life and blessing. It suggests a thorough and complete cleansing and renewal that extends beyond Judah itself. It's a profound symbol of the comprehensive nature of God's redemptive work.

Joel 3 18 Bonus section

The vision of the fountain from the "house of the LORD" is deeply echoed in later prophets like Ezekiel and Zechariah, forming a significant prophetic type for the Messianic era. In Christian theology, this "fountain" can be understood in connection to Jesus Christ, who declared Himself the source of "living water" (Jn 4:10; 7:38-39), and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Isa 32:15). The New Testament ultimately culminates this imagery in Revelation's depiction of the "river of the water of life" flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb in the New Jerusalem (Rev 22:1), signifying an eternal, abundant life directly sustained by God's presence. The transformation of nature also anticipates Paul's teaching that creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay (Rom 8:21), participating in the glorification of God's children. Joel's prophecy thus serves as an important precursor to the full, comprehensive, and spiritual blessings brought by God's ultimate reign through Christ.

Joel 3 18 Commentary

Joel 3:18 culminates the book's message with a profound eschatological vision of God's radical transformation and superabundant provision for His redeemed people. After judging the nations that opposed Judah, God establishes His rule in Zion, pouring out blessings that reverse the very fabric of desolation and lack. The imagery of mountains dripping with new wine and hills flowing with milk portrays an effortless, unprecedented fertility that goes beyond agricultural ideal; it signifies spiritual richness and satisfaction. The persistent flow of water in Judah's streambeds highlights an end to the literal and spiritual droughts, providing perpetual refreshment. Central to this prophecy is the "fountain from the house of the LORD," emphasizing that all these blessings are not merely natural phenomena but direct, divine emanations from God's presence, signifying His intimate dwelling with His people. The watering of the barren "Valley of Shittim," a place historically marked by Israel's egregious sin and God's judgment, is highly symbolic. It testifies to the absolute extent of God's redemptive power, which can transform even the most defiled and desolate places into a realm of life and fruitfulness, ultimately reflecting a New Creation, an Edenic renewal where God's glorious presence animates all creation.