Joel 3 2

Joel 3:2 kjv

I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.

Joel 3:2 nkjv

I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land.

Joel 3:2 niv

I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.

Joel 3:2 esv

I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land,

Joel 3:2 nlt

I will gather the armies of the world
into the valley of Jehoshaphat.
There I will judge them
for harming my people, my special possession,
for scattering my people among the nations,
and for dividing up my land.

Joel 3 verses

Joel 3 2 Meaning

Joel 3:2 speaks of a future divine judgment where God gathers all nations to the Valley of Jehoshaphat to judge them. This judgment is specifically pronounced for their actions against God's chosen people, Israel, whom they have scattered across the nations, and for dividing His land. It underscores God's sovereignty, His protective covenant with Israel, and His ultimate justice against those who harm His heritage.

Joel 3 2 Context

Joel 3 follows Joel 2, where the prophet describes a great locust plague as a foretaste of the "Day of the Lord." Joel 2 culminates with promises of repentance, divine outpouring of the Spirit, and restoration for Judah and Jerusalem, followed by cosmic disturbances. Joel 3 then shifts focus from judgment on Israel (for sin, which led to restoration) to judgment of the nations because of Israel. Specifically, this verse introduces the divine reckoning against nations who have oppressed Israel and divided God's land during periods of Israel's dispersion and subjugation. It sets the stage for a dramatic scene of global judgment centered around God's unwavering covenant with His people and His claim over the land of Israel.

Joel 3 2 Word analysis

• I will gather: וְקִבַּצְתִּ֣י (wᵉqibbaṣtî). This is a causative verb, indicating divine initiative and sovereign control. It implies that the nations' assembly is not by their own will alone, but by God's strategic hand, bringing them to the place of judgment. This reflects God's active involvement in human history and final judgment.
• all the nations: כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם (kol-haggôyim). Kol means "all," emphasizing the universal scope of the judgment. No nation will be exempt from accountability before God for their actions concerning His people and land. Gôyim refers to non-Israelite peoples.
• into the Valley of Jehoshaphat: אֶל־גֵ֣יא יְהוֹשָׁפָ֔ט (’el-gê’ yᵉhôšāp̄āṭ). Ge’ means "valley" or "ravine." Jehoshaphat means "Yahweh judges" or "the Lord judges." This is likely a symbolic name for a place of decisive judgment, rather than a literal geographic valley, though some Jewish and Christian traditions link it to the Kidron Valley adjacent to Jerusalem. Its significance lies in underscoring God's personal and ultimate role as the righteous judge.
• and I will enter into judgment with them there: וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֤י אִתָּם֙ שָׁם֙ (wᵉnišpaṭtî ’ittām šām). The Hebrew נִשְׁפַּטְתִּי (nišpaṭtî) is a reciprocal verb, signifying God engaging in a judicial process with them. This is not arbitrary destruction but a legal proceeding, a formal accusation and verdict, demonstrating God's perfect justice. Šām means "there," referring to the Valley of Jehoshaphat.
• on behalf of My people and My heritage Israel: עַל־עַמִּי֙ וְעַל־נַחֲלָתִ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (ʿal-ʿammî wᵉʿal-naḥªlāṯî yiśrā’ēl). ‘Ammi means "My people," highlighting the covenant relationship God has with Israel. Naḥªlāṯî means "My heritage" or "My inheritance," portraying Israel not just as a people but as a divinely appointed possession, valuable and beloved to God. This dual expression underscores the deep, exclusive bond.
• whom they have scattered among the nations: אֲשֶׁ֤ר פִּזְּר֙וּ֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם (ʾăšer pizərû ba-gôyim). Pizərû means "scattered" or "dispersed." This refers to historical exiles and diasporas imposed upon Israel by gentile powers, beginning with Assyria and Babylon, and continuing through other empires. It emphasizes the active role of nations in their oppression.
• and have divided My land: וְאֶת־אַרְצִ֥י חִלֵּֽקוּ׃ (wᵉ’eṯ-’arṣî ḥillēqû). ‘Arṣî means "My land," unequivocally stating divine ownership. The land of Israel is not merely territory but God's possession. Ḥillēqû means "divided," indicating the partitioning or occupation of the land by foreign powers, an affront to God's proprietorship.

Words-group Analysis:

• "I will gather all the nations into the Valley of Jehoshaphat and I will enter into judgment with them there": This phrase paints a powerful image of a global divine tribunal. It signifies God's ultimate justice, where He takes the initiative to convene a cosmic court, holding all nations accountable for their actions. It refutes any notion of nations acting with impunity against God's purposes.
• "on behalf of My people and My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and have divided My land": This identifies the specific charges against the nations. God’s protective stance over Israel and His land is the foundation of the judgment. It highlights the profound interconnectedness between the land, the people, and God Himself in the biblical narrative. The actions of scattering and dividing are seen not just as political or military acts against a people, but as direct affronts to the Creator and Sovereign.

Joel 3 2 Bonus section

The concept of God's "land" (Eretz Yisrael) being inseparable from "His people" (Israel) and being directly under God's ownership is foundational. Any human attempt to dispossess, scatter, or divide this land is seen as a direct challenge to God's authority and an act against His will. This theme reverberates throughout the Old Testament, from the promises to Abraham to the prophetic warnings against those who threaten Israel's presence in the land. The judgment in Joel 3:2, therefore, isn't just about human suffering but about divine prerogative being challenged. This final judgment underscores that God remembers every injustice done to His covenant people and will respond according to His righteous character and promises. It’s a powerful declaration of God’s sovereignty in global affairs, not just over Israel.

Joel 3 2 Commentary

Joel 3:2 unveils a crucial aspect of the Day of the Lord: divine judgment on the nations. It is a pronouncement of God's unyielding commitment to His covenant with Israel and His claim over the promised land. The gathering of "all nations" by God's sovereign hand, rather than their own initiative, emphasizes that their ultimate destiny rests in His control. The "Valley of Jehoshaphat," a symbolic place of Yahweh's judgment, signifies a universal and final reckoning where divine justice will be fully manifest. The charges are specific and severe: the scattering of His chosen "people" (Israel) and the partitioning of "His land." These actions are depicted not merely as political or historical events but as direct violations of God's covenantal rights and ownership. This verse assures both the contemporary audience of Joel and future generations that God will ultimately intervene and execute justice for the injustices suffered by His chosen inheritance, demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness and His reign over all the earth.