Joel 3:21 kjv
For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.
Joel 3:21 nkjv
For I will acquit them of the guilt of bloodshed, whom I had not acquitted; For the LORD dwells in Zion."
Joel 3:21 niv
Shall I leave their innocent blood unavenged? No, I will not." The LORD dwells in Zion!
Joel 3:21 esv
I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the LORD dwells in Zion."
Joel 3:21 nlt
I will pardon my people's crimes,
which I have not yet pardoned;
and I, the LORD, will make my home
in Jerusalem with my people."
Joel 3 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Joel 3:21 | Yea, I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD | Joel 3:21 |
| Isaiah 4:4 | When the LORD shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion... | Isaiah 4:4 |
| Jeremiah 31:4 | O virgin of Israel, thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets... | Jeremiah 31:4 |
| Ezekiel 36:25 | Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean... | Ezekiel 36:25 |
| Zechariah 2:10 | Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell | Zechariah 2:10 |
| Zechariah 13:1 | In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David... | Zechariah 13:1 |
| Matthew 5:8 | Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. | Matthew 5:8 |
| John 14:17 | Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it... | John 14:17 |
| Romans 8:11 | But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in... | Romans 8:11 |
| 1 Corinthians 3:16 | Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God... | 1 Corinthians 3:16 |
| 1 Corinthians 6:19 | What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,... | 1 Corinthians 6:19 |
| 2 Corinthians 6:16 | And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God;... | 2 Corinthians 6:16 |
| Ephesians 2:21 | In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: | Ephesians 2:21 |
| Ephesians 2:22 | In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. | Ephesians 2:22 |
| Revelation 21:3 | And I heard a great voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,... | Revelation 21:3 |
| Revelation 21:22 | And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. | Revelation 21:22 |
| Revelation 22:3 | And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: | Revelation 22:3 |
| Psalms 9:11 | Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. | Psalms 9:11 |
| Psalms 132:13 | For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. | Psalms 132:13 |
| Isaiah 8:18 | Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts,... | Isaiah 8:18 |
Joel 3 verses
Joel 3 21 Meaning
The Lord will dwell in Zion. This signifies the eternal presence of God within His chosen people and place, bringing cleansing, justice, and protection to the land. It points to a future restoration and divine habitation.
Joel 3 21 Context
This verse concludes the prophecy of Joel. After vividly describing divine judgment and restoration, Joel presents a vision of God's ultimate dwelling in Zion. This assurance follows declarations of judgment against nations and a promise of restoration for Israel. The prophet details a future outpouring of the Spirit, the cleansing of sin, and the vindication of God's people. This final verse consolidates the hope of God's permanent, salvific presence in His sacred city. It speaks to a comprehensive divine redemption that purifies and indwells His chosen remnant.
Joel 3 21 Word analysis
- "Yē" (יה): A particle of affirmation, strongly affirming the following statement.
- "nipqā" (נִקָּה): To be pure, innocent, or clean. The niphal stem implies a passive or reflexive meaning, suggesting God causes to be clean or that they become clean.
- "dām" (דָּם): Blood. In this context, it refers to bloodshed and guilt, the evidence of sin and violence.
- "loʾ" (לֹא): Not. A negation particle.
- "niqʾāh" (נִקָּה): The Lord will not clear (the guilty). This appears to be a repetition of the root nuqa with a negative, highlighting the judicial aspect. However, the construction in Joel 3:21 is unique. The prophet is stating that the blood will not remain unpurified or unavenged; God will ultimately cleanse it through His judgment and presence. It implies the removal of the stain of bloodshed, not the exemption of the guilty.
- "Yĕhovah" (יְהוָה): The LORD (Yahweh). The personal covenant name of God, signifying His redemptive power and presence.
- "šākēn" (שָׁכֵן): To dwell, reside, abide. It carries the sense of making one's home or habitation.
- "bĕSîyôn" (בְּצִיּוֹן): In Zion. Zion is a specific place in Jerusalem, a symbol of God's dwelling, His chosen city, and the place of His presence and covenant.
Word Group Analysis:
- "nipqā dām loʾ niqʾāh" (נִקָּה דָּם לֹא נִקָּה): This difficult phrase has been interpreted in various ways. A common understanding, supported by the context of divine cleansing, is that God will not allow the blood guilt to remain unpurified or unavenged. He will ultimately cleanse the land from the defilement of bloodshed. It speaks to divine atonement and expiation.
Joel 3 21 Bonus Section
The concept of "cleansing blood" in this verse can be understood in relation to the Old Testament sacrificial system, which aimed to atone for sin and cleanse from ritual impurity. However, Joel's prophecy points beyond the efficacy of animal sacrifices to a more ultimate, comprehensive cleansing. This points towards the New Testament fulfillment where the blood of Jesus Christ provides a final and perfect atonement, cleansing believers from sin and making them fit for God's dwelling. Scholars often connect this cleansing to the promised outpouring of the Spirit mentioned earlier in Joel, suggesting that divine presence and purity are inextricably linked. The future tense ("will cleanse") indicates a perfected state that is inaugurated but not yet fully consummated until Christ's return and the establishment of the new heavens and new earth.
Joel 3 21 Commentary
Joel 3:21 marks a powerful culmination of the prophet's message. It asserts God's unwavering commitment to His people and His chosen dwelling place, Zion. The verse declares that the Lord will dwell in Zion, and importantly, He will cleanse the land from the stain of bloodshed, ensuring that the guilt associated with violence will not persist unaddressed. This cleansing foreshadows a profound spiritual purification. For believers, this speaks to the work of Christ, who shed His blood to cleanse believers from all unrighteousness and establish His dwelling within them through the Holy Spirit. The promise of God dwelling in Zion is a foundational aspect of God's redemptive plan, ultimately fulfilled in the presence of Christ and the Church.
- Practical application: Just as God purifies Zion, He also purifies believers through faith in Christ, enabling His presence to dwell within them.