Joel 3 8

Joel 3:8 kjv

And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it.

Joel 3:8 nkjv

I will sell your sons and your daughters Into the hand of the people of Judah, And they will sell them to the Sabeans, To a people far off; For the LORD has spoken."

Joel 3:8 niv

I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, a nation far away." The LORD has spoken.

Joel 3:8 esv

I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the LORD has spoken."

Joel 3:8 nlt

I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the people of Arabia, a nation far away. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Joel 3 verses

Joel 3 8 Meaning

Joel 3:8 is a powerful declaration of divine justice and retribution. It promises that the very nations (specifically Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia mentioned previously) who engaged in selling the people of Judah and Jerusalem into slavery will experience the same fate. God Himself declares that He will cause their children to be sold into the hands of the very descendants of Judah whom they enslaved, and these former victims will then sell the oppressors' children to distant Sabeans, effectively sending them into a far-off and permanent servitude. This emphasizes God's sovereign control over international affairs and His unwavering commitment to repaying injustice with commensurate judgment, vindicating His covenant people.

Joel 3 8 Context

Joel 3:8 is found within the latter half of the book of Joel, which transitions from a plague of locusts (metaphorical for foreign invaders or literal) and a call to repentance, to a grand prophecy about "the Day of the Lord." This Day of the Lord, while bringing outpouring of the Spirit on Judah (Joel 2:28-29), simultaneously heralds divine judgment upon the nations surrounding Israel who have wronged God's people.

Immediately preceding Joel 3:8, verses 3:4-7 accuse Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia of plundering God's silver and gold, desecrating His temple, and crucially, selling the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the distant Greeks (Javan) as slaves. Verse 7 specifically states God will stir them up and bring their recompense upon their own heads. Joel 3:8 is the explicit, direct statement of that recompense: their children will be sold in return, and to an even more distant and perhaps harsher fate with the Sabeans. The entire chapter outlines God gathering these nations for judgment in the Valley of Jehoshaphat, demonstrating His ultimate sovereignty and concern for the plight of His people. Historically, these coastal nations frequently engaged in slave trade, and Judah and Jerusalem often fell victim to raids and captivity, particularly during periods of Assyrian, Babylonian, and later Persian domination, making such a prophecy of reversal especially significant for the beleaguered Judean audience.

Joel 3 8 Word analysis

• And I will sell (וּמָכַרְתִּי - ūmākartî): The Hebrew verb root is makar (מָכַר), meaning "to sell." The direct subject here is God ("I will sell"). This is critical. It signifies not just that this will happen, but that God is the active agent ensuring this specific act of reciprocal judgment. It is divine intervention, directly paralleling the actions of Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia in verse 3:6, where they "sold" Judahites.
• your sons (בְּנֵיכֶם - bənêkem) and your daughters (וּבְנוֹתֵיכֶם - ūvənôtêkem): This refers to the offspring, the next generation, of the oppressive nations. The inclusion of both sons and daughters emphasizes the totality of the judgment – the complete reversal of fortune affecting entire families and their future. It mirrors the plight of the Judeans who were sold as families.
• into the hand of the sons of Judah (בְּיַד־בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה - bəyaḏ-bənê Yəhūḏāh): "Into the hand of" (בְּיַד) denotes possession, control, or power. This signifies that the power dynamic is completely reversed. Those who were enslaved (the descendants of Judah) will now possess the children of their former enslavers. This highlights poetic justice and vindication for God's suffering people.
• and they will sell them (וּמְכָרוּם - ūməḵārûm): The repetition of the root makar emphasizes the continued nature of the reversed transaction. It's not just a handover but a completed sale, reinforcing the divine lex talionis. The pronoun "they" refers to the sons of Judah, signifying their active participation in the divine judgment.
• to the Sabeans (לִשְׁבָאִים - lišḇāʾîm): The Sabeans (from Sheba) were known for long-distance trade, often in luxury goods and frankincense, located in modern-day Yemen/Ethiopia region (Isa 60:6; Jer 6:20). Their prominence in trade makes them suitable buyers of slaves. Significantly, this destination for the sold children is likely more distant and thus harsher than the Greeks (Javan) to whom the Judeans were sold (Joel 3:6), amplifying the judgment.
• to a nation far off (אֶל־גּוֹי מֵרָחֹוק - ʾel-gôy mêrāḥôq): This phrase emphasizes the complete and irrevocable displacement of the condemned children. It signifies a permanent exile and loss, cut off from their homeland and heritage. This mirrors the trauma of distant enslavement endured by Judah.
• for the LORD has spoken it (כִּי־יְהוָה דִּבֵּר - kî-Yəhwāh dibbēr): This concluding phrase serves as a powerful divine ratification and guarantee. "For" (כִּי - kî) indicates the reason or basis for the preceding declaration. "The LORD" (יְהוָה - YHWH), the covenant name of God, underscores His faithful character and authority. "Has spoken it" (dibber) denotes a divine decree that is absolutely certain and irreversible, ensuring its fulfillment. It means this is not a human wish or prophecy, but a firm resolve of the Almighty.

Joel 3 8 Bonus section

The promise in Joel 3:8 carries significant polemical weight, challenging the common understanding of divine power in the ancient world. It demonstrates that the pagan deities of Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia were utterly incapable of protecting their people from the just retribution of YHWH, the God of Israel. This directly contrasts with their perception of their gods as protectors of their trade and prosperity.

Typologically, this verse foreshadows broader judgments against nations throughout biblical prophecy, culminating in the complete downfall of oppressors at the eschatological Day of the Lord (e.g., in Revelation, where Babylon is judged for its persecution of God's saints). The principle of proportionate justice—what you do will be done to you—is a foundational theme woven throughout Scripture concerning God's dealings with both individuals and nations.

Ethically, it is crucial to understand that while Judah is described as an agent of this divine selling, this passage describes a unique instance of prophetic judgment and not a general permission or commendation of slavery as an institution for God's people. This specific act is God's divine justice applied as a precise reversal of a particular sin.

Joel 3 8 Commentary

Joel 3:8 is a profound testament to God's retributive justice. It is not merely a human aspiration for vengeance but a divine pronouncement. The verse establishes a clear lex talionis, where the punishment directly fits the crime: those who profited from selling God's people will now see their own offspring sold. God's direct declaration "I will sell" emphasizes His active role as the orchestrator of justice, moving from a position of allowing His people to suffer to actively bringing about their oppressors' downfall. The "sons of Judah," once victims, become instruments in God's hand to enact this reversal, demonstrating divine vindication. Sending the children to the distant Sabeans underscores the complete and irreversible nature of the judgment, mirroring the ultimate displacement endured by the enslaved Judeans. This promise, sealed by the affirmation "for the LORD has spoken it," reassures His people of the certainty of His justice and His unwavering commitment to protect and vindicate them. It serves as a stark warning to all who mistreat God's chosen.