Joel 3:2

Translations

Modern

I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations as they divided up My land.

Traditional

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.

Literal

I will gather all the nations, and I will bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there over My people and My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations—and they have divided up My land.

Latin

…congregabo omnes gentes, et deducam eas in vallem Josaphat; et disceptabo cum eis ibi super populo meo, et hæreditate mea Israël, quos disperserunt in nationibus, et terram meam diviserunt.

Original

Hebrew

English

I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations as they divided up My land.

Notes

Joel 3:2–3

The Lord would gather the armies of the world (literally all the nations) in the valley of Jehoshaphat. This valley is not related to King Jehoshaphat of Judah (1 Kings 22:41). Instead, it means “the valley where the Lord judges.” It is the place where God would decide the fate of the nations (see Joel 3:14).
The sins of the nations included driving God’s covenant people into exile. They also included abusing helpless boys and girls by selling them as slaves (compare Ezekiel 27:13; Revelation 18:13).

Joel 3:1–16

Here, Joel spoke about God’s coming judgment on the nations, especially those that had oppressed God’s people.

Joel 2:28–3:21

In the distant future, God will restore his people's spiritual lives. He will give his Spirit to all who respond to him with faith. He will judge the peoples and nations that refuse to recognize his authority.

Theme notes and profiles

God’s Justice Holy War

Events

Prophecies of Joelc. 820 BC

Related verses

Zechariah 14:2–4
For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.
Isaiah 66:16
For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.
Zephaniah 3:8
Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation—all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.
Ezekiel 38:22
I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.
Joel 3:12
Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge all the nations on every side.
Revelation 16:16
And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
Jeremiah 25:31
The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth because the LORD brings a charge against the nations. He brings judgment on all mankind and puts the wicked to the sword,’” declares the LORD.
Ezekiel 35:10
Because you have said, ‘These two nations and countries will be ours, and we will possess them,’ even though the LORD was there,
Ezekiel 39:11
And on that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Sea. It will block those who travel through, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog.
Zechariah 12:3–4
On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.
2 Chronicles 20:26
On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they blessed the LORD. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.
Ezekiel 36:5
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Surely in My burning zeal I have spoken against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who took My land as their own possession with wholehearted joy and utter contempt, so that its pastureland became plunder.

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Places

Kidron: A valley east of Jerusalem, site of significant events

Glossary

Book of Joel Valley of Decision Valley of Decision Valley of Jehoshaphat

Topics

Church: God's Heritage Dividing God's Land Jehoshaphat: A Valley: Called the Valley of Decision Jerusalem of Pestilence, Famine, and War In Joel: Denounces Judgments Against the Enemies of God Titles and Names of the Church: God's Heritage Valleys: Jehoshaphat or Decision

Joel 3:2

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