Read & explore together
The LORD Judges the Nations
Joel 3:1–16 announces the LORD’s judgement on nations that harmed Judah and Jerusalem. It presents prophecy and teaching about justice, the day of the LORD, and God’s protection of his people.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
The passage begins when the LORD restores the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem. He then gathers nations to the valley of Jehoshaphat for judgement, names wrongs done to his people, and uses war, harvest and cosmic signs to describe the day of the LORD.
Joel 3:1–16Main takeaway
Joel 3:1–16 teaches that the LORD judges cruel injustice and remains a refuge for his people.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The LORD brings the nations to judgementThe opening promise is restoration for Judah and Jerusalem. At that time the LORD will gather all nations to the valley of Jehoshaphat to judge them.
02Named peoples and named wrongsTyre, Sidon and the regions of Philistia are addressed directly. The LORD says repayment will return on their own head.
Explanation
Tyre, Sidon and the regions of Philistia are addressed directly. The LORD says repayment will return on their own head. Their acts include taking silver and gold, carrying treasures into temples, and selling the children of Judah and Jerusalem far from their border.
03A severe reversalThe people of Judah had been sold away to a distant people. In response, the LORD says he will stir them up from the place where they were sold and return repayment on the oppressors.
Explanation
The people of Judah had been sold away to a distant people. In response, the LORD says he will stir them up from the place where they were sold and return repayment on the oppressors. Verse 8 states the reversal in severe terms: their sons and daughters will be sold far away, for Yahweh has spoken.
04War summons, harvest image, and refugeThe nations are told to prepare for war and gather, yet they are coming to the place where the LORD will judge them.
Explanation
The nations are told to prepare for war and gather, yet they are coming to the place where the LORD will judge them. Harvest and wine press pictures show that their wickedness is great. The day of the LORD is near, creation shakes, and the LORD is a refuge for his people.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reasons does the LORD give for judging the nations?
02How does the passage describe a reversal of what had been done?
03What two truths about the LORD appear together at the end?
Notice that the same verse speaks of shaking heaven and earth and being a refuge and stronghold for his people.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Joel 3:1–16
1“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment on them there for my people, and for my heritage, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations. They have divided my land,
3and have cast lots for my people, and have given a boy for a prostitute, and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.
4“Yes, and what are you to me, Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Will you repay me? And if you repay me, I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head.
5Because you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my finest treasures into your temples,
6and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem to the sons of the Greeks, that you may remove them far from their border.
7Behold, I will stir them up out of the place where you have sold them, and will return your repayment on your own head;
8and I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah, and they will sell them to the men of Sheba, to a faraway nation, for Yahweh has spoken it.”
9Proclaim this among the nations: “Prepare for war! Stir up the mighty men. Let all the warriors draw near. Let them come up.
10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’
11Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves together.” Cause your mighty ones to come down there, Yahweh.
12“Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.
13Put in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the wine press is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great.”
14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Yahweh is near in the valley of decision.
15The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
16Yahweh will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but Yahweh will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel.