Joel 2:10
8 They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks.
9 They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves.
Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness.
11 The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?
12 “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness.
- KJV
- The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
- WEB
- The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
- ASV
- The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
- DARBY
- The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
- BLB
- Before their faces quakes the earth; the heavens quake; the sun and moon grow dark, and the stars withdraw their brightness.
- ÅB
- Foran dem skjelver jorden og rister himmelen; sol og måne sortner, og stjernene holder opp å lyse.
- OTB
- Foran dem skjelver jorden,
himlene skjelver,
solen og månen blir mørklagt,
og stjernene mister sin glans. - B1930
- Foran dem skjelver jorden og ryster himmelen; sol og måne sortner, og stjernene holder op å lyse.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
Read in contextIsaiah 13:10
For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.
Read in contextJoel 3:15–16
The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine.
Read in contextPsalms 18:7
Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains trembled; they were shaken because He burned with anger.
Read in contextActs 2:20
The sun will be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the coming of the great and glorious Day of the Lord.
Read in contextEzekiel 32:7–8
When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light.
Read in contextMark 13:24–25
But in those days, after that tribulation: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
Read in contextJeremiah 4:23
I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void; I looked to the heavens, and they had no light.
Read in context