Lexical Summary tsachanah: Stench, foul odor Original Word: צַחֲנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ill savour From an unused root meaning to putrefy; stench -- ill savour. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom an unused word Definition a stench NASB Translation foul smell (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [צַחֲנָה] noun feminine stench; — suffix צַחֲנָתוֺ Joel 2:20 ("" בָּאְשׁוֺ ). — compare עפר צחנה Ecclus 11:12. Topical Lexicon Term Overview צַחֲנָה appears once in the Old Testament, conveying the idea of an overpowering stench that accompanies the downfall of an enemy force. The word functions as a vivid sensory image, underscoring both the totality of divine judgment and the unmistakable evidence of God’s deliverance of His covenant people. Canonical Occurrence Joel 2:20: “I will drive the northerner far from you and banish him to a barren and desolate land—his vanguard into the Eastern Sea and his rear guard into the Western Sea. And his stench will rise; yes, his foul odor will ascend. Surely He has done great things!”. Prophetic and Historical Context Joel addresses Judah during (or immediately after) a devastating locust plague, using the catastrophe to call the nation to repentance and renewed covenant faithfulness. Joel 2 progresses from a present calamity to eschatological overtones—depicting an invading “northern” army that some interpret literally (Assyrians/Babylonians) and others typologically (an end-time confederation opposed to God’s people). The promised expulsion of this force culminates in צַחֲנָה: the nauseating smell of corpses scattered between the Mediterranean (“Western Sea”) and the Dead Sea (“Eastern Sea”), sealing the reality of God’s victory. Imagery of Stench in Scripture 1. Exodus 7:18; 8:14 – The plague of fish and frogs “stank,” highlighting judgment on Egypt. While these references use other Hebrew terms, they form a thematic constellation: the odor of decay is the lingering proof that human arrogance ends in shame when confronted by the holiness of God. Theological Significance 1. Vindication of God’s Name: The rising stench is an undeniable, public testament that the Lord has acted (“Surely He has done great things!”). Eschatological Foreshadowing Joel’s oracle blends near and far horizons. Many conservative interpreters see in the “northern army” a pattern that culminates in the final campaign against Jerusalem (Zechariah 14; Revelation 19). The ultimate defeat of evil, followed by the millennial blessings, mirrors Joel’s sequence: judgment, removal of enemy stench, outpouring of the Spirit (Joel 2:28-32), and restoration. Thus, צַחֲנָה anticipates the day when the “aroma” of Christ’s triumph replaces the odor of death (2 Corinthians 2:14-16). Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching Repentance: Joel’s use of sensory language can awaken modern congregations to the gravity of sin and the urgency of turning to the Lord. Homiletical and Pastoral Insights • Illustrate how hidden sin eventually “smells” in a community, whereas confession brings refreshing (Proverbs 28:13; Acts 3:19). Related Biblical Passages Isaiah 34:3; Amos 4:10; Zephaniah 1:17; Revelation 19:17-18. Summary צַחֲנָה encapsulates the aftermath of divine judgment—an unforgettable stench testifying that God protects His people, judges wickedness, and prepares creation for restoration. For the believer, it is a reminder to walk in holiness, trusting that every enemy raised against the Lord’s purposes will ultimately be driven away, leaving only the fragrance of His redeeming grace. Forms and Transliterations צַחֲנָת֔וֹ צחנתו ṣa·ḥă·nā·ṯōw ṣaḥănāṯōw tzachanaToLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joel 2:20 HEB: בָאְשׁ֗וֹ וְתַ֙עַל֙ צַחֲנָת֔וֹ כִּ֥י הִגְדִּ֖יל NAS: will arise and its foul smell will come KJV: shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, INT: stench will come foul for great 1 Occurrence |
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