Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They rush upon the city; they run along the wall. They climb into the houses; like thieves they enter through the windows. New Living Translation They swarm over the city and run along its walls. They enter all the houses, climbing like thieves through the windows. English Standard Version They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls, they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief. Berean Standard Bible They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves. King James Bible They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. New King James Version They run to and fro in the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter at the windows like a thief. New American Standard Bible They storm the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter through the windows like a thief. NASB 1995 They rush on the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter through the windows like a thief. NASB 1977 They rush on the city, They run on the wall; They climb into the houses, They enter through the windows like a thief. Legacy Standard Bible They rush on the city; They run on the wall; They climb up into the houses; They enter through the windows like a thief. Amplified Bible They rush over the city, They run on the wall; They climb up into the houses, They enter at the windows like a thief. Christian Standard Bible They storm the city; they run on the wall; they climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like thieves. Holman Christian Standard Bible They storm the city; they run on the wall; they climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like thieves. American Standard Version They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows like a thief. Contemporary English Version They swarm over city walls and enter our homes; they crawl in through windows, just like thieves. English Revised Version They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows like a thief. GOD'S WORD® Translation They rush into the city. They run along the wall. They climb into houses. They enter through windows like thieves. Good News Translation They rush against the city; they run over the walls; they climb up the houses and go in through the windows like thieves. International Standard Version They swarm through the city, running upon its ramparts. Climbing atop the houses, they enter through windows like a thief." Majority Standard Bible They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves. NET Bible They rush into the city; they scale its walls. They climb up into the houses; they go in through the windows like a thief. New Heart English Bible They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves. Webster's Bible Translation They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. World English Bible They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionIn the city they run to and fro, "" On the wall they run, "" Into houses they go up by the windows, "" They go in as a thief. Young's Literal Translation In the city they run to and fro, On the wall they run, Into houses they go up by the windows, They go in as a thief. Smith's Literal Translation In the city they shall run up and down; on the wall shall they run, into the houses they shall come up, through the windows shall they come in as a thief. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey shall enter into the city: they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up the houses, they shall come in at the windows as a thief. Catholic Public Domain Version They will advance into the city; they will rush through the wall. They will scale the houses; they will go in through the windows, like a thief. New American Bible They charge the city, they run upon the wall, they climb into the houses; Through the windows they enter like thieves. New Revised Standard Version They leap upon the city, they run upon the walls; they climb up into the houses, they enter through the windows like a thief. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThey shall go up against the cities; they shall run upon the walls, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter through the windows like thieves. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated They shall go up into the cities and they shall run upon the walls and they shall climb upon the houses; from the windows they shall enter like thieves OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917They leap upon the city, They run upon the wall, They climb up into the houses; They enter in at the windows like a thief. Brenton Septuagint Translation They shall seize upon the city, and run upon the walls, and go up upon the houses, and enter in through the windows as thieves. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Army of Locusts…8They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks. 9They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves. 10Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness.… Cross References Revelation 9:7-9 And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads; and their faces were like the faces of men. / They had hair like that of women, and teeth like those of lions. / They also had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. Nahum 2:4 The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning. Isaiah 13:16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished. Jeremiah 9:21 For death has climbed in through our windows; it has entered our fortresses to cut off the children from the streets, the young men from the town squares. Amos 5:19 It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. Zephaniah 1:15-16 That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, / a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. Matthew 24:43 But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. Luke 12:39 But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. John 10:1 “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.” Isaiah 24:10-12 The city of chaos is shattered; every house is closed to entry. / In the streets they cry out for wine. All joy turns to gloom; rejoicing is exiled from the land. / The city is left in ruins; its gate is reduced to rubble. Jeremiah 4:7 A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited. Ezekiel 7:22 I will turn My face away from them, and they will defile My treasured place. Violent men will enter it, and they will defile it. Obadiah 1:5 “If thieves came to you, if robbers by night—oh, how you will be ruined—would they not steal only what they wanted? If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleanings? Habakkuk 3:16 I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us. Treasury of Scripture They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run on the wall, they shall climb up on the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. enter. Exodus 10:6 And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyptians; which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. Jeremiah 9:21 For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets. John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. Jump to Previous City Climb Enter Fro Houses Leap Run Running Rush Spread Themselves Thief Thieves Wall Walls WindowsJump to Next City Climb Enter Fro Houses Leap Run Running Rush Spread Themselves Thief Thieves Wall Walls WindowsJoel 2 1. He shows unto Zion the terribleness of God's judgment.12. He exhorts to repentance; 15. prescribes a fast; 18. promises a blessing thereon. 21. He comforts Zion with present, 28. and future blessings. They storm the city; This phrase depicts a powerful and overwhelming invasion, often interpreted as a metaphor for divine judgment. In the context of Joel, it describes an army, possibly locusts or a foreign military force, symbolizing God's impending judgment on Israel for their sins. The imagery of a city being stormed is reminiscent of ancient warfare tactics, where cities were often besieged and overrun by enemy forces. This can be connected to the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem, which was a historical fulfillment of such prophecies. The city represents human civilization and its defenses, which are ultimately powerless against divine intervention. they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Locust ArmyIn Joel 2, the prophet describes an invading army, often interpreted as a swarm of locusts or a metaphor for a human army. This army is characterized by its relentless and overwhelming nature. 2. The City Represents the place under siege, symbolizing the people of God or a nation facing judgment due to their disobedience. 3. The Wall A defensive structure meant to protect the city, symbolizing the barriers or defenses people rely on for security. 4. Houses Personal dwellings invaded by the army, representing the invasion of personal lives and the breakdown of individual security. 5. Thieves The imagery of thieves entering through windows suggests unexpected and unwelcome intrusion, highlighting the suddenness and inevitability of the coming judgment. Teaching Points The Certainty of Divine JudgmentGod's judgment is inevitable and thorough, as depicted by the relentless invasion of the city. Believers are called to live in readiness and repentance. The Vulnerability of Human Defenses Earthly defenses, symbolized by walls and houses, are insufficient against divine judgment. True security is found in God alone. The Call to Repentance The imagery of invasion serves as a wake-up call for repentance. Believers are encouraged to examine their lives and turn back to God. The Urgency of Spiritual Preparedness Just as the city is unprepared for the sudden invasion, believers must be spiritually vigilant and prepared for Christ's return. The Hope of Restoration Despite the dire imagery, Joel's prophecy ultimately points to God's desire for restoration and blessing upon repentance.Verse 9. - They shall run to and fro in the city (or rush to the assault of the city. Wunsche, and so LXX., "They shall seize upon the city"); they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. In the first clause the comparison with an army still continues. The attack has succeeded, the city has been taken by assault, the victorious troops are running to and fro in the city; so far the locusts are fitly represented by an army vigorous in its advance, steady in its march, resistless in its assault, victorious in its attack, and masters of the captured city. The remainder of the ninth verse is not equally applicable to the figure and the fact in common, but belongs exclusively to the locusts themselves; they creep up the wall, climb up upon the houses, and find ingress even at the windows. "There is no road," says Jerome, "impassable to locusts. They penetrate into fields, and crops, and trees, and cities, and even the recesses of the bedchambers;" while Theodoret remarks of locusts that" not only when flying, but by creeping along the walls, they pass through the windows into the houses themselves." Thus there was no spot to which they could not find access, and no place secure from their assault. Yashoqqu. Aben Ezra and Kimchi both connect this word with shoq, a leg. The latter says, "It has the signification of shoq, a leg, and he mentions this word in respect to the locust, because its legs are long; and further, because it is continually going and seldom resting; and thus he (Isaiah) says, 'As the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon them,' as if he said, 'a continual going up and down.'" Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew They stormיָשֹׁ֗קּוּ (yā·šōq·qū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 8264: To course, to seek greedily the city; בָּעִ֣יר (bā·‘îr) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5892: Excitement they run יְרֻצ֔וּן (yə·ru·ṣūn) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun Strong's 7323: To run along the wall; בַּֽחוֹמָה֙ (ba·ḥō·w·māh) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2346: A wall of protection they climb יַעֲל֑וּ (ya·‘ă·lū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively into houses, בַּבָּתִּ֖ים (bab·bāt·tîm) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1004: A house entering יָבֹ֖אוּ (yā·ḇō·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go through בְּעַ֧ד (bə·‘aḏ) Preposition Strong's 1157: In up to, over against, at, beside, among, behind, for windows הַחַלּוֹנִ֛ים (ha·ḥal·lō·w·nîm) Article | Noun - common plural Strong's 2474: A window like thieves. כַּגַּנָּֽב׃ (kag·gan·nāḇ) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1590: A stealer Links Joel 2:9 NIVJoel 2:9 NLT Joel 2:9 ESV Joel 2:9 NASB Joel 2:9 KJV Joel 2:9 BibleApps.com Joel 2:9 Biblia Paralela Joel 2:9 Chinese Bible Joel 2:9 French Bible Joel 2:9 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Joel 2:9 They rush on the city (Jl Joe.) |
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