Joel 2:2 kjv — A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a…

King James Version

"A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations."

— Joel 2:2, King James Version

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Joel 2:2 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations
  • ASV

    “a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the dawn spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, even to the years of many generations. ”

  • WEB

    “A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness. As the dawn spreading on the mountains, a great and strong people; there has never been the like, neither will there be any more after them, even to the years of many generations.”

  • NET

    “It will be a day of dreadful darkness, a day of foreboding storm clouds, like blackness spread over the mountains. It is a huge and powerful army– there has never been anything like it ever before, and there will not be anything like it for many generations to come!”

  • DRB

    “A day of darkness, and of gloominess, a day of clouds and whirlwinds: a numerous and strong people as the morning spread upon the mountains: the like to it hath not been from the beginning, nor shall be after it, even to the years of generation and generation.”

  • BBE

    “For a day of dark and deep shade is near, a day of cloud and black night: like a black cloud a great and strong people is covering the mountains; there has never been any like them and will not be after them again, from generation to generation.”

  • KJVA

    “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.”

Joel 2 — Context

1

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

2

A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

3

A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

4

The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

5

Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

Joel 2:2 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Joel 2:2 say?
Joel 2:2 in the King James Version reads: “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.”
Where is Joel 2:2 in the Bible?
Joel 2:2 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Joel, chapter 2, verse 2.
Who wrote Joel?
Joel is traditionally attributed to Joel son of Pethuel. It was written c. 835–796 BC (date uncertain).
What is the book of Joel about?
Joel uses a present catastrophe — a locust plague — to point to a greater "day of the LORD" still to come, both terrible and hopeful. The book promises that God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh, a prophecy Peter quotes at Pentecost.
What are the major themes of Joel?
Joel explores themes including Day of the LORD, Repentance, Outpouring of the Spirit, Restoration. These themes shape the meaning and context of Joel 2:2.
What translation should I read Joel 2:2 in?
Joel 2:2 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Joel 2:2?
Joel 2:2 reads (KJV): “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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