Joel 2:3 net — Like fire they devour everything in their path; a flame blazes behind them. The land looks like the Garden of Eden befo…

NET Bible

"Like fire they devour everything in their path; a flame blazes behind them. The land looks like the Garden of Eden before them, but behind them there is only a desolate wilderness– for nothing escapes them!"

— Joel 2:3, NET Bible

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Joel 2:3 in Other Translations

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Joel 2 — Context

1

The Locusts’ Devastation Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm signal on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land shake with fear, for the day of the LORD is about to come. Indeed, it is near!

2

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!

3

Like fire they devour everything in their path; a flame blazes behind them. The land looks like the Garden of Eden before them, but behind them there is only a desolate wilderness– for nothing escapes them!

4

They look like horses; they charge ahead like war horses.

5

They sound like chariots rumbling over mountain tops, like the crackling of blazing fire consuming stubble, like the noise of a mighty army being drawn up for battle.

6

People writhe in fear when they see them. All of their faces turn pale with fright.

Joel 2:3 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Joel 2:3 say?
Joel 2:3 in the NET Bible reads: “Like fire they devour everything in their path; a flame blazes behind them. The land looks like the Garden of Eden before them, but behind them there is only a desolate wilderness– for nothing escapes them!”
Where is Joel 2:3 in the Bible?
Joel 2:3 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Joel, chapter 2, verse 3.
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 2:3.
What translation should I read Joel 2:3 in?
Joel 2:3 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 2:3?
Joel 2:3 reads (NET): “Like fire they devour everything in their path; a flame blazes behind them. The land looks like the Garden of Eden before them, but behind them there is only a desolate wilderness– for nothing escapes them!” 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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