Joel 2:11

“And YHWH utters his voice before his army, for his camp is very great; for mighty is the one who carries out his word; for great is the day of YHWH and very fearsome; and who can endure it?”
Joel 2:11 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

And YHWHוַיהוָהuttersנָתַןhis voiceקוֹלוֹbeforeלִפְנֵיhis army,חֵילוֹforכִּיhis campמַחֲנֵהוּis veryמְאֹדgreat;רַבforכִּיmightyעָצוּםis the one who carries outעֹשֵׂהhis word;דְבָרוֹforכִּיgreatגָדוֹלis the dayיוֹםof YHWHיְהוָהand veryוְ מְאֹדfearsome;נוֹרָאand whoוּמִיcan endure it?יְכִילֶנּוּ

Allusion · Revelation 6:17

Go to Revelation 6:17

Both texts speak of the great day and ask who will be able to endure it.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

יוֹםyomH3117ἡμέραhēmeraG2250“day”
רַבravH7227μεγάληmegalēG3173“much, great, many”
עָצוּםatsumH6099δύναταιdynataiG1410“mighty, numerous”
נָתַןnatanH5414σταθῆναιstathēnaiG2476“give, put, hand over”

Joel 2:11, word by word

And YHWHיהוָהyhva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yhva” appears

uttersנָתַןnatan

give

To hand something over to someone: a gift, a payment, a charge or a land.

Where else “natan” appears

his voiceקוֹלkol

voice

What is heard when someone speaks or sings; also the voice of God.

Where else “kol” appears

beforeפְנֵיfene

before

Literally "to the face of": in sight of someone, or on account of something.

Where else “fene” appears

his armyחֵילchel

army

A body of armed soldiers.

Where else “chel” appears

his campמַחֲנֵmachane

camp

A place where a group settles to live temporarily, with order and limits.

Where else “machane” appears

is veryמְאֹדmeod

very

To a very high degree: the word that adds force to what is said.

Where else “meod” appears

greatרַבrav

great

Of great size or power; the one who stands out.

Where else “rav” appears

mightyעָצוּםatsum

mighty, numerous

Strong, mighty; numerous.

Where else “atsum” appears

is the one who carries outעֹשֵׂהose

To carry out an act or to deal with someone in a certain way, for good or ill.

Where else “ose” appears

his wordדְבָרdevar

word

What someone says or announces, above all what YHWH says.

Where else “devar” appears

greatגָדוֹלgadol

great

Of great size, amount or importance: a river, a city, a king.

Where else “gadol” appears

is the dayיוֹםyom

day of YHWH

"The day of YHWH", when he comes to judge.

Where else “yom” appears

fearsomeנוֹרָאnora

be fearsome

To be so great or powerful that one inspires awe and respect.

Where else “nora” appears

can endure itיְכִילֶyechile

hold

To hold, or endure something.

Where else “yechile” appears

The context

10Before it the earth quakes, the heavens shake; sun and moon grow dark, and the stars withdraw their brightness.

11 · This verse (above)

12Yet even now, declares YHWH, return to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with lamenting.

Read all of Joel 2

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