Joel 2:9
Joel 2:9 in Multiple Translations
They storm the city; they run along the wall; they climb into houses, entering through windows like thieves.
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.
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.
They make a rush on the town, running on the wall; they go up into the houses and in through the windows like a thief.
They rush to and fro in the city; they run along the walls; they climb into houses, entering through the windows like thieves.
They shall runne to and from in the citie: they shall runne vpon the wall: they shall clime vp vpon the houses, and enter in at ye windowes like ye thiefe.
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.
They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves.
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.
They 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.
They swarm over the city walls and enter our houses; they enter through our windows like [SIM] thieves do.
Berean Amplified Bible — Joel 2:9
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Joel 2:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בָּ/עִ֣יר
יָשֹׁ֗קּוּ
בַּֽ/חוֹמָה֙
יְרֻצ֔וּ/ן
בַּ/בָּתִּ֖ים
יַעֲל֑וּ
בְּעַ֧ד
הַ/חַלּוֹנִ֛ים
יָבֹ֖אוּ
כַּ/גַּנָּֽב
בָּ/עִ֣יר
ʻîyr
H5892
excitement
Prep | N-fs
יָשֹׁ֗קּוּ
shâqaq
H8264
to rush
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
בַּֽ/חוֹמָה֙
chôwmâh
H2346
wall
Prep | N-fs
יְרֻצ֔וּ/ן
rûwts
H7323
to run
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff
בַּ/בָּתִּ֖ים
bayith
H1004
place
Prep | N-mp
יַעֲל֑וּ
ʻâlâh
H5927
to ascend
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
בְּעַ֧ד
bᵉʻad
H1157
about/through/for
Prep
הַ/חַלּוֹנִ֛ים
challôwn
H2474
window
Art | N-cp
יָבֹ֖אוּ
bôwʼ
H935
Lebo
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
כַּ/גַּנָּֽב
gannâb
H1590
thief
Prep | N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Joel 2:9
בָּ/עִ֣יר
ʻîyr
H5892
"excitement"
Prep | N-fs
In the Bible, this word refers to a city or town, often a place with a wall or a watchman. It is used to describe a settlement or encampment, like the city of Ai, which is mentioned in the book of Joshua. The word is used to identify specific locations in the Bible.
Definition: 1) excitement, anguish 1a) of terror
Usage: Occurs in 936 OT verses. KJV: Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town. See also: Genesis 4:17; Deuteronomy 3:6; Joshua 14:12.
יָשֹׁ֗קּוּ
shâqaq
H8264
"to rush"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
This Hebrew word means to rush or run about, often implying a strong desire or greed. It's used to describe seeking something eagerly, like a wild animal. In the Bible, it appears in contexts like Psalm 42:1, where the psalmist longs for God.
Definition: 1) to run, run about, rush, run to and fro, be eager or greedy or thirsty 1a) (Qal) roving, ranging, longing, rush out upon (participle) 1b) (Hithpalpel) to rush to and fro, rush back and forth
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: have appetite, justle one against another, long, range, run (to and fro). See also: Psalms 107:9; Isaiah 33:4; Proverbs 28:15.
בַּֽ/חוֹמָה֙
chôwmâh
H2346
"wall"
Prep | N-fs
A wall of protection, like the walls of Jerusalem, provided safety and security for the people. It appears in the Bible as a physical barrier. The Israelites built walls around their cities for defense.
Definition: wall
Usage: Occurs in 123 OT verses. KJV: wall, walled. See also: Exodus 14:22; Nehemiah 6:15; Psalms 51:20.
יְרֻצ֔וּ/ן
rûwts
H7323
"to run"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff
To run or rush, often used to describe someone moving quickly, as seen in the story of the runners in Jeremiah 51:31. This verb appears in various forms, including running swiftly or darting. It is used to convey a sense of urgency or haste.
Definition: : run/runner/messenger 1) to run 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to run 1a2) runners (participle as subst) 1b) (Polel) to run swiftly, dart 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to bring or move quickly, hurry 1c2) to drive away from, cause to run away
Usage: Occurs in 92 OT verses. KJV: break down, divide speedily, footman, guard, bring hastily, (make) run (away, through), post. See also: Genesis 18:2; 2 Kings 11:6; Psalms 18:30.
בַּ/בָּתִּ֖ים
bayith
H1004
"place"
Prep | N-mp
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
יַעֲל֑וּ
ʻâlâh
H5927
"to ascend"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To ascend means to go up or rise, like the smoke from an altar going up to God, as described in many Bible passages, including Leviticus and Psalms.
Definition: : rise/go 1) to go up, ascend, climb 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go up, ascend 1a2) to meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat 1a3) to go up, come up (of animals) 1a4) to spring up, grow, shoot forth (of vegetation) 1a5) to go up, go up over, rise (of natural phenomenon) 1a6) to come up (before God) 1a7) to go up, go up over, extend (of boundary) 1a8) to excel, be superior to 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away 1b2) to take oneself away 1b3) to be exalted 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to bring up, cause to ascend or climb, cause to go up 1c2) to bring up, bring against, take away 1c3) to bring up, draw up, train 1c4) to cause to ascend 1c5) to rouse, stir up (mentally) 1c6) to offer, bring up (of gifts) 1c7) to exalt 1c8) to cause to ascend, offer 1d) (Hophal) 1d1) to be carried away, be led up 1d2) to be taken up into, be inserted in 1d3) to be offered 1e) (Hithpael) to lift oneself
Usage: Occurs in 817 OT verses. KJV: arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, [phrase] shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, [idiom] mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, [phrase] perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work. See also: Genesis 2:6; Exodus 34:4; Joshua 7:6.
בְּעַ֧ד
bᵉʻad
H1157
"about/through/for"
Prep
This word means about, through, or for something, often used to describe location or action. It can be translated as 'about', 'at', 'by', or 'through', depending on the context in which it is used.
Definition: 1) behind, through, round about, on behalf of, away from, about 1a) through (of action) 1b) behind (with verbs of shutting) 1c) about (with verbs of fencing) 1d) on behalf of (metaph. especially with Hithpael)
Usage: Occurs in 81 OT verses. KJV: about, at by (means of), for, over, through, up (-on), within. See also: Genesis 7:16; 2 Chronicles 30:18; Psalms 3:4.
הַ/חַלּוֹנִ֛ים
challôwn
H2474
"window"
Art | N-cp
A window in ancient times was a hole in the wall, as described in the Bible. The Hebrew word for window is used in the story of Jezebel's death in 2 Kings 9:30-33. Windows were also mentioned in the Song of Solomon.
Definition: window (piercing of the wall)
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: window. See also: Genesis 8:6; Proverbs 7:6; Jeremiah 9:20.
יָבֹ֖אוּ
bôwʼ
H935
"Lebo"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Definition: A shortened name of Lebo Hamath complined withcha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574) This name means to go in, enter
Usage: Occurs in 2307 OT verses. KJV: abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. See also: Genesis 2:19; Genesis 32:7; Exodus 1:19.
כַּ/גַּנָּֽב
gannâb
H1590
"thief"
Prep | N-ms
A thief is someone who takes things that dont belong to them, as seen in the Bible where Jesus teaches about a thief in the night. This word is used to describe people who steal. It appears in various Bible stories.
Definition: thief
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: thief. See also: Exodus 22:1; Proverbs 29:24; Psalms 50:18.
Study Notes — Joel 2:9
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Joel 2:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Joel 2:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joel 2:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Joel 2:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Joel 2:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Joel 2:9
- Cambridge Bible on Joel 2:9
- Barnes' Notes on Joel 2:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Joel 2:9
- Sermons on Joel 2:9
Context — The Army of Locusts
7They charge like mighty men; they scale the walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the course.
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. 11The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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. |
| 2 | 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. |
| 3 | Exodus 10:6 | They will fill your houses and the houses of all your officials and every Egyptian—something neither your fathers nor your grandfathers have seen since the day they came into this land.’” Then Moses turned and left Pharaoh’s presence. |
Joel 2:9 Summary
This verse, Joel 2:9, describes an army invading a city, which represents God's powerful judgment. The invaders climb into houses through windows like thieves, showing how sudden and unexpected God's judgment can be, much like the coming of the Lord described in 1 Thessalonians 5:2. This invasion is a call to repentance and a reminder that God is a holy and just God, as seen in Isaiah 6:1-5, where the prophet Isaiah encounters God's holiness and is convicted of his own sin. As we reflect on this verse, we can ask ourselves if we are prepared for God's judgment and if we are living in a way that honors Him, as encouraged in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the army storming the city in Joel 2:9?
The army storming the city in Joel 2:9 represents the overwhelming power and invasion of God's judgment, as seen in similar passages like Jeremiah 4:13 and Ezekiel 26:8-11, where God's judgment is likened to a powerful army invading a city.
Why do the invaders climb into houses through windows like thieves?
The invaders climbing into houses through windows like thieves, as described in Joel 2:9, symbolizes the sudden and unexpected nature of God's judgment, much like the coming of the Lord described in 1 Thessalonians 5:2, where it is likened to a thief in the night.
Is this verse talking about a literal army or a spiritual one?
While the description in Joel 2:9 can be taken literally, the context of the chapter suggests that it may also be symbolic of a spiritual army, as seen in Ephesians 6:12, where we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
How does this verse relate to the Day of the Lord?
The storming of the city in Joel 2:9 is directly connected to the Day of the Lord, as described in Joel 2:11, where the Lord raises His voice in the presence of His army, emphasizing the great and dreadful nature of that day, as also mentioned in Malachi 4:5 and Acts 2:20.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that God's judgment can feel like an invasion in our personal lives, and how can we prepare for it?
- How can we distinguish between God's judgment and the attacks of the enemy, as described in 1 Peter 5:8-9?
- In what ways can we, like the invaders in Joel 2:9, be guilty of 'invading' others' space or privacy, and what does this reveal about our own hearts?
- What does the image of the invaders climbing through windows like thieves say about the nature of sin and its effects on our lives, as described in Romans 3:23?
Gill's Exposition on Joel 2:9
They shall run to and fro in the city,.... Leap about from place to place, as locusts do; see Isaiah 33:4; and as the Chaldeans did when they became masters of the city of Jerusalem; they ran about
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joel 2:9
They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Depicting the regular military order of
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Joel 2:9
In this verse we must discern what is any whir proper to the locusts, and what is applicable more fitly to the soldiers figured by them. They shall run to and fro: this seems not proper to these insects, which move forward, and alter not their course in such limited and straitened bounds as a city; but this well suits with soldiers that conquer a city, and search all places for plunder and prey. In the city; in every city that they take. They shall run upon the wall; to clear the wall of all the besieged who did defend it, to help up others that were scaling the wall, and to seize towers which were built upon the wall: this is better fitted to soldiers that take a city than to locusts. They shall climb up upon the houses; either forsaken and shut fast up by the inhabitants before they left them, or houses defended by such as are in them, as is usual in cities taken by assault. They shall enter in at the windows; where they can find the first entrance, there they will through, and nothing shall keep them out. Like a thief; suddenly, unexpectedly, to spoil at least, if not to kill and destroy: locusts and soldiers will do this.
Trapp's Commentary on Joel 2:9
Joe 2:9 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.Ver. 9. They shall run to and fro] As soldiers do when they have taken a town by assault, and have leave to plunder. En victoriam et hostilem insultationem, saith Mercer here. See the lively portraiture of victory and triumph. They shall run upon the wall] After they have scaled it (as before) they shall walk or run upon it as conquerors, without fear of an enemy. Alexander the Great would do so. They shall climb up upon the houses] No longer now the owners’ castles; for they shall be ferreted out of their retiring rooms, or forced to do as Sardanapalus the Assyrian monarch did; who, straited by the enemy, sacrificed himself with his wealth and wenches to Vulcan in a woodpile (as one phraseth it) in his royal palace. They shall enter in at the windows, as a thief] Whose property is, 1. To climb up some other way and not to enter in by the door, John 10:1; death also getteth in by the windows and that way entereth into palaces, Jeremiah 9:21; so doth Satan (that thief of the truth, as Basil calleth him) wind himself into the soul by the eyes, those windows of wickedness and loop holes of lust. 2. To rifle and ransack, and leave little enough behind him.
What clean work these insects made, see before, Joe 1:4, and take notice what great matters God Almighty can do by the most contemptible creatures. Quid cimice vilius, saith Philo the Jew, what can be baser than a louse? and yet all the strength of Egypt was brought down by that despicable vermin? Pliny in his eighth book and 24th chapter tells us out of Mr Varro, that a great town of Spain was undermined and overturned by conies; another in Thessaly by moles; a third in France undone by frogs; a fourth in Africa by locusts; a fifth in Italy by serpents, Clara exitii documenta sunt ex contemnendis animalibus (Plin.). Who hath not heard of Hatto, that merciless Archbishop of Mentz, devoured by mice, though he had moated up himself against their invasion in an island? God cannot possibly want a weapon wherewith to beat his rebels.
Ellicott's Commentary on Joel 2:9
(7-9) They shall run lite mighty men.—The onward irresistible march of the invaders is graphically described by the illustration of the advance of locusts. They appear on the mountains which environ the city, they mount the walls, they rush through the streets, they enter the houses, they are in possession of Jerusalem. Dr. Thomson (The Land and the Book, p. 416) describes the movements of a locust army in the following terms:—“Their number was astounding; the whole face of the mountain was black with them. On they came, like a living deluge. We dug trenches, and kindled fires, and beat and burned to death heaps upon heaps; but the effort was utterly useless. Wave after wave rolled up the mountain-side, and poured over rocks, walls, ditches, hedges—those behind covering up and bridging over the masses already killed.”
Cambridge Bible on Joel 2:9
9. They course about in the city; they run upon the wall] no sooner have they gained an entrance than they make the city their own, and take possession of the walls. The exact force of the word rendered course about is not certain: it is used of locusts in Isaiah 33:4 (“like the attack of locusts, shall they attack it”), of a bear in Proverbs 28:15 (“A growling lion, and a ranging bear”), and (in a reflexive form) of chariots charging the suburbs of a city in Nahum 2:4 (“they justle one another in the broad places”). climb up into the houses] cf. Exodus 10:6. Modern travellers relate the same: e.g. Morier, below, p. 89. Eastern windows, being not glazed, but consisting merely of an opening with lattice-work, would naturally present no obstacle to the entrance of the locusts.
Barnes' Notes on Joel 2:9
They shall run to and fro in the city - “The city” is questionless Jerusalem.
Whedon's Commentary on Joel 2:9
7-10. The comparison with a well-equipped army is taken up again and carried further; the advance is irresistible; there is no confusion or disorder in their ranks; they climb the highest walls; they
Sermons on Joel 2:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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De Vitis Patrum, Book Ix by Heribert Rosweyde | Heribert Rosweyde preaches on the lives of devout men, like Jacobus of Nisibis, who embraced a solitary life in pursuit of virtue and wisdom, demonstrating through their actions th |
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Hearing and Knowing the Voice of the Lord by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, Brother Wilkerson discusses the concept of God allowing Satan to deceive and attack godly Christians. He emphasizes the need for vigilance and watchfulness against |
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They Have Done Away With the Cross by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the rise of a new generation of ministers who are focused on building large complexes that offer various amenities and entertainment. While th |
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(John - Part 38): Jesus the Only True Shepherd of the Sheep by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the theme of the shepherd and the sheepfold, drawing inspiration from Psalm 23. The speaker highlights seven points of attention in the first |
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(John - Part 39): The Relationship Between the Shepherd and the Sheep by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the role of a shepherd in taking care of his flock. He compares a mother's responsibility for her children to a shepherd's responsibility fo |
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It's Harvest Time by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of harvest time and how it relates to the current generation. He emphasizes that God knew the unique challenges this generation wo |
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Judges and Jesters by Scott Hynds | In this sermon, the preacher highlights various concerning practices and beliefs within the church. He mentions instances of people claiming to have encounters with angels and supe |