King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Who knoweth [if] he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; [even] a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
Complete Jewish Bible:
Who knows? He may turn, change his mind and leave a blessing behind him, [enough for] grain offerings and drink offerings to present to ADONAI your God.
Berean Standard Bible:
Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him— grain and drink offerings for the LORD your God.
American Standard Version:
Who knoweth whether he will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal-offering and a drink-offering unto Jehovah your God?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Who knoweth{H3045} if he will return{H7725} and repent{H5162}, and leave{H7604} a blessing{H1293} behind{H310} him; even a meat offering{H4503} and a drink offering{H5262} unto the LORD{H3068} your God{H430}?
Cross-References (KJV):
Jonah 3:9
- Who can tell [if] God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
Haggai 2:19
- Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless [you].
Joel 1:13
- Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
Zephaniah 2:3
- Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
Amos 5:15
- Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
Exodus 32:30
- ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.
2 Kings 19:4
- It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up [thy] prayer for the remnant that are left.
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Commentary for Joel 2:14
Joel 2:14 is part of the prophetic book of Joel, which is set within the context of a locust plague that has devastated the land of Judah. This verse comes amidst a call to repentance and a plea for divine mercy. The prophet Joel is urging the people to turn back to God with all their heart, emphasizing the uncertainty of whether God will respond favorably to their repentance. The verse suggests a glimmer of hope that if the people were to repent sincerely, there is a possibility that God might relent from the judgment that has been imposed.
The mention of "a meat offering and a drink offering" alludes to the ritual sacrifices that were part of the religious practices of the Israelites. These offerings were presented to God as acts of worship and gratitude. In the context of Joel 2:14, the prophet is hinting at the restoration of proper worship and the resumption of regular sacrificial practices as a sign of God's forgiveness and the return of His blessings. The verse captures the essence of the relationship between repentance and restoration, suggesting that sincere remorse and a return to obedience could lead to the renewal of God's favor, symbolized by the ability to offer sacrifices once again.
Historically, the book of Joel is associated with the post-exilic period, after the Babylonian exile, when the people of Judah were seeking to rebuild their nation and their relationship with God. The themes of repentance and the hope for divine blessing are particularly relevant in this period of restoration and renewal. Joel's message would have resonated with a people longing for a tangible sign of God's presence and approval as they worked to reestablish their religious and communal life.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3045
There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָדַע
Transliteration: yâdaʻ
Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. - Strong's Number: H7725
There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׁוּב
Transliteration: shûwb
Pronunciation: shoob
Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw. - Strong's Number: H5162
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָחַם
Transliteration: nâcham
Pronunciation: naw-kham'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself); comfort (self), ease (one's self), repent(-er,-ing, self). - Strong's Number: H7604
There are 123 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁאַר
Transliteration: shâʼar
Pronunciation: shaw-ar'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to swell up, i.e. be (causatively, make) redundant; leave, (be) left, let, remain, remnant, reserve, the rest. - Strong's Number: H1293
There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּרָכָה
Transliteration: Bᵉrâkâh
Pronunciation: ber-aw-kaw'
Description: from בָרַךְ; benediction; by implication prosperity; blessing, liberal, pool, present. - Strong's Number: H310
There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחַר
Transliteration: ʼachar
Pronunciation: akh-ar'
Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with. - Strong's Number: H4503
There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִנְחָה
Transliteration: minchâh
Pronunciation: min-khaw'
Description: from an unused root meaning to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary); gift, oblation, (meat) offering, present, sacrifice. - Strong's Number: H5262
There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נֶסֶךְ
Transliteration: neçek
Pronunciation: neh'-sek
Description: or נֵסֶךְ; from נָסַךְ; a libation; also a cast idol; cover, drink offering, molten image. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H430
There are 2334 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלֹהִים
Transliteration: ʼĕlôhîym
Pronunciation: el-o-heem'
Description: plural of אֱלוֹהַּ; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative; angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty.