Joel 3:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The people of Y'hudah and Yerushalayim you sold to the Greeks, so that you could remove them far away from their land.

Berean Standard Bible:

You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland.

American Standard Version:

and have sold the children of Judah and the children of Jerusalem unto the sons of the Grecians, that ye may remove them far from their border;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

The children^{H1121} also of Judah^{H3063} and the children^{H1121} of Jerusalem^{H3389} have ye sold^{H4376} unto the Grecians^{{H3125}{H1121}}, that ye might remove them far^{H7368} from their border^{H1366}.

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Commentary for Joel 3:6

Joel 3:6 is part of the prophetic book of Joel, which is situated within the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament in the Christian canon. The historical context of this verse is set during a period when the people of Judah and Jerusalem were facing severe distress, including a locust plague and drought, which were seen as divine judgments for their sins. The book of Joel calls the people to repentance and promises future restoration and blessing.

In the verse itself, the prophet Joel speaks of a time when the children of Judah and Jerusalem have been sold into the hands of the Grecians, or Greeks. This is a prophetic statement that may have been perplexing to the original audience since, at the time Joel was writing, the Greeks were not the dominant regional power; the Assyrians and Babylonians were more immediate threats. However, historically, this verse foreshadows the Hellenistic period, which came after the time of Joel, when the Greek empire, under the leadership of Alexander the Great, did indeed exert influence and control over the region of Judah and Jerusalem. The selling of people into the hands of foreigners was a common practice in ancient times, often as a result of war, debt, or as punishment, and it typically involved forced labor or slavery.

The themes of Joel 3:6 include divine judgment, the scattering of God's people among the nations, and the historical reality of foreign domination. The verse reflects the idea that the people of Judah and Jerusalem would be punished for their disobedience by being taken far from their homeland by a foreign power, in this case, the Greeks. This dispersion was seen as a tragic consequence of their failure to adhere to God's covenant and a fulfillment of the curses for disobedience outlined in the Torah (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:64-68). The broader context of the verse also points to a future hope of restoration and justice, where God would eventually gather His people back to their land and judge the nations that had oppressed them.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3063
   There are 754 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהוּדָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-daw'
   Description: from יָדָה; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3389
   There are 600 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם
   Transliteration: Yᵉrûwshâlaim
   Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im
   Description: rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of יְרוּשָׁלֵם)); probably from (the passive participle of) יָרָה and שָׁלַם; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine; Jerusalem.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4376
   There are 74 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָכַר
   Transliteration: mâkar
   Pronunciation: maw-kar'
   Description: a primitive root; to sell, literally (as merchandise, a daughter in marriage, into slavery), or figuratively (to surrender); [idiom] at all, sell (away, -er, self).
   
5. Strong's Number: H3125
   There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְוָנִי
   Transliteration: Yᵉvânîy
   Pronunciation: yev-aw-nee'
   Description: patronymically from יָוֵן; a Jevanite, or descendant of Javan; Grecian.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7368
   There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָחַק
   Transliteration: râchaq
   Pronunciation: raw-khak'
   Description: a primitive root; to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation); (a-, be, cast, drive, get, go, keep (self), put, remove, be too, (wander), withdraw) far (away, off), loose, [idiom] refrain, very, (be) a good way (off).
   
7. Strong's Number: H1366
   There are 196 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גְּבוּל
   Transliteration: gᵉbûwl
   Pronunciation: gheb-ool'
   Description: or גְּבֻל; (shortened) from גָּבַל; properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed; border, bound, coast, [idiom] great, landmark, limit, quarter, space.