Joel 2:23

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first [month].

Be glad {H1523} then, ye children {H1121} of Zion {H6726}, and rejoice {H8055} in the LORD {H3068} your God {H430}: for he hath given {H5414} you the former rain {H4175} moderately {H6666}, and he will cause to come down {H3381} for you the rain {H1653}, the former rain {H4175}, and the latter rain {H4456} in the first {H7223} month.

Be glad, people of Tziyon! rejoice in ADONAI your God! For he is giving you the right amount of rain in the fall, he makes the rain come down for you, the fall and spring rains - this is what he does first.

Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before.

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month.

Commentary

Joel 2:23 is a pivotal verse in the prophetic book of Joel, shifting from a message of impending judgment and a call to repentance to one of profound hope and divine restoration. It assures the "children of Zion" – God's people, Israel – that their repentance will be met with bountiful blessings.

Context

This verse follows a vivid description of a devastating locust plague and a severe drought, which Joel presents as a harbinger of the "Day of the LORD" (Joel 2:1). The prophet calls for solemn repentance, fasting, and prayer (Joel 2:12-17). In response to their turning back to Him, God declares His compassion and promises to reverse the calamity. Joel 2:23 is part of this glorious promise of restoration, specifically addressing the agricultural and spiritual renewal God will bring to His land and people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Restoration and Provision: The verse highlights God's power to restore what was lost. After the devastation, God promises to send the life-giving rains essential for agricultural prosperity, symbolizing His comprehensive restoration of their fortunes. This theme is further elaborated in Joel 2:25, where God promises to restore the years that the locusts have eaten.
  • Rejoicing in the Lord: The command "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God" underscores that the appropriate response to God's faithfulness and provision is joy and gratitude. This joy is rooted not just in the blessings themselves, but in the character of the Giver.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: God's promise of rain and abundance demonstrates His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant with Israel, showing that He responds to their repentance with grace and blessing, fulfilling His promises to sustain them in the land.
  • Agricultural Blessings: The specific mention of "the former rain" and "the latter rain" points to critical agricultural cycles in ancient Israel. The former rain (autumn) was needed for planting, and the latter rain (spring) for the crops to mature before harvest. Their reliable provision was a sign of God's blessing and a thriving economy.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "he hath given you the former rain moderately" in the KJV carries a significant nuance in the original Hebrew. The word translated "moderately" is li-tzedaqah (ΧœΦ΄Χ¦Φ°Χ“ΦΈΧ§ΦΈΧ”), which literally means "for righteousness" or "according to righteousness." This can be interpreted in several ways:

  • Rain for Righteousness: God sends the rain as a reward for their repentance and newfound righteousness.
  • Rain Righteously/Justly: God sends the rain in its proper time and measure, demonstrating His righteous governance over creation.
  • Rain as a Teacher of Righteousness: Some scholars and ancient translations (including the Septuagint) understand moreh tzedaqah ("former rain for righteousness") as a spiritual promise, possibly referring to a "teacher of righteousness" (a messianic or prophetic figure) who brings spiritual instruction, just as the rain brings physical life. While the primary context is agricultural, this dual meaning enriches the prophecy, pointing to both physical and spiritual restoration.

The repetition of "the former rain, and the latter rain" emphasizes the completeness and reliability of God's promised provision, ensuring a full agricultural cycle.

Practical Application

Joel 2:23 offers timeless encouragement for believers today:

  • Hope in Adversity: Even after periods of hardship, loss, or spiritual barrenness, God promises restoration. We are called to look to Him with hope, knowing He can reverse our circumstances and bring new life.
  • Joy in God's Faithfulness: Our joy should not solely depend on circumstances but on God's unchanging character and His proven faithfulness. We are encouraged to rejoice in the Lord, our God, who provides for our needs.
  • Repentance and Blessing: The verse reinforces the principle that turning to God in repentance opens the door for His blessings, both spiritual and material.
  • Trust in Divine Timing: Just as God sends the former and latter rains in their appointed time, we can trust His perfect timing for His blessings and answers to prayer in our lives.
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Cross-References

  • James 5:7 (44 votes)

    Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

  • James 5:8 (44 votes)

    Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

  • Philippians 4:4 (28 votes)

    Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.

  • Leviticus 26:4 (25 votes)

    Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

  • Hosea 6:3 (15 votes)

    Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter [and] former rain unto the earth.

  • Deuteronomy 11:14 (14 votes)

    That I will give [you] the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.

  • Isaiah 12:2 (14 votes)

    Behold, God [is] my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become my salvation.