Joel 3:21

For I will cleanse their blood [that] I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.

For I will cleanse {H5352} their blood {H1818} that I have not cleansed {H5352}: for the LORD {H3068} dwelleth {H7931} in Zion {H6726}.

"I will cleanse them of bloodguilt which I have not yet cleansed," for ADONAI is living in Tziyon.

For I will avenge their blood, which I have not yet avenged.” For the LORD dwells in Zion.

And I will cleanse their blood, that I have not cleansed: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion.

Commentary on Joel 3:21 (KJV)

Joel 3:21 concludes the prophetic book of Joel with a powerful declaration of God's ultimate justice and enduring presence. This verse serves as a final assurance of divine intervention and restoration following the judgments described earlier in the chapter.

Context

The book of Joel primarily addresses a severe locust plague and drought, which the prophet interprets as a foretaste of the coming Day of the Lord. Chapter 3 specifically shifts focus to God's judgment upon the nations for their mistreatment of Judah and Jerusalem, particularly for scattering His people and dividing His land. The preceding verses (Joel 3:19-20) pronounce judgment on Egypt and Edom for their violence against the children of Judah, contrasting this with Judah's eternal dwelling. Verse 21, therefore, serves as the triumphant climax, promising a complete purification and the enduring establishment of God's dwelling among His people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Cleansing: The phrase "I will cleanse their blood [that] I have not cleansed" speaks to God's commitment to address all unpunished injustices, particularly the shedding of innocent blood. It signifies His ultimate purification and avenging of wrongs, ensuring that no sin or violence against His people goes unaddressed.
  • God's Permanent Presence: The declaration "for the LORD dwelleth in Zion" is the foundational assurance of this cleansing and restoration. God's dwelling in His holy city, Jerusalem (Zion), signifies His unwavering sovereignty, His covenant faithfulness, and His active governance over His people and the earth. This presence guarantees His protective and redemptive work, leading to a state of ultimate peace and purity.
  • Restoration and Atonement: This verse points to a future where divine justice is fully realized, and the land and people are purified from all defilement. It implies a complete and final restoration, where the consequences of past sins are undone by God's righteous judgment and cleansing power.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "cleanse" (נָקָה, naqah) carries the meaning of being clean, innocent, or acquitted. In the context of "blood," it often refers to avenging innocent bloodshed or purifying from the guilt associated with it. When God declares, "I will cleanse their blood [that] I have not cleansed," it signifies that He will hold those accountable who shed innocent blood and remove the stain of guilt from His land and people, ensuring that justice is ultimately served.

Practical Application

Joel 3:21 offers profound comfort and hope. It assures believers that no injustice, no matter how long it goes unaddressed in human courts, escapes God's notice. His promise to "cleanse their blood" reminds us that God's righteous justice will ultimately prevail. Furthermore, the truth that the Lord dwells in Zion (and by extension, among His people) provides an anchor of hope for a future where God's presence brings complete purification and peace, culminating in His ultimate dwelling with humanity in the new creation (Revelation 21:3). This verse encourages us to trust in God's sovereign plan and His promise of purification, both for the world and for our own lives, as seen in God's promise of purification.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 36:25

    ¶ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

  • Isaiah 4:4

    When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

  • Revelation 21:3

    And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.

  • Ezekiel 36:29

    I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.

  • Ezekiel 48:35

    [It was] round about eighteen thousand [measures]: and the name of the city from [that] day [shall be], The LORD [is] there.

  • Joel 3:17

    So shall ye know that I [am] the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.

  • Matthew 27:25

    Then answered all the people, and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children.

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