Joel 3:21 NIV

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joel 3:16-21

Blessings for God’s people (3:16-21)The time of God’s judgment on his enemies is also the time of his deliverance of Jerusalem. He protects his people from punishment, purifies them from uncleanness, and gives them peace and prosperity (16-18). Having punished all enemies (symbolized here by Egypt and Edom), God now dwells among his people for ever. The persecutors receive their just punishment, but the righteous enter into eternal life (19-21).The day of the LordIn his book Joel has shown how... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Joel 3:21

cleanse . . . cleansed = clear . . . cleared. This could be done only by avenging it; for God will "by no means clear the guilty" (Exodus 34:7 . Numbers 14:18 ); and Egypt, Edom, &c., were guilty (Joel 3:19 ), and are not to be cleansed", but punished for shedding Judah's blood. The Hebrew nakah is not used of cleansing, naturally or ceremonially. Not the same word as Isaiah 4:4 . The Septuagint and Syriac render it "make inquisition for" in 2 Kings 9:7 ; and evidently read nakam = to... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Joel 3:21

"And I will cleanse their blood which I have not cleansed: for Jehovah dwelleth in Zion.As Myers pointed out, "The Lord dwells in Zion" is almost a signature of validity with which Joel closes his book."[31] This word is one of assurance and encouragement and a guarantee of the eternal continuity and abiding presence of the Lord among his people. They will never be deserted or forsaken. No matter what may happen around them, nothing can really happen to them; for they are God's! Myers also... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Joel 3:21

Joel 3:21. For I will cleanse, &c.—cleansed— For I will avenge, &c. avenged. Houbigant reads, I will avenge their blood, and not spare; and the Lord shall inhabit Zion. The reader will see a variety of different interpretations in Pocock: but none of these, says Dr. Chandler, satisfy me. If we read the former part of the words by way of interrogation, the sense will appear strong and beautiful, and the answer in the latter clause just and striking. "Judah shall dwell for ever; but shall... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Joel 3:21

21. cleanse . . . blood . . . not cleansed—I will purge away from Judah the extreme guilt (represented by "blood," the shedding of which was the climax of her sin, Isaiah 1:15) which was for long not purged away, but visited with judgments (Isaiah 1:15- :). Messiah saves from guilt, in order to save from punishment (Matthew 1:21). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joel 3:18-21

C. Israel’s ultimate restoration 3:18-21 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joel 3:21

God’s final promise through Joel was that He would avenge the blood shed by these enemies of Israel, which He had not yet avenged in the prophet’s day. He promised to do this because He dwelt in Zion, that is, He had a special covenant relationship with Israel (cf. Ezekiel 43:1-12; Zechariah 2:10-13)."Joel 3:1-21 [Joel 4:1-21] became the classic passage for the rest of the OT on God’s final judgment on all nations. It also became the classic statement for the blessed result for the people of... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 3:1-21

The Judgment of the Heathen and the Glory of IsraelA general judgment of all nations, for their mistreatment of Israel, is announced in the valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:1-4). Tyre, Zidon, and Philistia, immediate neighbours of Israel, are arraigned for robbery and slave trade, and sentenced according to the lex talionis (Joel 3:5-8). All nations are then summoned as though to a tryst of arms before Jehovah (Joel 3:9-13), whose terrible Day is described (Joel 3:14-17), ending with the blessing... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Joel 3:21

(21) I will cleanse . . .—The LXX. translate this sentence, “I will avenge their blood, and not leave it unavenged”—i.e., the “innocent blood” mentioned in Joel 3:19; but the promise seems rather to indicate, as in the English Version, the extension of God’s pardon to those hitherto unpardoned.The Lord dwelleth in Zion—i.e., over a raging and swelling world, probably unconscious of Him, the Lord nevertheless reigns in the heavenly Jerusalem, and all His redeemed shall dwell securely under His... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Joel 3:1-21

THE JUDGMENT OF THE HEATHENJoel 3:1-21HITHERTO Joel has spoken no syllable of the heathen, except to pray that God by His plagues will not give Israel to be mocked by them. But in the last chapter of the Book we have Israel’s captivity to the heathen taken for granted, a promise made that it will be removed and their land set free from the foreigner. Certain nations are singled out for judgment, which is described in the terms of Apocalypse; and the Book closes with the vision, already familiar... read more