Joel 2:12-14 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joel 2:12-17

We have here an earnest exhortation to repentance, inferred from that desolating judgment described and threatened in the Joel 2:1-11: Therefore now turn you to the Lord. 1. ?Thus you must answer the end and intention of the judgment; for it was sent for this end, to convince you of your sins, to humble you for them, to reduce you to your right minds and to your allegiance.? God brings us into straits, that he may bring us to repentance and so bring us to himself. 2. ?Thus you may stay the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:12

Therefore also now, saith the Lord ,.... Before this terrible and intolerable day, which is near at hand, comes; before these judgments and calamities threatened take place, though just at hand; serious repentance is never too late, now is the accepted time; see Luke 19:42 ; turn ye even to me with all your heart ; against whom they had sinned, and who had prepared his army against them, and was at the head of it, just ready to give the orders, and play his artillery upon them; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:13

And rend your heart, and not your garments ,.... Which latter used to be done in times of distress, either private or public, and as a token of grief and sorrow, Genesis 37:34 ; nor was it criminal or unlawful, the apostles themselves used it, Acts 14:14 ; nor is it absolutely forbidden here, only comparatively, that they should rend their hearts rather than their garments; or not their garments only, but their hearts also; in like sense as the words in Hosea 6:6 ; are to be taken as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:14

Who knoweth if he will return and repent ,.... Which some understand of man, and of his returning and repentance; either thus whosoever he be that knows the ways of repentance, he will return, and God will repent of this evil: which sense is mentioned by Kimchi and Ben Melech: or he that knoweth that iniquity is on him will return and repent; so Jarchi, with which agrees the Targum, "he that knows that sins are in him will return from them, and he shall obtain mercy; and whoever repents,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:12

Turn ye even to me - Three means of turning are recommended: Fasting, weeping, mourning, i.e., continued sorrow. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:13

Rend your heart - Let it not be merely a rending of your garments, but let your hearts be truly contrite. Merely external worship and hypocritical pretensions will only increase the evil, and cause God to meet you with heavier judgments. For he is gracious - Good and benevolent in his own nature. Merciful - Pitying and forgiving, as the effect of goodness and benevolence. Slow to anger - He is not easily provoked to punish, because he is gracious and merciful. Of great... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:14

Who knoweth if he will return - He may yet interpose and turn aside the calamity threatened, and so far preserve the land from these ravagers, that there will be food for men and cattle, and a sufficiency of offerings for the temple service. Therefore: - read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:12

Verse 12 The Prophet, having proclaimed the dreadful judgment which we have noticed, now shows that he did not intend to terrify the people without reason, but, on the contrary, to encourage them to repentance; which he could not do without offering to them the hope of pardon; for as we have said before, and as it may be collected from the whole of Scripture, men cannot be restored to the right ways except they entertain a hope of God’s mercy inasmuch as he who has been ungodly, when he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:13

Verse 13 He then subjoins, Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Jehovah your God. The Prophet again repeats that we ought to deal sincerely with God; for all those ceremonies, by which men imagine that they discharge their duties, are mere mockeries, when they are not preceded by a pure and sincere heart. But as they were wont under mournful circumstances to rend their garments, he therefore says, “God has become now insensible to these customs; for with regard to men, ye are... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:14

Verse 14 The Prophet seems at first sight to leave men here perplexed and doubtful; and yet in the last verse, as we have seen, he had Offered a hope of favor, provided they sincerely repented. Hence the Prophet seems not to pursue the same subject, but rather to vary it: and we have already said, that all exhortations would be frigid, nay, useless, by which God stirs us up to repentance, except he were to testify that he is ready to be reconciled. Seeing then that the Prophet here leaves the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joel 2:12-17

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joel 2:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:14

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joel 2:14

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