Joel 2:16

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet addresses Judah during a proclaimed sacred assembly and fast, commanding a universal mobilization before the nation faces impending judgment.

The words — The Hebrew verbs קַדְּשׁוּ (qaddəšû, "consecrate") and אִסְפוּ (ʾisfû, "gather") issue direct commands to set apart and assemble every demographic without exception.

The thread — This complete demographic summons parallels the gathering of all Judah with their families before the LORD in 2 Chronicles 20:13 and fulfills the sacred assembly proclaimed in Joel 2:15.

Why it lands — The text demands the immediate suspension of ordinary routines, including marital quarters, to prioritize corporate repentance and intercession.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אִסְפוּ־'is.fu-gather עָ֞ם'am[the] people קַדְּשׁ֤וּka.de.Shuconsecrate קָהָל֙ka.Halan assembly קִבְצ֣וּkiv.Tzugather זְקֵנִ֔יםze.ke.Nim[the] elders אִסְפוּ֙'is.Fugather עֽוֹלָלִ֔יםo.la.Limchildren וְיֹנְקֵ֖יve./yo.ne.Keiand/ suckling-children of שָׁדָ֑יִםsha.Da.yimbreasts יֵצֵ֤אye.Tze'let him go out חָתָן֙cha.Tan[the] bridegroom מֵֽחֶדְר֔וֹme./ched.R/ofrom/ room/ his וְכַלָּ֖הve./kha.Lahand/ [the] bride מֵחֻפָּתָֽהּ׃me./chu.pa.Ta/hfrom/ chamber/ her

King James Version

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 20:13 Meanwhile all the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, were standing before the LORD.
2 Chronicles 29:5 “Listen to me, O Levites,” he said. “Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove from the Holy Place every impurity.
1 Corinthians 7:5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
Exodus 19:10 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. They must wash their clothes
Exodus 19:22 Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”
1 Samuel 16:5 “In peace,” he replied. “I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
Joel 1:14 Consecrate a fast; proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the elders and all the residents of the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
Zechariah 12:11 On that day the wailing in Jerusalem will be as great as the wailing of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
Exodus 19:15 “Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”
Deuteronomy 29:10 All of you are standing today before the LORD your God—you leaders of tribes, elders, officials, and all the men of Israel,