Bible Strands
Joel 2:31
The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The prophet Joel addresses Israel with a declaration of cosmic signs that will immediately precede the Day of the LORD. This verse bridges the heavenly and earthly wonders of Joel 2:30 and the promise of deliverance in Joel 2:32.
The words — The Hebrew verb יֵהָפֵךְ (ye.ha.Fekh) translates literally to "it will be changed," indicating a direct transformation of the sun into darkness (חֹשֶךְ, cho.shekh) and the moon into blood (דָּם, dam). This lexical choice describes a fundamental alteration of celestial order rather than simple obscuration.
The thread — The same celestial disruption appears in Matthew 24:29 following the tribulation and in Revelation 6:12 when the Lamb opens the sixth seal. The motif also aligns with Malachi 4:1, which identifies the coming Day as a consuming fire for the arrogant.
Why it lands — The text establishes that cosmic upheaval will occur before divine judgment and salvation arrive. Readers must respond by calling on the name of the LORD while the window for deliverance remains open.
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
King James Version
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
Cross-references
- Revelation 6:12 And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red,
- Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’
- Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”
- Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
- Joel 3:15 The sun and moon will grow dark, and the stars will no longer shine.
- Joel 2:10 Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness.
- Zephaniah 1:14 The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.
- Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
- Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming—cruel, with fury and burning anger—to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it.
- Luke 21:25 There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.