Bible Strands
Joel 3:1
“Yes, in those days and at that time, when I restore Judah and Jerusalem from captivity,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks directly to Judah and Jerusalem, anchoring what follows (the gathering of nations for judgment in v. 2) to the moment of their return from exile.
The words — hi.Neh (הִנֵּה) is an interjection, "behold / there!" — it stops the reader and marks the scene as present before the eye. 'a.shuv (אָשִׁיב) is Hiphil of shuv, "I will cause to turn back," making God the agent of the return rather than the people's own effort.
The thread — Jeremiah 30:3, Zephaniah 3:19, and Ezekiel 39:25 all pair God's act of restoring His people with a subsequent act against their enemies, treating restoration as the premise for judgment.
Why it lands — The verse is a dependent clause; it does not stand alone as comfort. It asks the reader to hold restoration and the coming judgment of the nations in the same breath, not to extract one and discard the other.
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
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
Cross-references
- Zephaniah 3:19 Behold, at that time, I will deal with all who afflict you. I will save the lame and gather the scattered; and I will appoint praise and fame for the disgraced throughout the earth.
- Jeremiah 30:3 For behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore from captivity My people Israel and Judah, declares the LORD. I will restore them to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’”
- Ezekiel 39:25 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Now I will restore Jacob from captivity and will have compassion on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for My holy name.
- Amos 9:14 I will restore My people Israel from captivity; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
- Jeremiah 29:14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and places to which I have banished you, declares the LORD. I will restore you to the place from which I sent you into exile.”
- Psalms 85:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity.
- Deuteronomy 30:3 then He will restore you from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you from all the nations to which the LORD your God has scattered you.
- Jeremiah 23:3 Then I Myself will gather the remnant of My flock from all the lands to which I have banished them, and I will return them to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and multiply.
- Jeremiah 30:18 This is what the LORD says: “I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings. And the city will be rebuilt on her own ruins, and the palace will stand in its rightful place.
- Psalms 14:7 Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!