Bible Strands
Joel 3:2
I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning My people, My inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations as they divided up My land.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God addresses Judah and Jerusalem following their restoration from captivity. He announces a future assembly of all nations to a specific valley for judicial reckoning.
The words — The Hebrew verb קִבַּצְתִּי (kibbatzti) means "I will gather," and the proper noun עֵמֶק יְהוֹשָׁפָט (Emeq Yehoshaphat) names the "Valley of Jehoshaphat." These terms establish both the divine summons and the designated location of judgment.
The thread — This gathering motif appears in Zechariah 14:2, where nations are assembled against Jerusalem, and Zephaniah 3:8, which commands waiting for God to gather nations for judgment. Isaiah 66:16 extends the scope to universal judgment executed by fire and sword.
Why it lands — The text states that God will personally judge nations for scattering Israel and dividing His land. It requires readers to acknowledge that divine reckoning follows historical violence against God's people.
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
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
Cross-references
- Zechariah 14:2 For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.
- Isaiah 66:16 For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.
- Zephaniah 3:8 Therefore wait for Me,” declares the LORD, “until the day I rise to testify. For My decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them My indignation—all My burning anger. For all the earth will be consumed by the fire of My jealousy.
- Ezekiel 38:22 I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.
- Jeremiah 25:31 The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth because the LORD brings a charge against the nations. He brings judgment on all mankind and puts the wicked to the sword,’” declares the LORD.
- Ezekiel 35:10 Because you have said, ‘These two nations and countries will be ours, and we will possess them,’ even though the LORD was there,
- Ezekiel 39:11 And on that day I will give Gog a burial place in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Sea. It will block those who travel through, because Gog and all his hordes will be buried there. So it will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog.
- Joel 3:12 Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge all the nations on every side.
- Zechariah 12:3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.
- Revelation 16:16 And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.