Joel 2:1
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
Original Language Analysis
תִּקְע֨וּ
Blow
H8628
תִּקְע֨וּ
Blow
Strong's:
H8628
Word #:
1 of 16
to clatter, i.e., slap (the hands together), clang (an instrument); by analogy, to drive (a nail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication, to become
שׁוֹפָ֜ר
ye the trumpet
H7782
שׁוֹפָ֜ר
ye the trumpet
Strong's:
H7782
Word #:
2 of 16
a cornet (as giving a clear sound) or curved horn
בְּצִיּ֗וֹן
in Zion
H6726
בְּצִיּ֗וֹן
in Zion
Strong's:
H6726
Word #:
3 of 16
tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem
וְהָרִ֙יעוּ֙
and sound an alarm
H7321
וְהָרִ֙יעוּ֙
and sound an alarm
Strong's:
H7321
Word #:
4 of 16
to mar (especially by breaking); figuratively, to split the ears (with sound), i.e., shout (for alarm or joy)
בְּהַ֣ר
mountain
H2022
בְּהַ֣ר
mountain
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
5 of 16
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
קָדְשִׁ֔י
in my holy
H6944
קָדְשִׁ֔י
in my holy
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
6 of 16
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
יִרְגְּז֕וּ
tremble
H7264
יִרְגְּז֕וּ
tremble
Strong's:
H7264
Word #:
7 of 16
to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear)
כֹּ֖ל
H3605
כֹּ֖ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יֹשְׁבֵ֣י
let all the inhabitants
H3427
יֹשְׁבֵ֣י
let all the inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
9 of 16
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
11 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יוֹם
for the day
H3117
יוֹם
for the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
13 of 16
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
14 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Joel 2:15Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:Joel 1:15Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.1 Peter 4:7But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.Joel 3:17So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.Isaiah 66:2For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.Jeremiah 5:22Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?Malachi 4:1For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.Zephaniah 3:11In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.Zephaniah 1:14The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.Jeremiah 4:5Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.
Historical Context
Zion, Jerusalem's temple hill, represented God's dwelling (Psalm 132:13-14). The shophar signaled nationwide emergency. The "Day of the LORD" concept originated in Israel expecting God to judge enemies and vindicate His people. Prophets shocked listeners by declaring that day would first judge unfaithful Israel (Amos 5:18-20). This theme runs through Isaiah (2:12, 13:6), Zephaniah (1:7,14), Malachi (4:5), into the New Testament (1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Peter 3:10).
Questions for Reflection
- Does the modern church sound clear alarms about coming judgment?
- What does proper "trembling" before God look like in daily life?
- How should certainty of Christ's return shape your priorities?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion" commands urgent alarm. The Hebrew shophar (ram's horn trumpet) served religious and military purposes. The command to "sound an alarm in my holy mountain" escalates urgency—this is emergency warning. "Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble" uses ragaz (quake/tremble) describing visceral fear before divine majesty. This trembling is proper response to Holy God (Exodus 19:16). The reason: "for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand." The phrase "Day of the LORD" (yom-YHWH) describes God's decisive intervention—sometimes judgment, sometimes deliverance, ultimately final eschatological reckoning. Reformed understanding sees this "Day" as both historical (Babylonian conquest, AD 70) and eschatological (Christ's return), each fulfillment pointing to ultimate judgment.