Joel 2:14
Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
Original Language Analysis
מִ֥י
H4310
מִ֥י
Strong's:
H4310
Word #:
1 of 11
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
יוֹדֵ֖עַ
Who knoweth
H3045
יוֹדֵ֖עַ
Who knoweth
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
2 of 11
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
יָשׁ֣וּב
if he will return
H7725
יָשׁ֣וּב
if he will return
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
3 of 11
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
וְנִחָ֑ם
and repent
H5162
וְנִחָ֑ם
and repent
Strong's:
H5162
Word #:
4 of 11
properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavo
וְהִשְׁאִ֤יר
and leave
H7604
וְהִשְׁאִ֤יר
and leave
Strong's:
H7604
Word #:
5 of 11
properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant
אַֽחֲרָיו֙
behind
H310
אַֽחֲרָיו֙
behind
Strong's:
H310
Word #:
6 of 11
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
מִנְחָ֣ה
him even a meat offering
H4503
מִנְחָ֣ה
him even a meat offering
Strong's:
H4503
Word #:
8 of 11
a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
Cross References
Jonah 3:9Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?Haggai 2:19Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.Joel 1:13Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.Exodus 32:30And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.Jonah 1:6So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.Amos 5:15Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.Joel 1:9The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.2 Kings 19:4It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left.2 Samuel 12:22And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?Zephaniah 2:3Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
Historical Context
Jonah 3:9 echoes this sentiment when Nineveh's king says "Who can tell if God will turn and repent?" Both contexts show pagan understanding: genuine repentance may move God to mercy, but humans can't demand it. This stands against mechanical views of prayer or ritual—as though correct religious performance forces God's hand. Biblical faith involves humble entreaty, not arrogant presumption.
Questions for Reflection
- How does maintaining both urgency to repent and humility about God's sovereign response balance presumption and despair?
- What's the difference between genuine repentance hoping for mercy and manipulative religiosity demanding blessings?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
"Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?" After commanding repentance (vv. 12-13), Joel introduces uncertainty: "Who knoweth?" This isn't doubt about God's character but recognition of human inability to manipulate or predict divine response. God isn't vending machine dispensing blessings for religious performance. The phrase "he will return and repent" uses anthropomorphic language—God "repenting" means changing course based on human repentance, relenting from announced judgment when people genuinely turn from sin (Jonah 3:10, Jeremiah 18:7-10). "Leave a blessing" refers to restored harvests enabling temple offerings. Reformed theology affirms God's sovereignty doesn't negate human responsibility—we must repent sincerely, not presumptuously assuming either automatic forgiveness or inevitable doom. God may show mercy; that possibility should drive repentance.