Joel 3:19

Authorized King James Version

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Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

Original Language Analysis

מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ Egypt H4714
מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ Egypt
Strong's: H4714
Word #: 1 of 15
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
שְׁמָמָ֖ה shall be a desolate H8077
שְׁמָמָ֖ה shall be a desolate
Strong's: H8077
Word #: 2 of 15
devastation; figuratively, astonishment
תִֽהְיֶ֔ה H1961
תִֽהְיֶ֔ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 3 of 15
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וֶאֱד֕וֹם and Edom H123
וֶאֱד֕וֹם and Edom
Strong's: H123
Word #: 4 of 15
edom, the elder twin-brother of jacob; hence the region (idumaea) occupied by him
לְמִדְבַּ֥ר wilderness H4057
לְמִדְבַּ֥ר wilderness
Strong's: H4057
Word #: 5 of 15
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
שְׁמָמָ֖ה shall be a desolate H8077
שְׁמָמָ֖ה shall be a desolate
Strong's: H8077
Word #: 6 of 15
devastation; figuratively, astonishment
תִּֽהְיֶ֑ה H1961
תִּֽהְיֶ֑ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 7 of 15
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מֵֽחֲמַס֙ for the violence H2555
מֵֽחֲמַס֙ for the violence
Strong's: H2555
Word #: 8 of 15
violence; by implication, wrong; by metonymy unjust gain
בְּנֵ֣י against the children H1121
בְּנֵ֣י against the children
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 9 of 15
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יְהוּדָ֔ה of Judah H3063
יְהוּדָ֔ה of Judah
Strong's: H3063
Word #: 10 of 15
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
אֲשֶׁר H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 11 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שָׁפְכ֥וּ because they have shed H8210
שָׁפְכ֥וּ because they have shed
Strong's: H8210
Word #: 12 of 15
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
דָם blood H1818
דָם blood
Strong's: H1818
Word #: 13 of 15
blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe
נָקִ֖יא innocent H5355
נָקִ֖יא innocent
Strong's: H5355
Word #: 14 of 15
innocent
בְּאַרְצָֽם׃ in their land H776
בְּאַרְצָֽם׃ in their land
Strong's: H776
Word #: 15 of 15
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

Analysis & Commentary

Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness (Mitsrayim li-shmamah tihyeh ve-Edom le-midbar shmamah tihyeh)—Judgment on Israel's historical enemies contrasts with Israel's restoration. Egypt enslaved Israel (Exodus 1-12); Edom refused passage (Numbers 20:14-21) and rejoiced at Jerusalem's fall (Obadiah 10-14, Psalm 137:7).

For the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land (me-chamas benei Yehudah asher shafkhu dam naqi be-artsam)—'Violence' (chamas) and 'innocent blood' (dam naqi) indict Egypt and Edom for atrocities against God's people. Ezekiel 35 pronounces detailed judgment on Edom for bloodguilt. The principle: 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord' (Romans 12:19).

Historical Context

Egypt: After periods of Israelite dominance (Solomon, Josiah), Egypt allied with Babylon against Judah, then was itself conquered by Persia (525 BC). Edom: Nabataeans displaced Edomites (c. 312 BC); by Roman times, Idumea (Edom's remnant) was absorbed into Judea. Both nations ceased to exist as prophesied, while Israel survived exile and persecution.

Questions for Reflection