The Meaning of Joel 3:9 Explained

Joel 3:9

KJV: Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:

YLT: Proclaim ye this among nations, Sanctify a war, stir up the mighty ones, Come nigh, come up, let all the men of war.

Darby: Proclaim this among the nations: prepare war, arouse the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up.

ASV: Proclaim ye this among the nations; prepare war; stir up the mighty men; let all the men of war draw near, let them come up.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Proclaim  ye this among the Gentiles;  Prepare  war,  wake up  the mighty men,  let all the men  of war  draw near;  let them come up: 

What does Joel 3:9 Mean?

Study Notes

Prepare war
Joel 3:9-14 refer to Armageddon; Joel 3:15-16 are parallel with Joel 2:30-32 . From Joel 3:9-16 we have a resume of Joel 2:9-32 .

Context Summary

Joel 3:1-21 - "the Valley Of Decision"
Having stated the outward blessings that would follow repentance, Joel unveils the extraordinary spiritual blessings that were in store. The outpouring of the Spirit, described in Acts 2:16-17, does not exhaust these glorious words. This blessing is for all whom the Lord our God shall call to Himself, and as one to whom His call has come, you have a perfect right to claim your share in Pentecost. The promise is to all that are "afar off" in space and time. The very slaves, the most degraded and despised of men, become free when they yield themselves to Jesus and have an equal right to the same Spirit.
Joel 3:1-21 refers to the last desperate effort made by the powers of the world against Christ and His people. This will be the closing scene of man's apostasy. But the Lord will vindicate and deliver His oppressed from the hand of their oppressors; and the same judgment will bring them blessing. Having cleansed His people from their stains, Messiah will tabernacle among them, Revelation 21:3 [source]

Chapter Summary: Joel 3

1  God's judgments against the enemies of his people
9  God will be known in his judgment
18  His blessing upon the church

What do the individual words in Joel 3:9 mean?

Proclaim this among the nations Prepare for war Wake up the mighty men let draw near let them come up all the men of war
קִרְאוּ־ זֹאת֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם קַדְּשׁ֖וּ מִלְחָמָ֑ה הָעִ֙ירוּ֙ הַגִּבּוֹרִ֔ים יִגְּשׁ֣וּ יַֽעֲל֔וּ כֹּ֖ל אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַמִּלְחָמָֽה

קִרְאוּ־  Proclaim 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
זֹאת֙  this 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם  among  the  nations 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
קַדְּשׁ֖וּ  Prepare 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: קָדַשׁ  
Sense: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.
מִלְחָמָ֑ה  for  war 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.
הָעִ֙ירוּ֙  Wake  up 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: עוּר 
Sense: to rouse oneself, awake, awaken, incite.
הַגִּבּוֹרִ֔ים  the  mighty  men 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
יִגְּשׁ֣וּ  let  draw  near 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
יַֽעֲל֔וּ  let  them  come  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
אַנְשֵׁ֥י  the  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱנׄושׁ 
Sense: man, mortal man, person, mankind.
הַמִּלְחָמָֽה  of  war 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.