The Meaning of Joel 3:2 Explained

Joel 3:2

KJV: 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.

YLT: Then I have gathered all the nations, And caused them to go down unto the valley of Jehoshaphat, And I have been judged with them there, Concerning My people and Mine inheritance -- Israel, Whom they scattered among nations, And My land they have apportioned.

Darby: I will also gather all the nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of my people and mine inheritance, Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations: and they have parted my land;

ASV: I will gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will execute judgment upon them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations: and they have parted my land,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Joel 3:2 Mean?

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 3:2 mean?

and I will gather - all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat and I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people and My heritage Israel Whom they have scattered among the nations and also My land they have divided up
וְקִבַּצְתִּי֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְה֣וֹרַדְתִּ֔ים אֶל־ עֵ֖מֶק יְהֽוֹשָׁפָ֑ט וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֨י עִמָּ֜ם שָׁ֗ם עַל־ עַמִּ֨י וְנַחֲלָתִ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר פִּזְּר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְאֶת־ אַרְצִ֖י חִלֵּֽקוּ

וְקִבַּצְתִּי֙  and  I  will  gather 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם  nations 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
וְה֣וֹרַדְתִּ֔ים  and  bring  them  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular, third person masculine plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
עֵ֖מֶק  the  Valley 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵמֶק  
Sense: valley, vale, lowland, open country.
יְהֽוֹשָׁפָ֑ט  of  Jehoshaphat 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹושָׁפָט 
Sense: son of king Asa and himself king of Judah for 25 years; one of the best, most pious, and prosperous kings of Judah.
וְנִשְׁפַּטְתִּ֨י  and  I  will  enter  into  judgment 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
עִמָּ֜ם  with  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
עַל־  On  account 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
עַמִּ֨י  of  My  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וְנַחֲלָתִ֤י  and  My  heritage 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נַחֲלָה  
Sense: possession, property, inheritance, heritage.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  Whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
פִּזְּר֣וּ  they  have  scattered 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: פָּזַר  
Sense: to scatter, disperse.
בַגּוֹיִ֔ם  among  the  nations 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
וְאֶת־  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אַרְצִ֖י  My  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
חִלֵּֽקוּ  they  have  divided  up 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: חָלַק 
Sense: to divide, share, plunder, allot, apportion, assign.