They run like mighty men, They climb the wall like men of war; Every one marches in formation, And they do not break ranks.
Parallel translations
- WEB They run like mighty men. They climb the wall like warriors. They each march in his line, and they don’t swerve off course.
- KJV They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:
- BSB They charge like mighty men; they scale the walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the course.
- NASB They run like warriors, They climb the wall like soldiers; And each of them marches in line, Nor do they lose their way.
- NLT The attackers march like warriors and scale city walls like soldiers. Straight forward they march, never breaking rank.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The invaders advance like disciplined warriors, scaling walls and never breaking formation. Their relentless order makes them unstoppable.
Overview
Joel likens the army to mighty men who climb walls and keep their ranks without swerving. The emphasis on precision and discipline magnifies the threat, for nothing distracts or deters them. This portrait of orderly, irresistible advance underscores the certainty of God's judgment when He sends it, leaving the people no recourse but repentance.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 30:27The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.
- 2 Sam 5:8David said on that day, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites, let him go up to the watercourse and strike the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame can’t come into the house.”
- Isa 5:26–29He will lift up a banner to the nations from far, and he will whistle for them from the end of the earth. Behold, they will come speedily and swiftly.
- Joel 2:9They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves.
- 2 Sam 2:18–19The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle.
- Jer 5:10“Go up on her walls, and destroy; but don’t make a full end. Take away her branches; for they are not Yahweh’s.
- 2 Sam 1:23Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives. In their death, they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles. They were stronger than lions.
- Ps 19:5which is as a bridegroom coming out of his room, like a strong man rejoicing to run his course.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promised outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh and the call to 'everyone who calls on the name of the LORD' are fulfilled at Pentecost in the name of Jesus.
How Joel 2:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.