They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks.
Parallel translations
- WEB Neither does one jostle another; they march everyone in his path, and they burst through the defenses, and don’t break ranks.
- KJV Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.
- NKJV They do not push one another; Every one marches in his own column. Though they lunge between the weapons, They are not cut down.
- NASB They do not crowd each other, Every warrior of them marches in his path; When they burst through the defenses, They do not break ranks.
- NLT They never jostle each other; each moves in exactly the right position. They break through defenses without missing a step.
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 army moves without colliding or breaking ranks, bursting through every defense. No obstacle can stop its disciplined advance.
Overview
Joel continues to stress the host's flawless coordination as it presses forward through the city's defenses without confusion. The imagery conveys an unstoppable force executing its purpose with precision. As a picture of God's appointed judgment, it teaches that human fortifications cannot withstand the Lord's will, driving home the need to turn to Him before the day arrives.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Neh 4:23So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water.
- 2 Chr 32:5Then Hezekiah worked resolutely to rebuild all the broken sections of the wall and to raise up towers on it. He also built an outer wall and reinforced the supporting terraces of the City of David, and he produced an abundance of weapons and shields.
- 2 Chr 23:10He stationed all the troops, with their weapons in hand, surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.
- Job 33:18to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
- Song 4:13Your branches are an orchard of pomegranates with the choicest of fruits, with henna and nard,
- Neh 4:17who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.
- Job 36:12But if they do not obey, then they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
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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 2:8 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.