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.
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.
- BSB They do not jostle one another; each proceeds in his path. They burst through the defenses, never breaking ranks.
- 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 brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.
- 2 Chr 32:5Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.
- 2 Chr 23:10And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.
- Job 33:18He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
- Song 4:13Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
- Neh 4:17They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
- Job 36:12But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall 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.