Neither does one jostle another; they march everyone in his path, and they burst through the defenses, and don’t break ranks.
Parallel translations
- 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.
- 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 brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes. Everyone took his weapon to the water.
- 2 Chr 32:5He took courage, built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, with the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in David’s city, and made weapons and shields in abundance.
- 2 Chr 23:10He set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, near the altar and the house, around the king.
- Job 33:18He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.
- Song 4:13Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with precious fruits: henna with spikenard plants,
- Neh 4:17Those who built the wall, and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands did the work, and with the other held his weapon.
- Job 36:12But if they don’t listen, they shall perish by the sword; 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.