Joel 2:23

KJV1611 – Modern English

Be glad then, children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the former rain in due measure, and he will cause the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain in the first month.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וּבְנֵ֣י צִיּ֗וֹן גִּ֤ילוּ וְשִׂמְחוּ֙ בַּיהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־נָתַ֥ן לָכֶ֛ם אֶת־הַמּוֹרֶ֖ה לִצְדָקָ֑ה וַיּ֣וֹרֶד לָכֶ֗ם גֶּ֛שֶׁם מוֹרֶ֥ה וּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ בָּרִאשֽׁוֹן׃

Transliteration

And-benê Tsiyôn gîlû and-simḥû in-YHWH ʾĕlōhêkhem because-nātan to-you [plural] ʾet-the-môreh to-tsedāqâ and-yôred to-you [plural] geshem môreh and-malqôsh in-the-rîʾshôn.

Grammar Details

• *benê*: masculine plural construct - sons of/children of
• *Tsiyôn*: proper noun - Zion
• *gîlû*: qal imperative, 2nd person masculine plural - rejoice/be glad
• *simḥû*: qal imperative, 2nd person masculine plural - rejoice/be joyful
• *YHWH*: proper noun - divine name
• *ʾĕlōhêkhem*: masculine plural noun with 2nd person masculine plural suffix - your God
• *nātan*: qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he has given
• *môreh*: masculine singular noun - early rain
• *tsedāqâ*: feminine singular noun - righteousness
• *yôred*: hiphil imperfect consecutive, 3rd person masculine singular - he sends down
• *geshem*: masculine singular noun - rain/shower
• *malqôsh*: masculine singular noun - latter rain
• *rîʾshôn*: masculine singular adjective with definite article - the first/former

Word Meanings

• *benê*: sons of/children of
• *gîlû*: rejoice/be glad/exult
• *simḥû*: rejoice/be joyful/be happy
• *môreh*: early rain/autumn rain
• *tsedāqâ*: righteousness/justice/right measure
• *yôred*: sends down/causes to descend
• *geshem*: rain/shower/downpour
• *malqôsh*: latter rain/spring rain
• *rîʾshôn*: the first/former/beginning

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Be glad, children of Zion; rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as in the past.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Be glad{H1523} then, ye children{H1121} of Zion,{H6726} and rejoice{H8055} in Jehovah{H3068} your God;{H430} for he giveth{H5414} you the former rain{H4175} in just measure,{H6666} and he causeth to come down{H3381} for you the rain,{H1653} the former rain{H4175} and the latter rain,{H4456} in the first{H7223} month.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Be glad{H1523}{(H8798)} then, ye children{H1121} of Zion{H6726}, and rejoice{H8055}{(H8798)} in the LORD{H3068} your God{H430}: for he hath given{H5414}{(H8804)} you the former rain{H4175} moderately{H6666}, and he will cause to come down{H3381}{(H8686)} for you the rain{H1653}, the former rain{H4175}, and the latter rain{H4456} in the first{H7223} month.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Be glad then (o ye children of Sion) and reioyse in the LORDE youre God, for he hath geuen you the teacher of rightuousnes: & he it is yt shal sende you downe shuwers of rayne, early and late in the first moneth:

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and reioyce in the Lorde your God: for he hath giuen you the rayne of righteousnes, he wil cause to come downe for you the rayne, euen the first raine, and the latter raine in the first moneth.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Be glad then ye children of Sion, and reioyce in the Lorde your God: for he hath geuen you moderate rayne, & he wyll sende downe for you the rayne, euen the first rayne & the latter rayne, in the first moneth.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first [month].

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  "Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in Yahweh, your God; For he gives you the former rain in just measure, And he causes the rain to come down for you, The former rain and the latter rain, As before.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And ye sons of Zion, joy and rejoice, In Jehovah your God, For He hath given to you the Teacher for righteousness, And causeth to come down to you a shower, Sprinkling and gathered -- in the beginning.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first `month'.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first [month] .

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Be glad, then, you children of Zion, and have joy in the Lord your God: for he gives you food in full measure, making the rain come down for you, the early and the late rain as at the first.

• World English Bible (2000)

  "Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in Yahweh, your God; for he gives you the former rain in just measure, and he causes the rain to come down for you, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Citizens of Zion, rejoice! Be glad because of what the LORD your God has done! For he has given to you the early rains as vindication. He has sent to you the rains– both the early and the late rains as formerly.

Referenced Verses

• Lev 26:4 : 4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
• Isa 12:2-6 : 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day you shall say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his deeds among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the LORD; for he has done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of you.
• Deut 11:14 : 14 That I will give you the rain of your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your wine, and your oil.
• Hos 6:3 : 3 Then shall we know, if we pursue to know the LORD: his coming is as certain as the morning; and he will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth.
• Ps 149:2 : 2 Let Israel rejoice in him who made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
• Isa 41:16 : 16 You shall fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and you shall rejoice in the LORD, and shall glory in the Holy One of Israel.
• Hab 3:17-18 : 17 Though the fig tree shall not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no food; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
• Zeph 3:14-17 : 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The LORD has taken away your judgments, he has cast out your enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of you: you shall see evil no more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not: and to Zion, Let not your hands be weak. 17 The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
• Zech 10:1 : 1 Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make bright clouds and give them showers of rain, to everyone grass in the field.
• Zech 10:7 : 7 And those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.
• Joel 2:28-29 : 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.
• Isa 30:23 : 23 Then shall he give the rain for your seed, that you shall sow the ground with; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be rich and plentiful: in that day your cattle shall feed in large pastures.
• Phil 3:1 : 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not bothersome for me, but for you it is safe.
• Phil 3:3 : 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
• Phil 4:4 : 4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
• Deut 32:2 : 2 My teaching shall drop as the rain, my words shall distill as the dew, as the gentle rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:
• Job 33:23 : 23 If there is a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man his uprightness:
• Ps 28:7 : 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise him.
• Ps 32:11-33:1 : 11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart. 1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, for praise is fitting for the upright.
• Deut 28:12 : 12 The LORD shall open unto you His good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand: and you shall lend unto many nations, and you shall not borrow.
• Ps 95:1-3 : 1 O come, let us sing to the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to him with psalms. 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
• Ps 104:34 : 34 My meditation of Him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
• Isa 61:10 : 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
• Jer 3:3 : 3 Therefore, the showers have been withheld, and there has been no latter rain; and you had a harlot's forehead, you refused to be ashamed.
• Jer 5:24 : 24 Neither do they say in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that gives rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserves unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
• Isa 30:21 : 21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.
• Jas 5:7-8 : 7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain. 8 Be also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is near.
• Luke 1:46-47 : 46 And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
• Gal 4:26-27 : 26 But the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written: 'Rejoice, O barren, you who do not bear! Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children than she who has a husband.'
• Zech 9:9 : 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King comes to you: he is just, and endowed with salvation; lowly, and riding upon a donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey.
• Amos 4:7 : 7 And also I have withheld the rain from you, when there were still three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece where it did not rain withered.
• Prov 16:15 : 15 In the light of the king's countenance is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.
• Lam 4:2 : 2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they regarded as clay pots, the work of the hands of the potter!
• Ps 72:6-7 : 6 He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. 7 In his days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace as long as the moon endures.
• Zech 9:13 : 13 For I have bent Judah for myself, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and made you like the sword of a mighty man.
• Eph 4:8-9 : 8 Therefore he says, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ascended, what does it mean but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same also who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;