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Joel 2:6

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Joel 2:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “At their presence the peoples are in anguish; all faces are waxed pale.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

At their presence the peoples are in anguish; all faces are waxed pale.
Joel 2:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Joel 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and none hath escaped them.
4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so do they run.
5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6At their presence the peoples are in anguish; all faces are waxed pale.
7They run like mighty men; they climb the wall like men of war; and they march every one on his ways, and they break not their ranks.
8Neither doth one thrust another; they march every one in his path; and they burst through the weapons, and break not off [their course].
9They leap upon the city; they run upon the wall; they climb up into the houses; they enter in at the windows like a thief.
← Joel 2:5Joel 2:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Before their face the people shall be much pained, etc.] Or, “at their presence”; at the sight of them they shall be in pain, as a woman in travail; into such distress an army of locusts would throw them, since they might justly fear all the fruits of the earth would be devoured by them, and they should have nothing left to live upon; and a like consternation and pain the army of the Assyrians or Chaldeans upon sight filled them with, as they expected nothing but ruin and destruction from them: all faces shall gather blackness; like that of a pot, as the word F36 signifies; or such as appears in persons dying, or in fits and swoons; and this here, through fear and hunger; (see Na 2:10…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“much pained--namely, with terror. The Arab proverb is, "More terrible than the locusts." faces shall gather blackness-- (Isa 13:8; Jer 30:6; Nah 2:10). MAURER translates, "withdraw their brightness," that is, wax pale, lose color (compare Joe 2:10; Joe 3:15).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Before their face the people shall be much pained - The locust being such a scourge of God, good reason have men to be terrified at their approach; and those are most terrified who have most felt the affliction. In Abyssinia, some province of which was desolated every year, one relates , “When the locusts travel, the people know of it a day before, not because they see them, but they see the sun yellow and the ground yellow, through the shadow which they cast on it (their wings being yellow) and immediately the people become as dead, saying, ‘we are lost, for the Ambadas (so they call them) are coming.’ I will say what I have seen three times; the first was at Barva. During three years that…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Blackness - Such as is the colour of dead men, or the dark paleness of men frightened into swoons. Joel 2:7”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:6 Fear grips all the people: Anticipating the invasion prepared the people for the call to repentance in 2:12-14.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“all: Psa 119:83; Isa 13:8; Jer 8:21, Jer 30:6; Lam 4:8; Nah 2:10 blackness: Heb. pot Joel 2:7”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification