Joel 2:5
New International Version
With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

New Living Translation
Look at them as they leap along the mountaintops. Listen to the noise they make—like the rumbling of chariots, like the roar of fire sweeping across a field of stubble, or like a mighty army moving into battle.

English Standard Version
As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle.

Berean Standard Bible
With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle.

Berean Literal Bible
As with the sound of chariots over the tops of mountains, they leap; like the sound of a flaming fire devouring the stubble, like a strong people arrayed for battle.

King James Bible
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

New King James Version
With a noise like chariots Over mountaintops they leap, Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, Like a strong people set in battle array.

New American Standard Bible
With a noise as of chariots They leap about on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, Like a mighty people drawn up for battle.

NASB 1995
With a noise as of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, Like a mighty people arranged for battle.

NASB 1977
With a noise as of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, Like a mighty people arranged for battle.

Legacy Standard Bible
With a noise as of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consumes the stubble, Like a mighty people arranged for battle.

Amplified Bible
Like the noise of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, Like a mighty people set in battle formation.

Berean Annotated Bible
With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle.

Christian Standard Bible
They bound on the tops of the mountains. Their sound is like the sound of chariots, like the sound of fiery flames consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for war.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They bound on the tops of the mountains. Their sound is like the sound of chariots, like the sound of fiery flames consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for war.

American Standard Version
Like 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.

Contemporary English Version
They roar over mountains like noisy chariots, or a mighty army ready for battle. They are a forest fire that feasts on straw.

English Revised Version
Like 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As they leap on mountaintops, they sound like rattling chariots, like crackling fire burning up straw, and like a mighty army prepared for battle.

Good News Translation
As they leap on the tops of the mountains, they rattle like chariots; they crackle like dry grass on fire. They are lined up like a great army ready for battle.

International Standard Version
They leap like the rumbling of chariots echoing from mountain tops, like the roar of wild fire that devours the chaff, as an army firmly established in battle array.

NET Bible
They sound like chariots rumbling over mountain tops, like the crackling of blazing fire consuming stubble, like the noise of a mighty army being drawn up for battle.

New Heart English Bible
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a mighty people drawn up for battle.

Webster's Bible Translation
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle.

World English Bible
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
As the noise of chariots, they skip on the tops of the mountains, "" As the noise of a flame of fire devouring stubble, "" As a mighty people set in array for battle.

Berean Literal Bible
As with the sound of chariots over the tops of mountains, they leap; like the sound of a flaming fire devouring the stubble, like a strong people arrayed for battle.

Young's Literal Translation
As the noise of chariots, on the tops of the mountains they skip, As the noise of a flame of fire devouring stubble, As a mighty people set in array for battle.

Smith's Literal Translation
As the voice of chariots upon the heads of the mountains they shall leap, as the voice of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, as a strong people set in order for battle.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They shall leap like the noise of chariots upon the tops of mountains, like the noise of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, as a strong people prepared to battle.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Like the sound of a four-horse chariot, they will leap over the tops of the mountains. Like the sound of a burning flame devouring stubble, they are as a strong people prepared for battle.

New American Bible
Like the rumble of chariots they hurtle across mountaintops; Like the crackling of fiery flames devouring stubble; Like a massive army in battle formation.

New Revised Standard Version
As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Like the noise of chariots that rumble on the tops of the mountains, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a mighty people arrayed for war.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Like the sound of chariots that clatter on the tops of the mountains and like the sound of the flames of fire that devours husks and like a mighty people arrayed for war
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Like 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 mighty people set in battle array.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
As the sound of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, and as the sound of a flame of fire devouring stubble, and as a numerous and strong people setting themselves in array for battle.

Additional Translations ...



Context
The Army of Locusts
4Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. 5With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle. 6Nations writhe in horror before them; every face turns pale.…

Cross References
With a sound like that of chariots

Revelation 9:9
They also had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.

Nahum 3:2
The crack of the whip, the rumble of the wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot!

Jeremiah 47:3
at the sound of the galloping hooves of stallions, the rumbling of chariots, and the clatter of their wheels. The fathers will not turn back for their sons; their hands will hang limp.
they bound over the mountaintops,

Songs 2:8
Listen! My beloved approaches. Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.

Habakkuk 3:19
GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer; He makes me walk upon the heights! For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments.

Psalm 18:33
He makes my feet like those of a deer and stations me upon the heights.
like the crackling of fire consuming stubble,

Isaiah 5:24
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw, and as dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will decay and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Malachi 4:1
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.”

Isaiah 47:14
Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. There will be no coals to warm them or fire to sit beside.
like a mighty army deployed for battle

1 Samuel 17:2
Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah, arraying themselves for battle against the Philistines.

Isaiah 13:4
Listen, a tumult on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations gathered together! The LORD of Hosts is mobilizing an army for war.

Jeremiah 51:27
“Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her—Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts.
Revelation 9:7-9
And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads; and their faces were like the faces of men. / They had hair like that of women, and teeth like those of lions. / They also had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.

Isaiah 5:28-30
Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are strung. The hooves of their horses are like flint; their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind. / Their roaring is like that of a lion; they roar like young lions. They growl and seize their prey; they carry it away, and no one can rescue it. / In that day they will roar over it, like the roaring of the sea. If one looks over the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be obscured by clouds.

Ezekiel 1:24
When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

Isaiah 66:15
For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire.


Treasury of Scripture

Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

the noise.

Nahum 2:3,4
The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken…

Nahum 3:2,3
The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots…

Revelation 9:9
And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

like the noise of a.

Isaiah 5:24
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 30:30
And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

Matthew 3:12
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

a strong.

Joel 2:2
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Jump to Previous
Army Arranged Array Battle Burning Chariots Consuming Crackling Devoureth Devouring Devours Drawn Fight Fire Flame Grain-Stems Jumping Leap Mighty Mountains Noise Powerful Rumbling Skip Sound Strong Stubble Tops War-Carriages
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Army Arranged Array Battle Burning Chariots Consuming Crackling Devoureth Devouring Devours Drawn Fight Fire Flame Grain-Stems Jumping Leap Mighty Mountains Noise Powerful Rumbling Skip Sound Strong Stubble Tops War-Carriages
Joel 2
1. He shows unto Zion the terribleness of God's judgment.
12. He exhorts to repentance;
15. prescribes a fast;
18. promises a blessing thereon.
21. He comforts Zion with present,
28. and future blessings.












With a sound like that of chariots

Locust swarms produced a roar like rushing war chariots, a familiar emblem of speed and terror.

Rev 9:9 They also had breastplates like breastplates of iron…
Nam 3:2 The crack of the whip, the rumble of the wheel,…
Jer 47:3 at the sound of the galloping hooves of stallions,…

they bound over the mountaintops,

Their advance across Judah’s hills appeared unstoppable, like an invading force crossing every barrier.

Sng 2:8 Listen! My beloved approaches. Look! Here he comes…
Hab 3:19 GOD the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those…
Psa 18:33 He makes my feet like those of a deer…

like the crackling of fire consuming stubble,

Dry vegetation vanished quickly beneath them, with a sound like fire racing through stubble.

Isa 5:24 Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw,…
Mal 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace,”…
Isa 47:14 Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up.…

like a mighty army deployed for battle.

Though locusts, they moved with the order and force of a disciplined army, carrying out the Lord’s announced judgment.

1Sa 17:2 Saul and the men of Israel assembled and camped…
Isa 13:4 Listen, a tumult on the mountains, like that of…
Jer 51:27 Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joel
The prophet who authored the book, delivering God's message to the people of Judah.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, the primary audience of Joel's prophecy.

3. Locust Plague
A devastating event symbolizing God's judgment and a call to repentance.

4. Mountaintops
Symbolic of obstacles or high places that the invading force easily overcomes.

5. Mighty Army
Represents the unstoppable force of God's judgment, often interpreted as either a literal army or a metaphorical one, such as locusts.
Teaching Points
The Power of God's Judgment
God's judgment is depicted as powerful and unstoppable, like a mighty army or consuming fire. This serves as a reminder of His sovereignty and the seriousness of sin.

The Urgency of Repentance
The vivid imagery calls for immediate repentance. Just as the locusts swiftly overcome obstacles, so too should we swiftly turn back to God.

The Certainty of God's Promises
The fulfillment of God's warnings in Joel assures us of the certainty of His promises, both of judgment and restoration.

The Call to Spiritual Readiness
Believers are called to be spiritually prepared, recognizing the signs of God's movement and responding in faith and obedience.

The Hope of Restoration
While the imagery is initially terrifying, it ultimately points to the hope of restoration for those who turn to God, as seen later in Joel.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Joel 2:5?

2. How does Joel 2:5 illustrate God's power and judgment through imagery?

3. What can we learn about God's sovereignty from "like a mighty army"?

4. How does Joel 2:5 connect to Revelation's depiction of end-times events?

5. How should the imagery in Joel 2:5 impact our daily walk with God?

6. In what ways can Joel 2:5 inspire us to prepare for spiritual battles?

7. What is the significance of Joel 2:5's imagery of chariots and fire in biblical prophecy?

8. How does Joel 2:5 relate to the theme of divine judgment in the Bible?

9. What historical events might Joel 2:5 be referencing with its vivid descriptions?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joel 2?


Verse 5. - The first clause may be understood

(1) according to the Authorized Version, whereby the leaping is attributed to the locusts, or

(2) asper may be understood after chariots, and then the leaping is predicated of the chariots. The last clause of the same verse is capable of three constructions, namely

(1) "They shall leap (yeraqqedim being supplied) as a strong people set in battle array;" or . . .

Joel 2:5 layers four vivid images—roaring chariots, mountain-leaping invaders, crackling fire, and a disciplined army—to convey one unmissable truth: when the Lord unleashes judgment, it is loud, swift, unstoppable, and perfectly ordered. For those who trust Him, the passage underscores His absolute sovereignty and calls us to steadfast faith; for the unrepentant, it is a sober warning that no obstacle, hiding place, or delay can withstand the day of His advance.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
With a sound like
כְּק֣וֹל (kə·qō·wl)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

that of chariots
מַרְכָּב֗וֹת (mar·kā·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4818: A chariot

they bound
יְרַקֵּד֔וּן (yə·raq·qê·ḏūn)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 7540: To stamp, to spring about

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the mountaintops,
הֶֽהָרִים֙ (he·hā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

like the crackling
כְּקוֹל֙ (kə·qō·wl)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of fire
אֵ֔שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

consuming
אֹכְלָ֖ה (’ō·ḵə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

stubble,
קָ֑שׁ (qāš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7179: Stubble, chaff

like a mighty
עָצ֔וּם (‘ā·ṣūm)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6099: Powerful, numerous

army
כְּעַ֣ם (kə·‘am)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

deployed
עֱר֖וּךְ (‘ĕ·rūḵ)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6186: To set in a, row, arrange, put in order

for battle.
מִלְחָמָֽה׃ (mil·ḥā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war


Additonal Resources
Joel 2:5 Blue Letter Bible
Joel 2:5 Bible Gateway
Joel 2:5 Bible.com

Joel 2:5 NIV
Joel 2:5 NLT
Joel 2:5 ESV
Joel 2:5 NASB
Joel 2:5 KJV

Joel 2:5 Study Bible
Joel 2:5 Biblia Paralela
Joel 2:5 Chinese Bible
Joel 2:5 French Bible
Joel 2:5 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Joel 2:5 Like the noise of chariots (Jl Joe.)

Joel 2:4
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