Joel 3 · Verse 10

Joel 3:10

Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
Joel 3:10, King James Version

Joel 3:10 in other translations

BSBBeat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong!’
WEBBeat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’
ASVBeat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
YLTBeat your ploughshares to swords, And your pruning-hooks to javelins, Let the weak say, ‘I am mighty.'
DARBYBeat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning-knives into spears; let the weak say, I am strong.
BBEGet your plough-blades hammered into swords, and your vine-knives into spears: let the feeble say, I am strong.
WebsterBeat your plow-shares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

What does Joel 3:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. Beat your ploughshares into swords--As the foes are desired to "beat their ploughshares into swords, and their pruning hooks into spears," that so they may perish in their unhallowed attack on Judah and Jerusalem, so these latter, and the nations converted to God by them, after the overthrow of the antichristian confederacy, shall, on the contrary, "beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks," when under Messiah's coming reign there shall be war no more (Is 2:4; Ho 2:18; Mi 4:3). let the weak say, I am strong--So universal shall be the rage of Israel's foes for invading her, that even the weak among them will fancy themselves strong enough to join the invading forces. Age and infirmity were ordinarily made valid excuses for exemption from service, but so mad shall be the fury of the world against God's people, that even the feeble will not desire to be exempted (compare Psa 2:1-3).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Joel 3:9-17

Here is a challenge to all the enemies of God's people. There is no escaping God's judgments; hardened sinners, in that day of wrath, shall be cut off from all comfort and joy. Most of the prophets foretell the same final victory of the church of God over all that oppose it. To the wicked it will be a terrible day, but to the righteous it will be a joyful day. What cause have those who possess an interest in Christ…

Read the full comment on Joel 3:9-17 →

Joel 3:10 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כֹּ֤תּוּKo.tubeatH3807
אִתֵּיכֶם֙'i.tei.Khemplowshares yourH855
לַֽחֲרָב֔וֹתla.cha.ra.Votinto swordsH2719
וּמַזְמְרֹֽתֵיכֶ֖םu.maz.me.ro.tei.Khemand pruning knives yourH4211
לִרְמָחִ֑יםlir.ma.Chiminto spearsH7420
הַֽחַלָּ֔שׁha.cha.Lashthe weak [man]H2523
יֹאמַ֖רyo.Marlet him sayH559
גִּבּ֥וֹרgi.Bor[am] a warriorH1368
אָֽנִי\׃'A.niIH589

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Joel 3:10

  • Zechariah 12:8

    In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.

  • Micah 4:3

    And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

  • Isaiah 2:4

    And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

  • 2 Chronicles 25:8

    But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.

  • Luke 22:36

    Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
your plowshares.
Isa 2:4; Mic 4:3; Lu 22:36
pruninghooks. or, scythes. let.
2Ch 25:8; Zec 12:8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Joel 3:9

    Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:

  • Joel 3:10

    Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.

  • Joel 3:11

    Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.

Read all of Joel 3

Joel 3:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Haced espadas de vuestros azadones, lanzas de vuestras hoces; diga el flaco: Fuerte soy.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Schmiedet eure Pflugmesser zu Schwertern und eure Winzermesser zu Speeren; der Schwache sage: Ich bin ein Held!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Concidite aratra vestra in gladios, et ligones vestros in lanceas. Infirmus dicat: Quia fortis ego sum.