Joel 3:13

13 They are very wicked; ¹ cut them down like grain at harvest time; crush them as grapes are crushed in a full wine press until the wine runs over."

Joel 3:13 Meaning and Commentary

Joel 3:13

Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe
This is said to the mighty ones sent, the Christian princes, the executioners of God's vengeance on antichrist; the angels that will pour out the vials of his wrath on the antichristian states, compared to reapers, with a sharp sickle in their hands, to cut them down, as grain is cut when reaped; as the same states are compared to a harvest ripe, the measure of their sins being filled up, and the time of their destruction appointed for them come; see ( Revelation 14:15 ) ; come, get ye down;
to the valley: or "go tread ye" ^F15; for another simile is made use of: the reference here is to the treading of clusters of grapes in the winepress, as appears by what follows: and so the Targum renders it,

``descend, tread their mighty men;''

in like manner Jarchi interprets it; and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions, render it: and Dr. Pocock observes, that the word <arabic> in the Arabic language signifies to tread, as men tread grapes in a press: the reasons follow, for the press is full;
of clusters of the vine; or the valley is full of wicked men, compared unto them, destined to destruction: the fats overflow;
with the juice of grapes squeezed out, denoting the great effusion of blood that will be made; see ( Revelation 14:18-20 ) ( Revelation 19:15 Revelation 19:18 Revelation 19:20 ) ; for their wickedness [is] great;
is come to its height, reaches even to heaven, and calls aloud for vengeance; an end is come to it, and to the authors of it, ( Revelation 18:5 ) . The Targum of the whole is,

``draw out the sword against them, for the time of their end is come; descend, tread their mighty men slain, as anything is trodden in a winepress; pour out their blood, for their wickedness is multiplied.''

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (wdr) (pateite) , "calcate", Sept. so Syr. Ar.

Joel 3:13 In-Context

11 Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather in the valley.' " Send down, O Lord, your army to attack them!

12 "The nations must get ready and come to the Valley of Judgment. There I, the Lord, will sit to judge all the surrounding nations.

13 They are very wicked; cut them down like grain at harvest time; crush them as grapes are crushed in a full wine press until the wine runs over."

14 Thousands and thousands are in the Valley of Judgment. It is there that the day of the Lord will soon come.

15 The sun and the moon grow dark, and the stars no longer shine.

Cross References

• 1. 3.13 aRevelation 14.14-16; bRevelation 14.19, 20; 19.15.