Joel 2:25
New International Version
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten— the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm — my great army that I sent among you.

New Living Translation
The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts. It was I who sent this great destroying army against you.

English Standard Version
I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.

Berean Standard Bible
I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you.

King James Bible
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

New King James Version
“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

New American Standard Bible
“Then I will compensate you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust— My great army which I sent among you.

NASB 1995
“Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

NASB 1977
“Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Then I will pay back to you in full for the years That the swarming locust has consumed, The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust, My great military force which I sent among you.

Amplified Bible
“And I will compensate you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust— My great army which I sent among you.

Christian Standard Bible
I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust ate, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust — my great army that I sent against you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust ate, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust— My great army that I sent against you.

American Standard Version
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you.

Contemporary English Version
I, the LORD your God, will make up for the losses caused by those swarms and swarms of locusts I sent to attack you.

English Revised Version
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Then I will repay you for the years that the mature locusts, the adult locusts, the grasshoppers, and the young locusts ate your crops. (They are the large army that I sent against you.)

Good News Translation
I will give you back what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops. It was I who sent this army against you.

International Standard Version
"Then I will restore to you the years that the locust swarm devoured, as did the young locust, the other locusts, and the ravaging locust, that great army of mine that I sent among you.

Majority Standard Bible
I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts—the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I sent against you.

NET Bible
I will make up for the years that the 'arbeh -locust consumed your crops--the yeleq -locust, the hasil -locust, and the gazam -locust--my great army that I sent against you.

New Heart English Bible
I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you.

World English Bible
I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar, my great army, which I sent among you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“And I have repaid to you the years that the locust consumed, "" The cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, "" My great force that I sent against you.

Young's Literal Translation
And I have recompensed to you the years That consume did the locust, the cankerworm, And the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, My great force that I did send against you.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I requited to you the years which the common locust ate, the feeder, and the devourer, and the creeping locust, my great army which I sent among you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will restore to you the ears which the locust, and the bruchus, and the mildew, and the palmerworm have eaten; my great host which I sent upon you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will repay you for the years which the locust, and the beetle, and the mildew, and the caterpillar consumed: my great strength which I sent upon you.

New American Bible
I will repay you double what the swarming locust has eaten, The hopper, the consuming locust, and the cutter, my great army I sent against you.

New Revised Standard Version
I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I will recompense you for the years that the locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the cankerworm, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent against you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall pay you the years that the flying locust ate, and the crawling locust and the canker worm and the palmer worm, my great army which I sent upon you
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, The canker-worm, and the caterpiller, and the palmer-worm, My great army which I sent among you.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will recompense you for the years which the locust, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, and the cankerworm have eaten, even my great army, which I sent against you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Restoration Promised
24The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. 25I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts— the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust— My great army that I sent against you. 26You will have plenty to eat, until you are satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you. My people will never again be put to shame.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 30:17
But I will restore your health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD, because they call you an outcast, Zion, for whom no one cares.”

Isaiah 61:7
Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion, and instead of humiliation, they will rejoice in their share; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

Amos 9:14
I will restore My people Israel from captivity; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.

Ezekiel 36:11
I will fill you with people and animals, and they will multiply and be fruitful. I will make you as inhabited as you once were, and I will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Zechariah 9:12
Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; even today I declare that I will restore to you double.

Hosea 2:21-23
“On that day I will respond—” declares the LORD—“I will respond to the heavens, and they will respond to the earth. / And the earth will respond to the grain, to the new wine and oil, and they will respond to Jezreel. / And I will sow her as My own in the land, and I will have compassion on ‘No Compassion.’ I will say to those called ‘Not My People,’ ‘You are My people,’ and they will say, ‘You are my God.’”

Isaiah 58:12
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.

Job 42:10
After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions.

Psalm 126:5-6
Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. / He who goes out weeping, bearing a trail of seed, will surely return with shouts of joy, carrying sheaves of grain.

Isaiah 49:18
Lift up your eyes and look around. They all gather together; they come to you. As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “you will wear them all as jewelry and put them on like a bride.

Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:20
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,


Treasury of Scripture

And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

that.

Joel 2:2-11
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…

Joel 1:4-7
That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten…

Zechariah 10:6
And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.

Jump to Previous
Army Cankerworm Canker-Worm Caterpillar Caterpiller Consume Creeping Cutter Destroyer Eaten Food Force Gnawing Grasshopper Great Locust Palmerworm Palmer-Worm Plant-Worm Recompensed Repay Restore Stripping Swarm Swarming Worm Young
Jump to Next
Army Cankerworm Canker-Worm Caterpillar Caterpiller Consume Creeping Cutter Destroyer Eaten Food Force Gnawing Grasshopper Great Locust Palmerworm Palmer-Worm Plant-Worm Recompensed Repay Restore Stripping Swarm Swarming Worm Young
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.














I will repay
The phrase "I will repay" signifies God's promise of restoration and compensation. In Hebrew, the word used here is "שָׁלַם" (shalam), which means to make whole or complete. This reflects God's justice and mercy, emphasizing His ability to restore what has been lost or destroyed. Historically, this promise would have been particularly comforting to the Israelites, who faced devastation from locust plagues. It reassures believers that God is both aware of their suffering and committed to their restoration.

you for the years
The mention of "years" indicates a prolonged period of suffering and loss. The Hebrew word "שָׁנָה" (shanah) can mean a year or a cycle, suggesting that the devastation was not a brief event but an extended trial. This highlights the depth of God's promise, as He is not only addressing immediate needs but also the cumulative impact of long-term hardship. It serves as a reminder that God's timing and plans encompass the entirety of our experiences.

that the swarming locust
The "swarming locust" is part of a vivid imagery used to describe the calamity that befell Israel. Locusts, in the ancient Near East, were a symbol of utter destruction, as they could decimate crops and livelihoods. The Hebrew word "אַרְבֶּה" (arbeh) refers to this specific type of locust, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the disaster. This imagery serves as a metaphor for any overwhelming trial or judgment, reminding believers of the severity of sin and the need for repentance.

has eaten
The phrase "has eaten" underscores the total consumption and loss experienced by the people. The Hebrew verb "אָכַל" (akal) means to consume or devour, indicating the thoroughness of the destruction. This reflects the consequences of disobedience and the reality of divine judgment. However, it also sets the stage for God's redemptive promise, as He pledges to restore what has been consumed.

the young locust
The "young locust" represents another stage in the locust's life cycle, known in Hebrew as "יֶלֶק" (yelek). This term highlights the relentless nature of the plague, as different stages of locusts would continue to devastate the land. It serves as a metaphor for persistent trials or challenges that seem to come in waves, testing the faith and endurance of God's people.

the destroying locust
The "destroying locust" is described by the Hebrew word "חָסִיל" (chasil), which conveys the idea of a devourer or consumer. This stage of locusts is particularly destructive, symbolizing the complete ruin that sin and disobedience can bring. It is a reminder of the destructive power of sin but also of God's power to redeem and restore.

and the devouring locust
The "devouring locust," or "גָּזָם" (gazam) in Hebrew, further emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the devastation. Each type of locust mentioned contributes to the totality of the destruction, illustrating the multifaceted challenges believers may face. Yet, it also highlights the completeness of God's restoration, as He promises to address every aspect of the loss.

(25) I will restore to you the years--i.e., the years which would have been necessary in the ordinary course of nature for the land to recover from the ravages of the "great army."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I will repay
וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֤י (wə·šil·lam·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate

you
לָכֶם֙ (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

for the years
הַשָּׁנִ֔ים (haš·šā·nîm)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8141: A year

that
אֲשֶׁר֙ (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the swarming locusts
הָֽאַרְבֶּ֔ה (hā·’ar·beh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 697: (a kind of) locust

have eaten—
אָכַ֣ל (’ā·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

the young locust,
הַיֶּ֖לֶק (hay·ye·leq)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3218: A devourer, the young locust

the destroying locust,
וְהֶחָסִ֣יל (wə·he·ḥā·sîl)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2625: The ravager, a locust

and the devouring locust—
וְהַגָּזָ֑ם (wə·hag·gā·zām)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1501: A kind of locust

My great
הַגָּד֔וֹל (hag·gā·ḏō·wl)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

army
חֵילִי֙ (ḥê·lî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2426: An army, an intrenchment

that
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I sent
שִׁלַּ֖חְתִּי (šil·laḥ·tî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

against you.
בָּכֶֽם׃ (bā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Prophets: Joel 2:25 I will restore to you the years (Jl Joe.)
Joel 2:24
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