What Does Joel 2:20 Mean in the King James?
But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The invader’s “great doing” is overturned when the very next verse uses that same Hebrew verb for what the LORD does.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks to you as a promise: the destructive force pressing against your ground is removed from you and driven into a barren place. Its face and rear are turned toward opposite seas, while its stench rises into view; what looked like imposing power is exposed by what it leaves behind. Its claim to have “done great things” does not get the last word.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that a force proves its greatness by how much it can devastate, and therefore must remain, is undone: the verse shows it expelled, with its foulness exposed.
THE ROOT
הִגְדִּיל
higdil
GROWS FROM
גדל
gadal
Grow or become great; in this form, make great or act greatly.
“done great things” in this verse is higdil. The army’s “great doing” is named with the same Hebrew verb used in the next verse for what the LORD does. The repeated verb shifts the claim to greatness from the invading force to the LORD.
ALSO GROWS
gādōl: Great or large.
גָּדוֹל
This common adjective shares the seed of the army’s “great doing,” making the connection between the deed and greatness visible.
gedullāh: Greatness or majesty.
גְּדֻלָּה
This noun names the quality at stake: the verse’s next line redirects greatness toward the LORD.
וְהִדַּחְתִּיו
vehiddachtiv
GROWS FROM
נדח
nadach
Thrust away, drive out, or banish.
“drive him” in this verse is vehiddachtiv. The invading force becomes the one driven out. The verb turns the direction of displacement around: what occupied the reader’s ground is itself sent away.
ALSO GROWS
niddāḥ: One who is driven away or banished.
נִדָּח
The related form names the displaced condition into which the invading force is driven.
hiddiaḥ: To drive or thrust away.
הִדִּיחַ
This causative form shares the action of the verse: the force is made to leave its place.
THE PATTERN
A power that magnifies itself cannot secure its place: its reach is exposed, and God brings it down.
Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.THE THREAD
Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.Joel 2:20 says the invading force “hath done great things”; the next verse repeats the same Hebrew verb and gives the action to the LORD. The shift turns the force’s boast into the LORD’s work of restoration.
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