The Meaning of Joel 3:12 Explained

Joel 3:12

KJV: Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.

YLT: Wake and come up let the nations unto the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I sit to judge all the nations around.

Darby: Let the nations rouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about.

ASV: Let the nations bestir themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the nations round about.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Let the heathen  be wakened,  and come up  to the valley  of Jehoshaphat:  for there will I sit  to judge  all the heathen  round about. 

What does Joel 3:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Joel 3:1-21 - "the Valley Of Decision"
Having stated the outward blessings that would follow repentance, Joel unveils the extraordinary spiritual blessings that were in store. The outpouring of the Spirit, described in Acts 2:16-17, does not exhaust these glorious words. This blessing is for all whom the Lord our God shall call to Himself, and as one to whom His call has come, you have a perfect right to claim your share in Pentecost. The promise is to all that are "afar off" in space and time. The very slaves, the most degraded and despised of men, become free when they yield themselves to Jesus and have an equal right to the same Spirit.
Joel 3:1-21 refers to the last desperate effort made by the powers of the world against Christ and His people. This will be the closing scene of man's apostasy. But the Lord will vindicate and deliver His oppressed from the hand of their oppressors; and the same judgment will bring them blessing. Having cleansed His people from their stains, Messiah will tabernacle among them, Revelation 21:3 [source]

Chapter Summary: Joel 3

1  God's judgments against the enemies of his people
9  God will be known in his judgment
18  His blessing upon the church

What do the individual words in Joel 3:12 mean?

Let be wakened and come up the nations to the Valley of Jehoshaphat for there I will sit to judge - all the nations surrounding
יֵע֙וֹרוּ֙ וְיַעֲל֣וּ הַגּוֹיִ֔ם אֶל־ עֵ֖מֶק יְהֽוֹשָׁפָ֑ט כִּ֣י שָׁ֗ם אֵשֵׁ֛ב לִשְׁפֹּ֥ט אֶת־ כָּל־ הַגּוֹיִ֖ם מִסָּבִֽיב

יֵע֙וֹרוּ֙  Let  be  wakened 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עוּר 
Sense: to rouse oneself, awake, awaken, incite.
וְיַעֲל֣וּ  and  come  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הַגּוֹיִ֔ם  the  nations 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
עֵ֖מֶק  the  Valley 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵמֶק  
Sense: valley, vale, lowland, open country.
יְהֽוֹשָׁפָ֑ט  of  Jehoshaphat 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹושָׁפָט 
Sense: son of king Asa and himself king of Judah for 25 years; one of the best, most pious, and prosperous kings of Judah.
אֵשֵׁ֛ב  I  will  sit 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
לִשְׁפֹּ֥ט  to  judge 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַגּוֹיִ֖ם  the  nations 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
מִסָּבִֽיב  surrounding 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.