Joel 2:28 And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

◄ Joel 2:28 ►

New International Version
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

New Living Translation
“Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.

English Standard Version
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Berean Standard Bible
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

New King James Version
“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

New American Standard Bible
“It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will have dreams, Your young men will see visions.

NASB 1995
“It will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.

NASB 1977
“And it will come about after this That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.

Legacy Standard Bible
“And it will be afterwards That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; Your old men will dream dreams; Your young men will see visions.

Amplified Bible
“It shall come about after this That I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.

Christian Standard Bible
After this I will pour out my Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After this I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions.

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Contemporary English Version
Later, I will give my Spirit to everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions.

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"After this, I will pour my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.

Good News Translation
"Afterward I will pour out my Spirit on everyone: your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your old people will have dreams, and your young people will see visions.

International Standard Version
"Then it will come about at a later time that I will pour out my Spirit on every person. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your elderly people will dream dreams, and your young people will see visions.

Majority Standard Bible
And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

NET Bible
After all of this I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your elderly will have revelatory dreams; your young men will see prophetic visions.

New Heart English Bible
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

World English Bible
“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And it has come to pass afterward, "" I pour out My Spirit on all flesh, "" And your sons and your daughters have prophesied, "" Your old men dream dreams, "" Your young men see visions.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath come to pass afterwards, I do pour out My Spirit on all flesh, And prophesied have your sons and your daughters, Your old men do dream dreams, Your young men do see visions.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was after this I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters prophesied, your old men shall dream your young men shall see visions.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it shall come to pass after this, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And after this, it will happen that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy; your elders will dream dreams, and your youths will see visions.

New American Bible
It shall come to pass I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

New Revised Standard Version
Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And after this I shall pour out my Spirit on everybody, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your Elders shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall come to pass afterward, That I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

I Will Pour Out My Spirit
28And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Acts 2:17-18
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. / Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

Numbers 11:29
But Moses replied, “Are you jealous on my account? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would place His Spirit on them!”

Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.

Ezekiel 36:27
And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Jeremiah 31:33-34
“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. / No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”

Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

John 7:39
He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Romans 8:9
You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. / To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, / to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ...

Galatians 3:14
He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

1 John 2:20
You, however, have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

Matthew 3:11
I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Luke 24:49
And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But remain in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— / the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.

John 16:13
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

Treasury of Scripture

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

that I.

Proverbs 1:23
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Isaiah 32:15
Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

upon.

Isaiah 40:5
And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Isaiah 49:6
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

your daughters.

Isaiah 54:13
And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Acts 21:9
And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

dream.

Genesis 37:5-10
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more…

Numbers 12:6
And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

Jeremiah 23:28
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.

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Afterward Afterwards Daughters Dream Dreams Flesh Mankind Pour Prophesied Prophesy Prophets Spirit Visions Young

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Afterward Afterwards Daughters Dream Dreams Flesh Mankind Pour Prophesied Prophesy Prophets Spirit Visions 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.

Berean Study Bible

And afterward
The phrase "And afterward" indicates a sequence of events, suggesting that what follows is a future promise or occurrence. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "אַחֲרֵי־כֵן" (acharei-ken), which means "after this" or "afterward." This points to a prophetic timeline, emphasizing that the events described will happen after a significant period or event. In the context of Joel, this follows a call to repentance and a promise of restoration, indicating that the outpouring of God's Spirit is contingent upon the people's return to Him.

I will pour out My Spirit
The phrase "I will pour out My Spirit" is central to this prophecy. The Hebrew word for "pour out" is "שָׁפַךְ" (shafakh), which conveys the idea of a generous, abundant outpouring, much like rain. This is not a mere trickle but a lavish distribution of God's presence and power. The "Spirit" (רוּחַ, ruach) refers to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who empowers, guides, and transforms believers. This promise signifies a new era of spiritual intimacy and empowerment for God's people, transcending the limitations of the Old Covenant.

on all people
The phrase "on all people" is revolutionary in its inclusivity. The Hebrew term "כָּל־בָּשָׂר" (kol-basar) literally means "all flesh," indicating that this outpouring is not limited to a specific group but is available to all humanity. This democratization of the Spirit's presence breaks down barriers of ethnicity, gender, and social status, foreshadowing the New Testament fulfillment at Pentecost, where the Spirit is given to Jews and Gentiles alike.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy
Here, "Your sons and daughters will prophesy" highlights the breaking of traditional gender roles in spiritual matters. The Hebrew word for "prophesy" is "נָבָא" (naba), which means to speak or sing by inspiration, often conveying God's messages. This indicates that both men and women will be empowered to declare God's truth, reflecting a significant shift from the patriarchal norms of ancient Israelite society.

your old men will dream dreams
The phrase "your old men will dream dreams" suggests that age will not be a barrier to receiving divine revelation. Dreams, in the biblical context, are often a means through which God communicates His will and plans. The Hebrew word for "dream" is "חָלַם" (chalam), which can imply a vision or revelation received during sleep. This promise assures that the elderly, often seen as past their prime, will still play a vital role in God's unfolding plan.

your young men will see visions
Finally, "your young men will see visions" emphasizes the role of the youth in God's prophetic movement. The Hebrew word for "visions" is "חָזוֹן" (chazon), which refers to a divine revelation or insight. This suggests that young people will be granted clear, direct insights into God's purposes, equipping them to lead and inspire others. This promise of visions and dreams underscores a community where all generations are active participants in God's mission.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(28) I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh.--Holy Scripture is itself the interpreter of this most weighty promise. St. Peter's quotation and application of it in the Acts is its commentary. "Afterward "--LXX., after these things becomes in the apostle's mouth--"in the last days"--i.e., in the Christian dispensation, when, after the punishment of the Jews by the heathen, their king came--"my Spirit"--St. Peter renders "of my spirit," after the LXX., indicating the gifts and influences of the Holy Ghost--"upon all flesh"--i.e., without distinction of race or person--"they of the circumcision were astonished because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." The outward manifestation of these gifts, as shown on the Day of Pentecost, in accordance with this prediction, was gradually withdrawn from the Church; the reality remains.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 28-32. - These verses form a chapter (the third) by themselves in the Hebrew text, but in the LXX. and the Authorized Version they conclude ch. 2. In them the prophet passes on to spiritual blessings. Verses 28, 29. - And it shall come to pass afterward ('acharekhen). This intimates the time when the promised blessing is to be bestowed, and must be read in the light of New Testament exposition; for Peter, in quoting the words (Acts 2:17, etc.), varies the prophet's note of time by substituting an explanatory phrase, viz. ἐν ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις, "in the last days" - an expression which, as is acknowledged, refers to the days of the Messiah or the last days of the old dispensation. The apostle thus defines more closely the somewhat indefinite expression of the Hebrew. After this specification of the time, he proceeds to state the blessing to be bestowed. I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. The word shaphak, employed by the prophet to express the outpouring of the Spirit, implies the bestowal of the gift in great abundance, as Calvin clearly pointed out: "For shaphak," he says, "does not mean merely to give in drops, but to pour out in great abundance. But God did net pour out the Holy Spirit so abundantly or copiously under the Law, as he has since the manifestation of Christ." The Spirit was indeed communicated in Old Testament times, but that communication was restricted in two ways in quantity, and in the number of recipients; the former was comparatively scanty and the latter few, whereas the word here applied to its communication implies a rich supply, like a copious rainfall. After the specification of the time, and the mention of the blessing, with its implied plentifulness, comes its wide diffusion, or general distribution - "all flesh," or "all mankind," as the Hebrew expression denotes; and that without regard to age, or sex, or state. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. Sons and daughters without distinction of sex; old men and young men without reference to age; servants and handmaids without regard to social position. Thus it is with the Spirit of God as with the Son of God, of whom the apostle says, "There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uucircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." The blessing of salvation through the Son of God and by the Spirit of God is wide as the world in its offer, and free to all who accept it - without national distinction, for there is neither Jew nor Greek; without social distinction, for there is neither bond nor free; without sexual distinction, for there is neither male nor female; without ceremonial distinction, for there is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision; without intellectual or educational distinction, for the barbarian and even the Scythian, the lowest type of barbarian, are free to share the blessing. The regain before the "servants" and "handmaids," rendered in the citation by Peter, not as in the LXX. by a simple καὶ, but by καὶ γε, and in the Authorized Version "and also," is an emphatic addition to the previous enumeration, equivalent to "nay more" and implying something extraordinary and unexpected, that not only the weaker sex, but the meanest of both sexes, were to participate in the blessing. "Not a single case," says Keil, "occurs in the whole of the Old Testament of a slave receiving the gift of prophecy." The mode in which spiritual commmunication is

(1) according to some is that of visions to the young, whose fancy is more vigorous; that of dreams to the old, in the decadence of their mental powers; while to the sons and daughters the gift is prophesying. Others more correctly

(2) understand prophecy as the general term for speaking under the Spirit's influence or instructing by Divine inspiration; while the two forms of prophetic revelation are dreams when the mental "faculties are suspended by natural causes," and visions or trances when "suspended by supernatural causes," the communication in either case being supernatural. This prediction began to be fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And
וְהָיָ֣ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

afterward,
אַֽחֲרֵי־ (’a·ḥă·rê-)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

I will pour out
אֶשְׁפּ֤וֹךְ (’eš·pō·wḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8210: To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out

My Spirit
רוּחִי֙ (rū·ḥî)
Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

people.
בָּשָׂ֔ר (bā·śār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

Your sons
בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם (bə·nê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

and daughters
וּבְנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם (ū·ḇə·nō·w·ṯê·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1323: A daughter

will prophesy,
וְנִבְּא֖וּ (wə·nib·bə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5012: To prophesy, speak, by inspiration

your old
זִקְנֵיכֶם֙ (ziq·nê·ḵem)
Adjective - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 2205: Old

men will dream dreams,
יַחֲלֹמ֔וּן (ya·ḥă·lō·mūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 2472: A dream

your young men
בַּח֣וּרֵיכֶ֔ם (ba·ḥū·rê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 970: Selected, a youth

will see
יִרְאֽוּ׃ (yir·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

visions.
חֶזְיֹנ֖וֹת (ḥez·yō·nō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2384: A revelation, dream

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OT Prophets: Joel 2:28 It will happen afterward that I will (Jl Joe.)