Joel 2:5
New International Version
With a noise like that of chariots they leap over the mountaintops, like a crackling fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army drawn up for battle.

New Living Translation
Look at them as they leap along the mountaintops. Listen to the noise they make—like the rumbling of chariots, like the roar of fire sweeping across a field of stubble, or like a mighty army moving into battle.

English Standard Version
As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle.

Berean Standard Bible
With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle.

King James Bible
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

New King James Version
With a noise like chariots Over mountaintops they leap, Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble, Like a strong people set in battle array.

New American Standard Bible
With a noise as of chariots They leap about on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, Like a mighty people drawn up for battle.

NASB 1995
With a noise as of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, Like a mighty people arranged for battle.

NASB 1977
With a noise as of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, Like a mighty people arranged for battle.

Legacy Standard Bible
With a noise as of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consumes the stubble, Like a mighty people arranged for battle.

Amplified Bible
Like the noise of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, Like a mighty people set in battle formation.

Christian Standard Bible
They bound on the tops of the mountains. Their sound is like the sound of chariots, like the sound of fiery flames consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for war.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They bound on the tops of the mountains. Their sound is like the sound of chariots, like the sound of fiery flames consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for war.

American Standard Version
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

Contemporary English Version
They roar over mountains like noisy chariots, or a mighty army ready for battle. They are a forest fire that feasts on straw.

English Revised Version
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As they leap on mountaintops, they sound like rattling chariots, like crackling fire burning up straw, and like a mighty army prepared for battle.

Good News Translation
As they leap on the tops of the mountains, they rattle like chariots; they crackle like dry grass on fire. They are lined up like a great army ready for battle.

International Standard Version
They leap like the rumbling of chariots echoing from mountain tops, like the roar of wild fire that devours the chaff, as an army firmly established in battle array.

Majority Standard Bible
With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle.

NET Bible
They sound like chariots rumbling over mountain tops, like the crackling of blazing fire consuming stubble, like the noise of a mighty army being drawn up for battle.

New Heart English Bible
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains do they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a mighty people drawn up for battle.

Webster's Bible Translation
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

World English Bible
Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains, they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a strong people set in battle array.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
As the noise of chariots, they skip on the tops of the mountains, "" As the noise of a flame of fire devouring stubble, "" As a mighty people set in array for battle.

Young's Literal Translation
As the noise of chariots, on the tops of the mountains they skip, As the noise of a flame of fire devouring stubble, As a mighty people set in array for battle.

Smith's Literal Translation
As the voice of chariots upon the heads of the mountains they shall leap, as the voice of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, as a strong people set in order for battle.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They shall leap like the noise of chariots upon the tops of mountains, like the noise of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, as a strong people prepared to battle.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Like the sound of a four-horse chariot, they will leap over the tops of the mountains. Like the sound of a burning flame devouring stubble, they are as a strong people prepared for battle.

New American Bible
Like the rumble of chariots they hurtle across mountaintops; Like the crackling of fiery flames devouring stubble; Like a massive army in battle formation.

New Revised Standard Version
As with the rumbling of chariots, they leap on the tops of the mountains, like the crackling of a flame of fire devouring the stubble, like a powerful army drawn up for battle.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Like the noise of chariots that rumble on the tops of the mountains, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, like a mighty people arrayed for war.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Like the sound of chariots that clatter on the tops of the mountains and like the sound of the flames of fire that devours husks and like a mighty people arrayed for war
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Like the noise of chariots, On the tops of the mountains do they leap, Like the noise of a flame of fire That devoureth the stubble, As a mighty people set in battle array.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
As the sound of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, and as the sound of a flame of fire devouring stubble, and as a numerous and strong people setting themselves in array for battle.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Army of Locusts
4Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. 5With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle. 6Nations writhe in horror before them; every face turns pale.…

Cross References
Revelation 9:7-9
And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads; and their faces were like the faces of men. / They had hair like that of women, and teeth like those of lions. / They also had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the roar of many horses and chariots rushing into battle.

Nahum 3:2-3
The crack of the whip, the rumble of the wheel, galloping horse and bounding chariot! / Charging horseman, flashing sword, shining spear; heaps of slain, mounds of corpses, dead bodies without end—they stumble over their dead—

Jeremiah 47:3
at the sound of the galloping hooves of stallions, the rumbling of chariots, and the clatter of their wheels. The fathers will not turn back for their sons; their hands will hang limp.

Isaiah 5:28-30
Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are strung. The hooves of their horses are like flint; their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind. / Their roaring is like that of a lion; they roar like young lions. They growl and seize their prey; they carry it away, and no one can rescue it. / In that day they will roar over it, like the roaring of the sea. If one looks over the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be obscured by clouds.

Ezekiel 1:24
When the creatures moved, I heard the sound of their wings like the roar of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they lowered their wings.

Isaiah 66:15
For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire.

Amos 5:19-20
It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. / Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it?

Revelation 19:14-15
The armies of heaven, dressed in fine linen, white and pure, follow Him on white horses. / And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

Isaiah 9:5
For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

Jeremiah 4:13
Behold, he advances like the clouds, his chariots like the whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are ruined!

Isaiah 13:4-5
Listen, a tumult on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations gathered together! The LORD of Hosts is mobilizing an army for war. / They are coming from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens—the LORD and the weapons of His wrath—to destroy the whole country.

Revelation 6:2
So I looked and saw a white horse, and its rider held a bow. And he was given a crown, and he rode out to overcome and conquer.

Habakkuk 1:8-9
Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than wolves of the night. Their horsemen charge ahead, and their cavalry comes from afar. They fly like a vulture, swooping down to devour. / All of them come bent on violence; their hordes advance like the east wind; they gather prisoners like sand.

Isaiah 30:27-30
Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense smoke. His lips are full of fury, and His tongue is like a consuming fire. / His breath is like a rushing torrent that rises to the neck. He comes to sift the nations in a sieve of destruction; He bridles the jaws of the peoples to lead them astray. / You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. ...

Revelation 14:14-20
And I looked and saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was One like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand. / Then another angel came out of the temple, crying out in a loud voice to the One seated on the cloud, “Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come to harvest, for the crop of the earth is ripe.” / So the One seated on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested. ...


Treasury of Scripture

Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

the noise.

Nahum 2:3,4
The shield of his mighty men is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken…

Nahum 3:2,3
The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots…

Revelation 9:9
And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

like the noise of a.

Isaiah 5:24
Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 30:30
And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

Matthew 3:12
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

a strong.

Joel 2:2
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.

Jump to Previous
Army Arranged Array Battle Burning Chariots Consuming Crackling Devoureth Devouring Devours Drawn Fight Fire Flame Grain-Stems Jumping Leap Mighty Mountains Noise Powerful Rumbling Skip Sound Strong Stubble Tops War-Carriages
Jump to Next
Army Arranged Array Battle Burning Chariots Consuming Crackling Devoureth Devouring Devours Drawn Fight Fire Flame Grain-Stems Jumping Leap Mighty Mountains Noise Powerful Rumbling Skip Sound Strong Stubble Tops War-Carriages
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.














With a sound like that of chariots
The imagery of "chariots" in this verse evokes the power and terror associated with ancient warfare. In the Hebrew context, chariots were symbols of military strength and speed. The Hebrew word for chariot, "רֶכֶב" (rekeb), often signifies an overwhelming force. This phrase suggests an impending, unstoppable force, much like the locusts described earlier in Joel, which can be seen as a metaphor for divine judgment. The sound of chariots would have been familiar and fearsome to the original audience, symbolizing the approach of something formidable and inescapable.

they leap over the mountaintops
The action of leaping over "mountaintops" conveys agility and an unimpeded advance. The Hebrew verb "קָפַץ" (qafatz) implies a sudden, vigorous movement. This imagery suggests that the invading force, whether literal or metaphorical, cannot be hindered by natural barriers. Mountains, often seen as symbols of stability and permanence, are effortlessly overcome, indicating the overwhelming nature of the judgment or calamity being described. This reflects the unstoppable nature of God's will and the futility of human resistance against divine plans.

like the crackling of fire consuming stubble
The "crackling of fire" is a vivid auditory image that conveys destruction and rapid consumption. In Hebrew, "לַהַב" (lahab) refers to a flame or blaze, and "קַשׁ" (qash) means stubble or dry straw, which burns quickly and completely. This simile emphasizes the thoroughness and speed of the devastation. Fire consuming stubble is a common biblical metaphor for judgment, illustrating how swiftly and completely God's judgment can consume what is dry and lifeless, symbolizing sin and rebellion.

like a mighty army deployed for battle
The phrase "mighty army" underscores the organized and powerful nature of the force described. The Hebrew word "עָצוּם" (atzum) means strong or mighty, and "חַיִל" (chayil) refers to an army or force. This imagery conveys the idea of an invincible and disciplined force, ready for combat. The deployment for battle suggests strategic intent and purpose, reflecting the sovereignty and deliberate action of God in executing judgment. It serves as a reminder of the spiritual warfare believers face and the need for readiness and reliance on God's strength.

Verse 5. - The first clause may be understood

(1) according to the Authorized Version, whereby the leaping is attributed to the locusts, or

(2) asper may be understood after chariots, and then the leaping is predicated of the chariots. The last clause of the same verse is capable of three constructions, namely

(1) "They shall leap (yeraqqedim being supplied) as a strong people set in battle array;" or . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
With a sound like
כְּק֣וֹל (kə·qō·wl)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

that of chariots
מַרְכָּב֗וֹת (mar·kā·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4818: A chariot

they bound
יְרַקֵּד֔וּן (yə·raq·qê·ḏūn)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 7540: To stamp, to spring about

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

the mountaintops,
הֶֽהָרִים֙ (he·hā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2022: Mountain, hill, hill country

like the crackling
כְּקוֹל֙ (kə·qō·wl)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of fire
אֵ֔שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

consuming
אֹכְלָ֖ה (’ō·ḵə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

stubble,
קָ֑שׁ (qāš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7179: Stubble, chaff

like a mighty
עָצ֔וּם (‘ā·ṣūm)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6099: Powerful, numerous

army
כְּעַ֣ם (kə·‘am)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

deployed
עֱר֖וּךְ (‘ĕ·rūḵ)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6186: To set in a, row, arrange, put in order

for battle.
מִלְחָמָֽה׃ (mil·ḥā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war


Links
Joel 2:5 NIV
Joel 2:5 NLT
Joel 2:5 ESV
Joel 2:5 NASB
Joel 2:5 KJV

Joel 2:5 BibleApps.com
Joel 2:5 Biblia Paralela
Joel 2:5 Chinese Bible
Joel 2:5 French Bible
Joel 2:5 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Joel 2:5 Like the noise of chariots (Jl Joe.)
Joel 2:4
Top of Page
Top of Page