The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The intense imagery of celestial bodies darkening isn't just a poetic flourish; it signifies that the natural order itself is disrupted, suggesting that the events are so profound they affect the very fabric of creation. This isn't merely about a natural disaster; it's about God's overwhelming judgment, so powerful that it eclipses the sun and moon.
The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Joel is describing a devastating locust swarm, portraying it as God's judgment against Judah. This swarm is so massive and destructive that it eclipses the sun, plunging the land into darkness and causing cosmic signs of terror. These verses build upon the terrifying imagery of the invading "army" of locusts, emphasizing the utter devastation and cosmic upheaval that accompanies this divine judgment.
When Joel describes an invasion, he doesn't just talk about armies and destruction. He talks about the heavens and the earth reacting. What does this cosmic upheaval signify?
The prophet Joel uses dramatic, almost apocalyptic language to describe the coming judgment. In Joel 2:10, the "earth quakes" and the "heavens tremble," while the sun, moon, and stars go dark.
This isn't just poetry; it's a theological statement:
Joel speaks of a terrifying locust invasion. But when he describes the heavens going dark, is he talking about bugs?
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While Joel vividly describes a literal locust plague in the preceding verses, Joel 2:10 expands the imagery beyond mere insects. The "earthquakes" and "darkened heavens" are often understood as symbolic representations:
Understand the original words
rāḡaz · Hebrew Verb
Often used in biblical prophetic literature to signify a cosmic disturbance or the shaking of the foundations of creation. It demonstrates the subjection of the physical world to the authority and presence of God.
šāmayim · Hebrew Noun
The heavens (or skies) are considered the domain of God and the place from which His glory and judgment are revealed. When the heavens 'tremble,' it denotes a disruption in the cosmic order due to divine action.
qāḏar · Hebrew Verb
In biblical prophecy, the darkening of heavenly bodies (sun, moon, stars) symbolizes the Day of the Lord, divine judgment, and the suspension of God’s common grace in nature. It signifies that the light of the world is obscured by the overwhelming presence of God's wrath.
Joel's vivid description of cosmic upheaval isn't just about a literal natural disaster, but a spiritual one. It paints a picture of how God's judgment, whether through plagues, invasions, or ultimately His eschatological Day, disrupts the very foundations of the world as we know it, shaking everything that is not rooted in Him.
c. 760 BC
Reign of Jeroboam II in Israel
Joel prophesied during a period of apparent prosperity and peace in the northern kingdom of Israel under Jeroboam II, but this outward stability masked deep spiritual and social decay. This underlying corruption made the people vulnerable to judgment.
c. 760 BC— this verse
Joel's Prophetic Ministry
Joel delivers his prophecies in the southern kingdom of Judah, likely during the reign of Uzziah. His message addresses a populace that has seemingly forgotten past divine judgments and has fallen into spiritual apathy and ritualism without true repentance.
c. 760 BC
The Day of the Lord Announced
Joel proclaims the imminent 'Day of the Lord,' a time of divine judgment. This day is described with terrifying cosmic imagery, including quaking earth, trembling heavens, and darkened sun and moon, symbolizing the profound disruption and terror that such divine intervention would bring.
c. 760 BC
The Locust Plague as a Sign
Joel uses the devastating locust plague as a tangible, terrifying sign of God's impending judgment. The description of the locusts in Joel 2:1-9 is highly stylized and exaggerated, portraying them as an unstoppable, terrifying army sent by God.
c. 760 BC
Call to Repentance and Fasting
In response to the locust plague and the announcement of the Day of the Lord, Joel calls for an immediate, solemn national fast and a return to God. This is presented as the only hope to avert total destruction.
c. 760 BC
Promise of Future Restoration
Following the warnings of judgment and the call to repentance, Joel offers a message of hope, promising future restoration. This includes the outpouring of God's Spirit on all people and the eventual judgment of Judah's enemies.
This passage describes the Day of the Lord with similar cosmic disturbances—the sun darkened, the moon not giving its light, and the stars ceasing to shine—highlighting the universal impact of God's judgment.
Jeremiah 4:23-26This prophecy also uses imagery of a darkened creation, with the earth becoming a desolate waste and the heavens stripped of their light, emphasizing the catastrophic consequences of God's judgment for sin.
Ezekiel 32:7-8This passage describes God covering the sun, moon, and stars with clouds and darkness as a sign of judgment against Egypt, mirroring Joel's depiction of celestial phenomena being obscured by divine wrath.
Matthew 24:29Jesus directly quotes or alludes to this imagery when describing the signs preceding His second coming, linking these cosmic phenomena to a time of immense tribulation and divine intervention.
calvinJoel 2:1-11: "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;"
Clangite tuba in Sion, et clamate (alii vertunt, tantarizate: sed est generale verbum: clamate igitur, vel, clamorem odite) in monte sancto meo: contremiscant omnes incolae terrae, quia venit dies Jehovae, quia propinquus est.
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as t…
clarkeJoel 2:10: "The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:"
The earth shall quake - the heavens shall tremble - Poetical expressions, to point out universal consternation and distress. The earth quaked to see itself deprived of its verdure; the heavens trembled to find themselves deprived of their light. The sun and the moon shall be dark - Bochart relates that "their multitude is sometimes so immense…
The intense imagery of celestial bodies darkening isn't just a poetic flourish; it signifies that the natural order itself is disrupted, suggesting that the events are so profound they affect the very fabric of creation. This isn't merely about a natural disaster; it's about God's overwhelming judgment, so powerful that it eclipses the sun and moon.
The prophet Joel is describing a devastating locust swarm, portraying it as God's judgment against Judah. This swarm is so massive and destructive that it eclipses the sun, plunging the land into darkness and causing cosmic signs of terror. These verses build upon the terrifying imagery of the invading "army" of locusts, emphasizing the utter devastation and cosmic upheaval that accompanies this divine judgment.
The prophet Joel is describing a devastating locust swarm, portraying it as God's judgment against Judah. This swarm is so massive and destructive that it eclipses the sun, plunging the land into darkness and causing cosmic signs of terror. These verses build upon the terrifying imagery of the invading "army" of locusts, emphasizing the utter devastation and cosmic upheaval that accompanies this divine judgment.
"The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining." — The intense imagery of celestial bodies darkening isn't just a poetic flourish; it signifies that the natural order itself is disrupted, suggesting that the events are so profound they affect the ver…
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Last reviewed October 2026