The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just describe a vast, terrifying army; it highlights that God Himself utters His voice before them, essentially commanding and directing this force. This reveals that even destructive events are under His sovereign control, as He is the one who is "strong that executeth His word."
The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet has been describing a devastating locust plague and a subsequent invasion by a foreign army, painting a picture of God's impending judgment. In this passage, Joel escalates the terrifying imagery, portraying the Lord Himself as the commander of this immense, destructive "army." He emphasizes God's absolute power and the overwhelming nature of His wrath, posing the rhetorical question of who could possibly withstand such a day.
The prophet Joel describes a terrifying invasion, but who's really in charge? It's not who you might think.
Joel 2:11 opens with a startling image: 'The LORD utters his voice before his army.' This isn't just a powerful description of judgment; it's a theological declaration. The invading force, whether locusts or enemy armies like the Chaldeans, isn't acting on its own. God Himself is the commander. His 'voice' is His word of command, summoning and directing this immense 'army' and 'camp.'
Think of it like a divine general reviewing his troops before a battle. This army, described as 'exceedingly great,' is entirely subject to His will. Even though their actions are devastating—consuming everything in their path—they are instruments in God's hands, carrying out His purpose. This highlights a profound truth: even the most destructive forces in our world operate under God's sovereign control.
The devastation is immense, and the question echoes: 'Who can endure it?' This verse points to a reality far greater than any single invasion.
The verse climaxes with the proclamation: 'For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?' This isn't just about the immediate judgment Joel is describing. It refers to the 'Day of the LORD,' a concept that runs throughout Scripture. It signifies a time when God’s justice and power are fully revealed, often in judgment, but ultimately leading to restoration.
This 'day' is described as 'great and very awesome' – so powerful and terrifying that humanly speaking, no one can stand against it. It’s a stark reminder of our fragility in the face of divine power. The question 'who can endure it?' isn't meant to elicit a hopeful human answer but to underscore the sheer magnitude of God's authority and the absolute necessity of His mercy. It pushes us to recognize our utter dependence on Him, not just for survival during judgment, but for hope in His ultimate purposes.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the one true God of Israel, revealing His eternal, self-existent, and faithful nature to His people.
yom YHWH · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A prophetic concept referring to the time of God’s decisive intervention in history, characterized by both judgment upon the wicked and salvation for His faithful people.
Joel's vivid imagery of a terrifying army and the 'Day of the LORD' speaks powerfully to a people living under the shadow of powerful empires like Assyria and Babylon, facing both natural disasters like locust plagues and the very real threat of military devastation.
c. 8th Century BC— this verse
Prophecies of Joel
The prophet Joel delivers his message, likely during a time of locust plagues and potential military threats, warning Judah of impending judgment and calling for repentance.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
Under King Sennacherib, the Assyrian army invades Judah, capturing many fortified cities. Jerusalem is besieged but miraculously spared.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Judeans, including nobles and skilled workers, to Babylon. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Southern Kingdom of Judah and completing the exile.
This passage describes a powerful display of God's might and judgment against Egypt, echoing the overwhelming force and terror associated with the 'day of the LORD' mentioned in Joel.
Jeremiah 25:30-31Here, God's voice is described as roaring from His holy habitation, and the prophet proclaims judgment against all nations, mirroring the imagery of God commanding His armies and the widespread devastation.
Isaiah 13:1-6This passage speaks of God mustering His army for battle and the terror of the Day of the Lord that is coming, directly paralleling Joel's description of an overwhelming divine force and the immense dread it inspires.
Revelation 19:11-16This New Testament passage describes Christ returning as a powerful warrior leading His armies, with His eyes like a flame of fire and a sharp sword coming from His mouth, reflecting the 'executing His word' and 'uttering His voice' from Joel.
jfbJoel 2:11: "And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?"
- Lord … his army—So among Mohammedans, "Lord of the locusts" is a title of God.his voice—His word of command to the locusts, and to the antitypical human foes of Judea, as "His army."strong that executeth his word—(Re 18:8).
wesleyJoel 2:11: "And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?"
2:11 Utter his voice - Summon them in and encourage them as a general doth his soldiers. His army - Of locusts and insects, and of Chaldeans signified by these.
The verse doesn't just describe a vast, terrifying army; it highlights that God Himself utters His voice before them, essentially commanding and directing this force. This reveals that even destructive events are under His sovereign control, as He is the one who is "strong that executeth His word."
The prophet has been describing a devastating locust plague and a subsequent invasion by a foreign army, painting a picture of God's impending judgment. In this passage, Joel escalates the terrifying imagery, portraying the Lord Himself as the commander of this immense, destructive "army." He emphasizes God's absolute power and the overwhelming nature of His wrath, posing the rhetorical question of who could possibly withstand such a day.
The prophet has been describing a devastating locust plague and a subsequent invasion by a foreign army, painting a picture of God's impending judgment. In this passage, Joel escalates the terrifying imagery, portraying the Lord Himself as the commander of this immense, destructive "army." He emphasizes God's absolute power and the overwhelming nature of His wrath, posing the rhetorical question of who could possibly withstand such a day.
"The LORD utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?" — The verse doesn't just describe a vast, terrifying army; it highlights that God Himself utters His voice before them, essentially commanding and directing this force. This reveals that even destruc…
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Last reviewed October 2026