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Lent · Ash Wednesday · Year A

Joel 2:12-19

Rend Your Heart

February 18, 2026

The Procession of Flagellants (Los Disciplinantes), Francisco de Goya
The Procession of Flagellants (Los Disciplinantes), Francisco de Goya, c. 1812–1819Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid, via Wikimedia Commons
One of Goya's small paintings of Spanish popular religion, made for himself rather than a patron: a procession of hooded penitents beating themselves in white light.Rend your hearts and not your clothing: Joel asks for the inward thing, and Goya painted the outward one being done instead.Francisco de GoyaCourt painter to Spain who went deaf, watched a war, and spent his last years painting things nobody had commissioned and nobody wanted.Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid, via Wikimedia CommonsSpain's royal academy of fine arts, where Goya was a director, holding several of his most private paintings.Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Madrid, via Wikimedia Commons
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 6:1-6, 16-21Mt 6:1-6, 16-21
Epistle2 Cor. 5:20b-6:102 Cor 5:20b-6:10
Old TestamentJoel 2:12-19Jl 2:12-19
PsalterPs. 51:1-13 (14-19)Ps 51:1-13 (14-19)

Overview & Insights

“Return to me with all your heart… and rend your hearts and not your garments.” (Joel 2:12-13)

This is one passage in Joel where it is absolutely necessary that we understand what the original Hebrew says, because the NIV translation has missed the force of the opening words. Verse 12 begins with “ But even now,” the “but” being translated from what is known as a waw adversative, and it is that “but” that is all important.

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Take it further: Joel 2:12-19

Commentary

Commentary on Joel 2:1-2, 12-17Commentary on Jl 2:1-2, 12-17 Working Preacher

The RCL Ash Wednesday Joel commentary from Luther Seminary, covering the prophet's call to return with all the heart in verses 12-17.

Joel 2 Commentary: The Day of the LordJl 2 Commentary: The Day of the Lord Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik walks the whole chapter, from the day of the Lord to the summons to rend the heart and God's promise to restore.

Joel 2 CommentaryJl 2 Commentary Precept Austin

A verse-by-verse study hub gathering word notes, cross references, and quotes on Joel's repentance oracle.

Joel 2:12 CommentariesJl 2:12 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators compared side by side on 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.'

Background & Word Study

Joel 2 in Hebrew, with Jewish commentaryJl 2 in Hebrew, with Jewish commentary Sefaria

The Hebrew text of Joel 2 with Rashi and other Jewish commentators alongside.

Joel 2:12 InterlinearJl 2:12 Interlinear BibleHub

The Hebrew of the return-to-me summons word by word with parsing and Strong's numbers.

Book of Joel OverviewBook of Jl Overview BibleProject

BibleProject's visual overview places the day of the Lord and the call to repent within Joel's whole design.

The Church Fathers

Joel 2 - Catena Bible & CommentariesJl 2 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment on Joel 2 gathered verse by verse from the early church.

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