Galen Smith Supporter Retired from Multnomah Bible College and Biblical Seminary

The word in this passage is "rend," not "render." It was the custom of ancient Jewish people (and other nearby cultures) to vigorously tear one's clothing as a visible sign of deep emotion. Whether it be anger, grief, contrition or any other intense, overwhelming emotion, the rending of your clothes was an outward sign of your inward feelings.

But many customs can become purely habits that are done without any serious thought. When they are not genuine expressions of our inner feelings they can become just a show we put on for others to see.

In Joel 2:12-17 the LORD calls upon his people to genuinely repent over their sins. He doesn't simply want to see an outward display of tearing clothes, but a genuine sorrow over their sin. This is why, in verse 13, he says, "Rend your heart and not your garments." He is not forbidding them to tear their clothes, but what he really wants is deep, heart-felt contrition over sin.

March 18 2015 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jonathon Kerkhoff Supporter

I agree with Galen's answer. Sadly, since mankind has not changed in the millennia since this was written the issues of Joel's day to this day are still the same. "Nothing new under the sun". This is why when we are dealing with the lost we need to get to the heart and not just an easy believism. Far too many will say a phrase or walk an aisle or whatever current act/word/phrase is current today [is this not today's version of rending a garment?] without true conviction or repentance.

October 16 2018 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Joel 2:13: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Today the ones who rend their heart, guard their hearts with all diligence and discern in the right Spirit, for nothing from outside a person can defile them. For it enters not into their heart but into their belly and goes out into the draught, purging all meats. (Proverbs 4:23/Mark 7:18-19) Lord Jesus had done many miracles before the people and the Jewish leaders, but they did not confess Him, for the fear of the Pharisees. For they preferred to rend their garments in grief rather than to rend their heart, for they feared that they would put them out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise from men more than the praises from God the Father. (John 12:42-43) 

The Israelites were brought out of Egypt by the “mighty power of our Lord God the Father,” yet they rejected Him to reign over them and served other gods. (1Sam 8:7-8) The elders came to Samuel, asking to make them a king who would reign over them and go before them to fight their battles. There was a man of Benjamin “a mighty man of power.” The Lord then told Samuel that He would send him, and said he would anoint him to be the captain over His people. (1 Sam 9:1,15) It was Saul, who was very handsome and the tallest among the other people, and was then ordained a king. God gave him another heart. (1 Sam10:9) However Saul, knowing the mighty power of God that was with him, transgressed the commandments of the Lord spoken through Samuel to him, for he feared the people, and he rent his garment and obeyed their voice. (1 Sam 13:13/15:24)

Samuel was then sent to Jesse the Bethlehemite to provide Him a king among his sons. He was scared, but then the Lord assured him, saying He would show him what to do. Lord said to Samuel, "Look not on their countenance, height or stature, the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Sam 16:1,5,7) David was comely and prudent in his words for he knew the Lord was with him and delivered him from the enemies. When David arose and cut off Saul’s robe in the cave it rent his heart, for he stretched forth his hand against his master. (1 Sam 24:4-5) The Lord God is merciful, gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. He forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin, for it is the iniquity of the fathers visiting the children and upon the children's children unto the third and to the fourth generation today. (Exo 34:6-7) 

Job 33:3: My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.

2 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report