The LORD answered and said to his people: The verb answered is used here since Yahweh is responding to the prayers of the people. Instead of answered and said, Good News Translation simply says “answered” to avoid repetition. It also uses the pronoun “them” to refer to his people, who were just mentioned in the previous line.

Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil: The Hebrew word translated Behold is used here to direct the attention of the listeners to the important message that follows. New Jerusalem Bible renders it “Now.” New Revised Standard Version and Revised English Bible assume the following statement will catch the hearers’ attention, so they leave it implicit. The pronoun I is included in the Hebrew word for Behold, giving it emphasis, as if God is saying: “Look at what I am doing!” The Hebrew participle rendered am sending means that God has already initiated the action of sending help, but it has not yet arrived. Grain, wine, and oil were taken away in 1.10 (see the comments on these terms there). Now they will be restored. These were the chief agricultural products of Palestine.

And you will be satisfied describes the feelings of God’s people after enjoying enough food to eat.

And I will no more make you a reproach among the nations is a direct answer to the prayer in verse 17 and uses the same Hebrew terms for reproach and nations. Good News Translation restructures this sentence for good English style, saying “Other nations will no longer despise you.” It leaves God’s action here implicit.

Quoted with permission from de Blois, Kees & Dorn, Louis. A Handbook on Joel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2020. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .