This verse is slightly separated from verses 30-31 for two reasons, even though the theme of those verses carries over here. First, the beginning and end of this verse are similar. All who call upon the name of the LORD in the first line is matched by those whom the LORD calls in the last line. Second, the opening expression, And it shall come to pass, usually marks the beginning of a new thought in the discourse. Since this verse is slightly separated from the previous verses, Yahweh is not necessarily the speaker of the opening words (see the discussion below).

And it shall come to pass renders only one word in Hebrew, which is literally “And it shall be” (see verse 28). New Revised Standard Version translates it “Then.” Good News Translation and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch use the connector “But,” since this verse contrasts with verses 30-31.

That all who call upon the name of the LORD: To call upon the name of the LORD is to call or pray to Yahweh directly, for the name of someone in Hebrew means the person himself or herself (see verse 26). It is implied that the prayer here is a call for help, so Good News Translation makes that explicit by saying “all who ask the LORD for help.” This clause may also mean all those who worship Yahweh as their God, as contrasted with people who do not. So Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch (1982) says “everyone who shows his loyalty to me,” and Contemporary English Version has “everyone who faithfully worships him.”

Shall be delivered in this context means they will be rescued from the terrible things that will happen on earth, that is, the dangers of warfare listed in verse 30. Good News Translation says “will be saved” (similarly New Revised Standard Version).

For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem …: The connector for introduces why those who pray to the LORD will be saved. Since Mount Zion (see Joel 2.1) and Jerusalem refer to the same place here, Good News Translation uses only “Jerusalem.”

There shall be those who escape: Those who escape refers to the people who will not suffer the dangers of warfare. The Hebrew word for escape is a synonym of the word for delivered.

As the LORD has said probably refers to Oba 17, which promises that “in Mount Zion there shall be those that escape.” Good News Translation places “As the LORD has said” before the quotation. However, Good News Translation extends the quotation too far, since the words from Oba 17 end with “will escape.” Furthermore, its quote frame gives the mistaken impression that Yahweh is not the speaker in this section. In some languages it may be necessary to say “As I the LORD have said.” Or else the direct quotation of God’s speech should end after the first line of verse 32, and then a new quotation should be introduced, quoting Oba 17, as Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has done. The easiest solution may be to consider the prophet as the speaker for all of this verse.

And among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls: This last line has certain problems. As noted in the previous paragraph, it does not appear to be part of the quotation, contrary to Good News Translation‘s rendering. Instead, it seems the prophet added these words himself. Translators may follow Good News Translation‘s interpretation of this line, but with the prophet as the speaker. Alternative models that do this are those “whom Yahweh calls will survive” and “… will be among the survivors.” However, another interpretation is better here. The phrase among the survivors appears to be parallel to in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, but it can also be translated “consisting of those who survive.” The phrase shall be those is not in the Hebrew text, but Revised Standard Version believes it is implied. If it is not included, then this line reads “and among [or, consisting of] the survivors whom the LORD calls.” Even though Hebrew Old Testament Text Project argues for the preposition “among,” it does not fit well here since it gives the meaning to the line that only some of those who survive are called by Yahweh. “Consisting of” identifies the survivors whom Yahweh calls with those who escape in the previous line. The Hebrew verb rendered calls in the last line is the same one translated call in the first line. It is not likely that translators will be able to use the same verb for call in both lines, as in the Hebrew text, since the verb is used with two distinct meanings in the two lines. In the last line it has the meaning of Yahweh choosing, or selecting, his people. At Mount Sinai he chose the entire nation, but here he chooses individuals.

A possible model for the last two lines is:

• For on Mount Zion in Jerusalem some will escape, as the LORD has said;
they will be the survivors whom the LORD calls/chooses [or, will call/choose].

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 .