In the Hebrew text the poetic form is not as distinct in 2.30–3.8. Revised Standard Version places all of it in prose paragraphs, while Good News Translation retains poetry for 2.30–3.3. The decision to translate into either prose or poetry will depend on principles of style in each language.

And I will give portents in the heavens and on the earth: The Hebrew word for portents can refer to signs (of warning), omens, or wonders. Any of these seem appropriate in this context. These unusual and perhaps miraculous things will indicate that the great day of Yahweh is near. Good News Translation has made that day explicit by rendering I will give portents as “I will give warnings of that day.” Another possible rendering is “I will cause special signs to appear.” The heavens refers to the sky (see verse 10) as contrasted with the earth. The portents occurring on earth are then mentioned first (last line of this verse), before those occurring in the sky (verse 31). Thus the Hebrew follows a chiastic order in verses 30-31.

On earth there will be blood and fire and columns of smoke. Blood refers to “bloodshed” (Good News Translation), people dying violent deaths, probably in war. Fire and columns of smoke may be thought of as occurring together. The columns are the upward flow of thick smoke from a large fire. In this context the fire and smoke seem to occur in many places at once, and very likely are the result of war.

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 .