Book of Joel Chapter 3 Vs. 10

The Lord Judges the Nations 

Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Joel 3:10

Beat your plowshares... Prepare for war, let all the enemies of God and of his people join together. Let them even call all the tillers of the ground to their assistance, instead of laboring in the field. Let every peasant become a soldier.

Beat...

כָּתַת

kāṯaṯ

A verb meaning to beat, to crush, to hammer. This term is used in reference to the destruction of the golden calf (Deut. 9:21); and in the eschatological hope of hammering swords into plowshares (Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3). It can also be used figuratively for destroying an enemy (Deut. 1:44).

your plowshares...

אֵת

’ēṯ

A masculine noun indicating a plowshare or mattock. It designates an iron farm implement (1Sam. 13:20-21). Plowshares would be beaten into swords in Joel's picture of the coming day of the Lord (Joel 3:10 [4:10]), but in the prophet Micah's vision, this process is reversed (Mic. 4:3).

into swords...

חֶרֶב

ḥereḇ

A feminine noun meaning a sword, a knife, a cutting tool. The word frequently pictures the sword, along with the bow and shield, as the standard fighting equipment of the times (Gen. 48:22; Psm. 76:3, 4; Hos. 1:7). Warriors are referred to as those drawing the sword (Jdg. 20; 1Chr. 21:5). The sword may also stand for a larger unit of military power, sometimes pictured as coming on a people or land (Lev. 26:25; Lam. 1:20; Eze. 14:17). The cutting action of a sword is likened to eating, and its edges are literally referred to as mouths. Similarly, the mouths of people are likened to swords (Psm. 59:7, 8; Prov. 30:14; Isa. 49:2). The sword is also a symbol of judgment executed by God (Gen. 3:24; Deut. 32:41; Jer. 47:6); or His people (Psm. 149:6). The word can refer to a knife (Jos. 5:2-3); or a tool for cutting stones (Exo. 20:25).

and your pruninghooks... Let them turn their agricultural implements into offensive weapons, so that the weak, being well armed, may confidently say, I am strong. Yet, when thus collected and armed, Jehovah will bring down thy mighty ones; for so the clause (in Joel 3:11), should be rendered.

מַזְמֵרָה

mazmērāh

A feminine noun indicating a pruning hook, a pruning knife. It was a knife or short pruning tool often used to cut or prune vines, one of Israel's major agricultural products (Isa. 2:4; 18:5; Joel 3:10; 4:10; Mic. 4:3). It was often mentioned in times of judgment or restoration in Israel.

This is the opposite of beat your swords into plowshares. They are to prepare for the great battle. This war would be so great, that all the farmers and husbandmen would have to fight too.

into spears...

רֹמַח

rōmaḥ

A masculine noun meaning a spear, a javelin. It refers to a weapon of war or a hunting tool with a long shaft and a pointed sharp end (Num. 25:7; Jdg. 5:8). It was capable of cutting one's flesh like a knife or sword (1Kgs. 18:28). It was a major emblem of war (Eze. 39:9; Joel 3:10; 4:10).

let the weak...

חַלָּשׁ

ḥallāš

A masculine noun referring to one who is sick. It designates a person who is powerless, weak as opposed to a mighty gibbôr person (Joel 3:10; 4:10).

The nations are to beat their farming implements into weapons (Joel 3:10; contrast Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3) and assemble for battle (Joel 3:11; cf. Zec. 12:9).

say...

אָמַר

’āmar

A verb meaning to say. It is translated in various ways depending on the context. It is almost always followed by a quotation. In addition to vocal speech, the word refers to thought as internal speech (2Sam. 13:32; Est. 6:6). Further, it also refers to what is being communicated by a person's actions along with his words (Exo. 2:14; 2Chr. 28:13).

am strong...

גִּבּוֹר

gibbôr, גִּבֹּר

gibbōr

An adjective meaning brave, strong, mighty. The word refers to God Himself as ’el (H413) gibbôr, usually rendered as the Mighty God (Isa. 10:21; Jer. 32:18). It is used to describe the Child born to rule and govern God's kingdom as Mighty God (Isa. 9:6, 5). The Lord is depicted as a mighty one for His people Israel, mighty to save (Deut. 10:17; Psm. 24:8; Zeph. 3:17). Angels are depicted as mighty in strength (Psm. 103:20). It describes the might and power of the messianic King (Psm. 45:3, 4).

The word means manly, strong, vigorous, and was a term of approbation (Gen. 10:8-9; 1Sam. 14:52; Psm. 112:2). It could be used of animals, such as a lion (Prov. 30:30), the mightiest beast. It refers regularly to warriors, heroes, champions in battle (1Sam. 17:51; 2Sam. 20:7; 2Kgs. 24:16; Isa. 21:17). It could be used in a bad sense to denote heroes at drinking wine (Isa. 5:22).

Unidentified messengers are instructed to issue a call of war to the nations (cf. all nations in Isa. 34:2; Oba. 1:15; Zec. 14:2). The nations are to beat their farming implements into weapons (Joel 3:10; contrast Isa. 2:4; Mic. 4:3) and assemble for battle (Joel 3:11; cf. Zec. 12:9).