God Will Defend Jerusalem Against the Nations
Zechariah 12:2-9
Zec.12.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הנה: PART
- אנכי: PRON,1,sg
- שם: ADV
- את: PRT,acc
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- סף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לכל: PREP
- העמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- סביב: ADV
- וגם: CONJ
- על: PREP
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- יהיה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- במצור: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Zechariah 14:2 (structural): Same prophetic book and program: nations are gathered against Jerusalem to fight and besiege it—an expanded development of the siege motif in 12:2.
- Luke 21:20 (allusion): Jesus' warning that when Jerusalem is surrounded by armies (besieged) its desolation is near echoes Zechariah's image of Jerusalem encircled by hostile nations.
- Isaiah 29:3 (thematic): Isaiah describes encamping and laying siege against Jerusalem with 'round about' language, a close thematic parallel to Zech.12:2's siege imagery.
- Isaiah 51:17 (verbal): Uses the 'cup' metaphor in connection with Jerusalem and divine judgment—parallels Zechariah's depiction of Jerusalem as a 'cup' affecting the nations.
- Habakkuk 2:16 (verbal): Speaks of drinking a cup of the LORD's wrath directed at peoples/nations; parallels the 'cup of trembling' motif applied to surrounding nations in Zech.12:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the peoples around; and even Judah will be besieged as Jerusalem is besieged.
- Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling; and Judah too will be besieged when Jerusalem is besieged.
Zec.12.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- אשים: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אבן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מעמסה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לכל: PREP
- העמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- כל: DET
- עמסיה: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3fs
- שרוט: ADJ,m,sg
- ישרטו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ונאספו: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,pl
- עליה: PREP,3,f,sg
- כל: DET
- גויי: NOUN,m,pl,const
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
Parallels
- Zechariah 14:2 (structural): Same prophetic context: nations are gathered against Jerusalem for battle—echoes Zech.12:3’s prediction that all the peoples/nations will assemble against the city.
- Isaiah 8:14-15 (allusion): Uses the image of a ‘stone’ that becomes a trap or cause of stumbling to people; thematically parallels Jerusalem as a burdensome stone that wounds those who lift it.
- Isaiah 28:16 (allusion): Presents God’s chosen ‘stone’/cornerstone that serves as foundation and a test; related stone-imagery later applied to Jerusalem/Christ and to judgment on those who reject it.
- Romans 9:33 (quotation): Paul explicitly quotes the Isaiah ‘stone’ texts (Isa. 8, 28) about a stone that causes stumbling—New Testament application of the prophetic stone-judgment motif found in Zech.12:3.
- Matthew 21:44 (verbal): Jesus speaks of a stone that will ‘crush’ anyone on whom it falls and ‘strike’ anyone it falls upon—echoing Zech.12:3’s theme of a stone that injures those who oppose or burden it.
Alternative generated candidates
- And in that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; every one who lifts it will be pierced, and all the nations of the earth will gather against it.
- In that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be grievously wounded, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.
Zec.12.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אכה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- כל: DET
- סוס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בתמהון: PREP
- ורכבו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- בשגעון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- אפקח: VERB,hiph,impf,1,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- עיני: NOUN,f,pl,cons+1s
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- סוס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אכה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- בעורון: PREP
Parallels
- Zechariah 12:2-3 (structural): Immediate context — the oracle about nations attacking Jerusalem; v.4 continues the same scene (God acting against the nations and their horses).
- Zechariah 12:10 (thematic): Related theme of Judah's spiritual awakening and recognition — v.4 'I will open the eyes of the house of Judah' echoes v.10's promise that they will look and mourn/recognize.
- Exodus 14:25 (verbal): God causes panic and incapacitates the enemy's chariots (wheels) so the Egyptians flee — similar motif of the Lord disrupting horses/chariots and routing foes.
- 2 Chronicles 20:22-23 (thematic): Divine intervention induces confusion and self-destruction among invading forces (the enemy attacks one another), analogous to God striking horses/riders with panic and madness.
Alternative generated candidates
- On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with frenzy; but for the house of Judah I will open their eyes, and I will strike every horse of the nations with blindness.
- In that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with bewilderment and his rider with madness; and I will open my eyes over the house of Judah, but I will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.
Zec.12.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואמרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אלפי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- בלבם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,pl
- אמצה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- ישבי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ביהוה: PREP+PN,sg
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אלהיהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
Parallels
- Psalm 46:7 (verbal): Both texts invoke 'the LORD (YHWH) of hosts' and present God as a fortress/refuge for His people (Psalm: 'the God of Jacob is our fortress'), paralleling Zech.12:5's 'inhabitants of Jerusalem are a stronghold... in the LORD of hosts.'
- Isaiah 26:1-2 (thematic): Isaiah celebrates Zion as 'a strong city' with God appointing salvation for its walls and bulwarks—echoing Zech.12:5's theme of Jerusalem/its inhabitants as a place of strength and protection.
- Isaiah 31:5 (allusion): Isaiah depicts the LORD of hosts protecting Jerusalem ('as birds hovering, so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem'), resonating with Zech.12:5's reliance on 'the LORD of hosts' as the source of security for Jerusalem's inhabitants.
- Zechariah 14:11 (structural): Within the same prophetic book, Zech.14 speaks of Jerusalem dwelling securely and being preserved—a development of the same theme that the inhabitants of Jerusalem are a secure stronghold under God's protection (cf. Zech.12:5).
Alternative generated candidates
- And the thousands of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength; in the LORD of hosts is their God.’
- And the thousands of Judah will say in their hearts, 'The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength; in the LORD of hosts is their God.'
Zec.12.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- אשים: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אלפי: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- ככיור: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בעצים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וכלפיד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בעמיר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואכלו: VERB,qal,imp,2,mp
- על: PREP
- ימין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- שמאול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- העמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- סביב: ADV
- וישבה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עוד: ADV
- תחתיה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- בירושלם: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judges 7:16-22 (verbal): Gideon's tactic—men with torches hidden in pitchers that are revealed to rout the enemy—uses the same torch-in-a-sheaf / torch imagery and surprise destruction of surrounding foes echoed in Zech.12:6.
- Joel 2:3 (thematic): Joel's image of a mighty force before which 'a fire devours' parallels Zech.12:6's depiction of Judah as a consuming fire that destroys the peoples around Jerusalem.
- Zechariah 14:3 (structural): Both passages portray God intervening to defend Jerusalem, fighting the nations gathered against the city and bringing decisive defeat on its enemies while Jerusalem remains.
- Zechariah 12:3 (structural): Immediate context: v.3 anticipates 'all the peoples' gathered against Jerusalem, providing the setting for v.6's promise that Judah will act like consuming fire against those surrounding nations.
- Isaiah 66:15-16 (thematic): Isaiah's vision of the Lord coming 'with fire' to execute judgment on the nations resonates with Zech.12:6's motif of divine or divinely-empowered destructive fire consuming surrounding peoples while Jerusalem endures.
Alternative generated candidates
- On that day I will make the thousands of Judah like a pot of fire among the wood, like a torch of fire in a sheaf; they will consume on the right hand and on the left all the surrounding peoples, and Jerusalem will again dwell in her own place, in Jerusalem.
- In that day I will make the thousands of Judah like a fiery pot among wood, like a torch of flame among sheaves; they will consume to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, and Jerusalem will again dwell in her own place.
Zec.12.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והושיע: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- אהלי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- בראשנה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- למען: PREP
- לא: PART_NEG
- תגדל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- תפארת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- דויד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותפארת: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ישב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
Parallels
- Romans 1:16 (thematic): The phrase 'to the Jew first' echoes Zech.12:7's motif that God will save Judah 'first'—an ordering of deliverance emphasizing priority for Israel/Judah.
- Amos 9:11-12 (verbal): Speaks of raising up 'the booth/tent of David' and restoring David's fallen house—language and theme parallel Zech.12:7's reference to the house of David and preservation of Judah's tents.
- Ezekiel 37:24-28 (thematic): Promises a Davidic ruler and God's dwelling with Israel, linking restoration of the 'house of David' and the renewed status/glory of Jerusalem as in Zech.12:7.
- Haggai 2:6-9 (allusion): Speaks of a coming divine shaking and that 'the glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former,' resonating with Zech.12:7's concern for the 'glory' (tiferet) of David's house and Jerusalem.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be exalted over Judah.
- And the LORD will save the dwellings of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be exalted above Judah.
Zec.12.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- יגן: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בעד: PREP
- יושב: VERB,qal,ptcp,1,m,sg
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- הנכשל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- כדויד: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובית: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,cs
- דויד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כאלהים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כמלאך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- לפניהם: PREP,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Exodus 23:20 (allusion): God promises to send an angel before Israel to guard and lead them — echoes Zech 12:8’s language, “like the angel of the LORD before them,” linking divine protection with a guiding/defending angel.
- Judges 13:22 (verbal): Manoah and his wife conclude they have ‘seen God’ after encountering the angel of the LORD — parallels Zech 12:8’s identification of the angel of the LORD with God (’house of David like God, like the angel of the LORD’).
- 2 Samuel 22:2–3 (cf. Psalm 18:2) (thematic): David’s songs depict him as God’s delivered champion (’The LORD is my rock, my deliverer’), providing the archetype behind Zech 12:8’s statement that the weak will be ‘like David’ — a Yahwistic warrior-savior figure.
- 2 Samuel 7:12–16 (structural): The Davidic covenant promises God’s lasting commitment to David’s house — this covenantal backdrop helps explain Zech 12:8’s elevation of the house of David (‘like God’) and the messianic/protective expectations tied to David’s line.
Alternative generated candidates
- On that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who falls among them on that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them.
- In that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is weak among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God—like the Angel of the LORD before them.
Zec.12.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- ביום: PREP
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- אבקש: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- להשמיד: VERB,hiph,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- הגוים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- הבאים: PART,qal,ptcp,masc,pl,def
- על: PREP
- ירושלם: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Zechariah 14:2-3 (structural): Describes the same scenario—nations come against Jerusalem and the LORD intervenes to fight on its behalf, continuing Zechariah’s theme of divine judgment on invading peoples.
- Joel 3:2, 12-16 (thematic): Joel depicts God gathering and judging the nations that have mistreated Israel (Valley of Jehoshaphat), paralleling the motif of God destroying hostile nations that come against Jerusalem.
- Ezekiel 38:18-23 (allusion): Ezekiel’s prophecy against Gog portrays God’s decisive destruction of invading nations with supernatural judgment—parallel in theme and function to Zechariah’s promise to destroy nations attacking Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 34:2 (verbal): Isaiah speaks of a day of the LORD’s vengeance on all nations and hands laid upon peoples, language closely echoing Zechariah’s declaration of destroying nations hostile to Jerusalem.
Alternative generated candidates
- And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
- And in that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also come upon Judah. And in that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone of burden for all the peoples; all who lift it will be grievously harmed, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.
On that day—declares the LORD—I will strike every horse with panic and his rider with madness; and I will open the eyes of the house of Judah, but I will smite every horse of the nations with blindness.
The clans of Judah will say in their hearts, “The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the LORD of hosts, their God.”
On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a brazier among wood, like a torch of fire among sheaves; they will devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, and Jerusalem will again dwell in its own place, in Jerusalem.
The LORD will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not be exalted over Judah.
On that day the LORD will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who falters among them shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.