Judgment on Tyre and the Coastal Nations
Zechariah 9:2-8
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
Jude
Revelation
Zec.9.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וגם: CONJ
- חמת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- תגבל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- צר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וצידון: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- חכמה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מאד: ADV
Parallels
- Ezek.28:12 (verbal): Addresses the ruler of Tyre as ‘full of wisdom’ (or perfect in knowledge), echoing Zech.9:2’s attribution of great wisdom to Tyre/Sidon.
- Ezek.28:3 (verbal): The prince of Tyre’s boast ‘Are you wiser than Daniel?’ highlights Tyre’s celebrated claim to wisdom, paralleling Zechariah’s remark about Tyre and Sidon’s wisdom.
- Ezek.27:10 (thematic): Part of the lament for Tyre that stresses its maritime commerce, craft and shrewdness—background for the image of Tyre/Sidon as centers of skill and counsel in Zech.9:2.
- Jer.25:22 (structural): Lists Tyre and Sidon among the coastal cities included in divine judgment, paralleling Zech.9:2’s enumeration of coastal cities bordering the land (including Tyre and Sidon).
Alternative generated candidates
- And Hamath shall border on it also; Tyre and Sidon—she is very wise.
- And Hamath shall also border on her; Tyre and Sidon—for she is very wise.
Zec.9.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותבן: NOUN,m,sg,abs,wpref
- צר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מצור: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- ותצבר: VERB,nip,impf,3,f,sg,wpref
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כעפר: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וחרוץ: ADJ,m,sg,abs,wpref
- כטיט: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חוצות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 28:4 (verbal): Speaks of the king of Tyre increasing his riches by trade and becoming proud because of his wealth, paralleling Zech 9:3’s image of amassed silver and gold.
- Ezekiel 27:12-25 (structural): An extended lament/catalogue depicting Tyre’s extensive maritime commerce and abundant treasures (silver, gold and other goods), matching Zechariah’s portrayal of Tyre’s wealth and fortifications.
- Isaiah 23:8 (thematic): Describes Tyre as a wealthy trading city whose merchants are 'princes'—echoing the theme of great commercial riches that Zech 9:3 expresses by piling up silver and gold.
- Revelation 18:11-13 (allusion): Portrays merchants mourning the loss of a great trading city and enumerates merchandise of silver and gold, a later prophetic echo of the biblical motif of urban wealth exemplified in Zech 9:3.
Alternative generated candidates
- Tyre built herself a stronghold and piled up silver like dust, and hoarded gold like the clay of the streets.
- Tyrus made strongholds for herself and piled up silver like dust, and bronze like the clay of the streets.
Zec.9.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הנה: PART
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יורשנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- והכה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בים: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חילה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והיא: CONJ+PRON,3,f,sg
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- תאכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Amos 1:8 (verbal): Pronounces fire on Gaza that ‘shall devour’ its palaces — language of being consumed by fire parallels Zech 9:4’s ‘she shall be devoured with fire.’
- Zephaniah 2:4-7 (thematic): Oracles against Philistine cities (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron, Ashdod) forecast dispossession and devastation, matching Zech 9’s theme of Yahweh’s judgment on the coastal towns.
- Nahum 1:4 (verbal): Declares that God ‘rebukes the sea and makes it dry’ — imagery of God striking the sea echoes Zech 9:4’s action ‘he will smite the sea.’
- Ezekiel 28:18 (verbal): ‘I will cast a fire upon thee, and it shall devour thee’ — the same formula of divine-initiated fire that consumes the target resonates with Zech 9:4’s ‘shall be devoured with fire.’
- Jeremiah 47:4 (thematic): Oracle against the Philistines predicting overthrow and loss of dwelling places; thematically parallels Zech 9:4’s announcement of Yahweh dispossessing and punishing a coastal city.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, the LORD will dispossess her; he will smite her power at sea, and she will be consumed by fire.
- Behold, the LORD will dispossess her; he will strike her power at the sea, and she shall be consumed by fire.
Zec.9.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- תרא: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- אשקלון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותירא: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ועזה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותחיל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- מאד: ADV
- ועקרון: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- הביש: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מבטה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואבד: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg,conj-w
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מעזה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואשקלון: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- תשב: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
Parallels
- Amos 1:6-8 (verbal): Amos pronounces judgment on Gaza, Ashdod and Ashkelon, using language of removing rulers and cutting off inhabitants (e.g., 'him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon'), echoing Zech.9:5's 'the king shall perish from Gaza' and Ashkelon's desolation.
- Zephaniah 2:4-7 (verbal): Zephaniah lists the same Philistine cities (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron) and predicts abandonment/desolation of Gaza and Ashkelon—parallel wording and the shared theme of divine judgment on the Philistine coast.
- Jeremiah 25:20 (thematic): Jeremiah includes Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Ekron among the nations to 'drink the cup' of God's wrath, reflecting the prophetic motif of comprehensive judgment against the Philistine cities found in Zech.9:5.
- Ezekiel 25:15-17 (thematic): Ezekiel announces punishment on the Philistines—'I will cut off the inhabitants of the seacoast'—which parallels Zechariah's announcement of the fall of Gaza and the depopulating of Ashkelon.
Alternative generated candidates
- Ashkelon shall see and be afraid; Gaza too, and very terrified; Ekron also, because her pride is shamed. The king is cut off from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall be uninhabited.
- Ashkelon shall see and be afraid; Gaza too, and she shall writhe greatly; Ekron, for her hope is confounded. The king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
Zec.9.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ממזר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- באשדוד: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והכרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,ms,sg
- גאון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- פלשתים: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
Parallels
- Amos 1:8 (verbal): Pronounces judgment on Ashdod/Ashkelon and uses language of cutting off Philistine cities—closely parallels Zech.9:6's threat against Ashdod and the removal of Philistine pride.
- Zephaniah 2:4-7 (thematic): Prophecies the desolation of Philistine cities (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron), matching Zechariah's theme of divine judgment against Philistia.
- 1 Samuel 5:6 (allusion): Narrates the LORD's hand pressing upon the people of Ashdod after the ark's arrival—an earlier tradition of divine action specifically against Ashdod, echoed in Zech.9:6.
- Ezekiel 25:15-17 (thematic): Declares vengeance against the Philistines and punishment of their cities—shares the motif of God removing Philistine power found in Zech.9:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- A foreign people shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.
- A mongrel people shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
Zec.9.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- והסרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- דמיו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מפיו: PREP+NOUN+PRON,3,m,sg
- ושקציו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מבין: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שניו: NOUN,f,pl,poss3,m,pl
- ונשאר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- גם: ADV
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- לאלהינו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,1,pl
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- כאלף: PREP+NUM,m,sg
- ביהודה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועקרון: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כיבוסי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Zechariah 9:6 (structural): Same pericope addressing the fate of Philistine cities; both verses juxtapose outcomes for Philistine towns and use similar language ('as a Jebusite'/city comparisons).
- Isaiah 10:20-22 (thematic): Speaks of a surviving remnant in Israel/Judah after judgment—parallels Zech.9:7’s language of one who 'shall remain for our God' (the theme of a preserved remnant).
- Ezekiel 9:4-6 (thematic): Describes God marking and sparing some while executing judgment on others—connects with Zech.9:7’s divine removal of 'blood' and 'abominations' and the preservation of a person/people for God.
- Psalm 51:7 (and vv.1–4) (verbal): Petition for cleansing from guilt and removal of sin ('purge me… wash me'), echoing the idea of God removing 'blood' and 'abominations' from a person in Zech.9:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I will remove his blood from his mouth and his abominations from between his teeth; and he who remains shall be for our God—he shall be like a leader in Judah, and Ekron like the Jebusites.
- I will take away his blood from his mouth and his abominations from between his teeth; and he shall be a remnant for our God. He shall be as a leader in Judah, and Ekron like a Jebusite.
Zec.9.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וחניתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,common,sg
- לביתי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cs,1
- מצבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מעבר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומשב: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- יעבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- עוד: ADV
- נגש: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- עתה: ADV
- ראיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- בעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Psalm 34:7 (verbal): Uses the image of the LORD's camp/angel encamping around his people to protect them — closely parallels Zech.9:8’s language of God encamping/standing as a guard over his house.
- Psalm 121:3–4 (thematic): Portrays God as a vigilant keeper who will not slumber over Israel — parallels Zech.9:8’s theme of God’s active, watchful protection preventing enemies from passing through.
- Isaiah 31:5 (thematic): Speaks of the LORD hovering over and shielding Jerusalem like birds protecting their young, emphasizing divine protection of the city similar to Zech.9:8’s promise that foes will no longer overrun God’s house.
- Ezekiel 34:11–16 (thematic): God as shepherd who seeks out, rescues and guards his scattered flock — a broader pastoral parallel to Zech.9:8’s assurance that God will station himself to guard and deliver his people from attackers.
- Zechariah 2:5 (thematic): Within the same book God promises to be a protecting presence (‘a wall of fire’ round Jerusalem), echoing Zech.9:8’s motif of God encamping/guarding his house against incursions.
Alternative generated candidates
- And I will camp at my house as a guard against the marauder—and against the coming one—no more shall an oppressor pass through them; for now I have seen with my eyes.
- And I will encamp at my house as a guard against the marauder and against the foe; they shall not pass through them any more, for now I have seen with my own eyes.
And also Hamath borders there; Tyre and Sidon—for their wisdom is very great.
Tyre has built herself a stronghold and piled up silver like dust and gold like the mire of the streets.
Behold, the LORD will dispossess her; he will strike her power upon the sea, and she shall be consumed by fire.
Ashkelon shall see and be afraid; Gaza too, and Ekron shall tremble exceedingly—for their boasting is put to shame. The king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
A bastard shall dwell in Ashdod; I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
I will take his blood from his mouth and his abominations from between his teeth; yet he shall remain for our God, and he shall be like a governor in Judah, and Ekron like the Jebusites. And I will encamp as a guard over my house beyond—a pillar and a bulwark—and an oppressor shall not pass over them again; for now I have seen with my eyes.