Zechariah 9

1 This is the burden [a prophetic message, oracle] of the word [divine utterance, revelation] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] against the land [territory, region] of Hadrach [a city in Syria, a place of divine judgment] and Damascus [the capital city of Syria, a center of trade and culture] its resting place [a state of quietness, peaceful home]— for the eyes [source of sight, spiritual perception] of men [human beings, Adam’s descendants] and of all [everything, the entirety] the tribes [clans, families] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, God’s chosen people] are upon the LORD [Yehovah, the object of their faith and trust] — word study 2 and also [even, too] against Hamath [an ancient city in Syria], which borders [sets a boundary, marks a limit] it, as well as Tyre [a major Phoenician city] and Sidon [a city on the Mediterranean coast], though they are [considered to be, thought of as] very [exceedingly, greatly] shrewd. word study 3 Tyre [a major Phoenician city] has built [established, constructed] herself a fortress [stronghold, place of entrenchment]; she has heaped up [gathered, piled] silver [money, wealth] like dust [dry earth, clay], and gold [fine gold, something sharp] like the dirt [mud, mire] of the streets [outside, outdoors, public ways]. word study 4 Behold [look, see], the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign God] will impoverish [dispossess, take away her heritage] her and cast [smite, strike] her wealth [power, strength] into the sea [the Mediterranean, a large body of water], and she [the city, the nation] will be consumed [devoured, eaten] by fire [divine judgment, refining flames]. word study 5 Ashkelon [a major Philistine city] will see [behold, perceive] and fear [revere, stand in awe]; Gaza [the strong city] will writhe [twist, whirl] in agony [exceedingly pained], as will Ekron [another Philistine city], for her hope [expectation, confidence] will wither [be ashamed, disappointed]. There will cease [perish, come to an end] to be a king [royal ruler] in Gaza [Azzah], and Ashkelon [the city by the sea] will be uninhabited [not dwell, deserted]. word study 6 A [foreigner, bastard] mixed race will occupy [dwell in, live in] Ashdod [a powerful Philistine city], and I will cut off [destroy, wipe out] the pride [excellency, majesty] of the Philistines [a people from the region of Philistia, immigrants from other places]. word study 7 I will remove [take away, turn aside] the blood [the liquid that flows through the body] from their mouths and the abominations [disgusting, idolatrous practices] from between their teeth. Then they too will become [remain, be left] a remnant [a surviving group, a faithful few] for our God [Elohim, the one supreme God]; they will become like [similar to, comparable with] a clan [a family, a tribe] in Judah, and Ekron [a city of the Philistines] will be like [comparable with, similar to] the Jebusites [the original inhabitants of Jerusalem]. word study 8 But I will camp [encamp, set up a military guard] around My house [dwelling place, temple] because of an army [military force, those who march to and fro], because of those who march to and fro [pass through, transition from one thing to another], and never again will an oppressor [one who exacts or harasses, a cruel master] overrun My people, for now [at this time, in this moment] I keep watch [see, look after, provide for] with My own eyes [with careful attention, as a guardian]. word study 9 Rejoice greatly [exceedingly, with intense joy], O Daughter [female child, city] of Zion [the mountain, the city of God]! Shout [cry out, proclaim triumphantly] in triumph, O Daughter [female child, city] of Jerusalem [the city of peace]! See, your King [rightful ruler] comes to you, righteous [just, having salvation] and victorious [having overcome], humble [afflicted, lowly] and riding on a donkey [a male ass], on a colt [a young donkey, a foal], the foal [son, offspring] of a donkey [a female ass]. word study 10 And I will cut off [destroy, remove] the chariot [vehicle, cavalry] from Ephraim [doubly fruitful, a tribe of Israel] and the horse from Jerusalem [city of peace], and the bow of war [weapon of battle, instrument of conflict] will be broken [cut off, destroyed]. Then He will proclaim [speak, declare] peace [shalom, completeness and wellness] to the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew people]. His dominion [rule, power] will extend from sea [large body of water] to sea [the west, the distant horizon], and from the Euphrates [a river] to the ends [the soles of the feet, the farthest reaches] of the earth [the land, the world]. word study 11 As for you [also, even], because of the blood [the liquid that flows through the body] of My covenant [promise, agreement], I will release [set free, send forth] your prisoners [captives, those bound] from the waterless [dry, barren] pit [cistern, prison]. word study 12 Return [to a place of safety and refuge] to your stronghold [a fortress, a secure place], O prisoners [captive ones, those bound] of hope [expectancy, a cord of faith]; even today [at this present time, now] I declare [to tell openly, to proclaim] that I will restore [to give back, to repay] to you double [a second, a duplicate, something twice as much]. word study 13 For I will bend Judah [as My instrument of war] as My bow [an archer’s weapon] and fit it with Ephraim [doubly fruitful, a tribe of Israel]. I will rouse [stir up, awaken] your sons, O Zion [the city of God, a mountain in Jerusalem], against the sons of Greece [Javan, a nation]. I will make you like the sword [a cutting instrument, a tool of battle] of a mighty man [a strong warrior, a champion]. word study 14 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] will appear [be seen, manifest His presence] over them, and His arrow [sharp object shot from a bow] will go forth [to come out, be released] like lightning [a bright and powerful force of nature]. The Lord GOD [Adonay, a title of reverence] will sound [to blow, strike] the ram’s horn [a trumpet or cornet] and advance [to walk, go] in the whirlwinds [strong storms, tempests] of the south [the southern direction, a location or wind]. word study 15 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [army, a large group of people or things] will shield [defend, protect] them. They will destroy [devour, consume] and conquer [subdue, bring into submission] with slingstones [stones of the sling]; they will drink [feast, celebrate] and roar [make a loud noise, shout] as with wine [fermented wine]. And they will be filled [made full, complete] like sprinkling bowls [vessels for holding liquids], drenched [soaked, filled to the brim] like the corners [projections, angles] of the altar [a place of sacrifice, where offerings are made to God]. word study 16 On that day [in the future, at a specific time] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] their God [Elohim, the supreme God] will save [rescue, deliver] them as the flock [a group of sheep, His people] of His people [the nation of Israel, His own]; for like jewels [stones of a crown, precious gems] in a crown they will sparkle [shine, be lifted up] over His land [the earth, the promised territory]. word study 17 How lovely [beautiful, delightful] they will be, and how [what a great degree of] beautiful [excellent, pleasing]! Grain [corn, wheat] will make the young men [youth, chosen ones] flourish [become strong, cheerful], and new wine [freshly squeezed, fermented], the young women [virgins, brides]. word study