Focused Passage

Zechariah 12:1-9

Jerusalem Defended and the Pierced One Mourned

Zechariah 12 moves from Jerusalem's external deliverance to Jerusalem's internal repentance: the Creator-LORD makes the city immovable before hostile nations, strengthens Judah and David's house, destroys attackers, and pours out grace so the people mourn over the one they pierced.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 This is the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, who forms the spirit of man within him:

2 “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.

3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.

4 On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and every rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah, but I will strike with blindness all the horses of the nations.

5 Then the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts: ‘The people of Jerusalem are my strength, for the LORD of Hosts is their God.’

6 On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among the sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right and on the left, while the people of Jerusalem remain secure there.

7 The LORD will save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and of the people of Jerusalem may not be greater than that of Judah.

8 On that day the LORD will defend the people of Jerusalem, so that the weakest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD going before them.

9 So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

[This is] the burden מַשָּׂ֥א H4853 Noun - masculine singular construct of the word דְבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular concerning עַל־ H5921 Preposition Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular [Thus] declares נְאֻם־ H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular who stretches out נֹטֶ֤ה H5186 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular the heavens שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ H8064 Noun - masculine plural and lays the foundation וְיֹסֵ֣ד H3245 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular of the earth אָ֔רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular who forms וְיֹצֵ֥ר H3335 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular the spirit רֽוּחַ־ H7307 Noun - common singular construct of man אָדָ֖ם H120 Noun - masculine singular within him בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃פ H7130 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

Behold הִנֵּ֣ה H2009 Interjection I אָ֠נֹכִי H595 Pronoun - first person common singular will make שָׂ֣ם H7760 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֧ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular a cup סַף־ H5592 Noun - masculine singular construct of drunkenness רַ֛עַל H7478 Noun - masculine singular to all לְכָל־ H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct the surrounding סָבִ֑יב H5439 Adverb peoples הָעַמִּ֖ים H5971 Article | Noun - masculine plural וְגַ֧ם וְגַ֧ם H1571 Conjunction - עַל־ H5921 Preposition Judah יְהוּדָ֛ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular will be יִֽהְיֶ֥ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular besieged בַמָּצ֖וֹר H4692 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular as well as עַל־ H5921 Preposition Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

- וְהָיָ֣ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular On that הַ֠הוּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַיּוֹם־ H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular when all כֹּ֖ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the nations גּוֹיֵ֥י H1471 Noun - masculine plural construct of the earth הָאָֽרֶץ׃ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular gather וְנֶאֶסְפ֣וּ H622 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural against her עָלֶ֔יהָ H5921 Preposition | third person feminine singular I will make אָשִׂ֨ים H7760 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular a heavy מַֽעֲמָסָה֙ H4614 Noun - feminine singular stone אֶ֤בֶן H68 Noun - feminine singular construct for all לְכָל־ H3605 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct the peoples הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים H5971 Article | Noun - masculine plural all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct who would heave it away עֹמְסֶ֖יהָ H6006 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular will be severely injured שָׂר֣וֹט H8295 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . יִשָּׂרֵ֑טוּ H8295 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 4

Original words

On that הַה֜וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַּיּ֨וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular declares נְאֻם־ H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular I will strike אַכֶּ֤ה H5221 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular every כָל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct horse סוּס֙ H5483 Noun - masculine singular with panic בַּתִּמָּה֔וֹן H8541 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and [every] rider וְרֹכְב֖וֹ H7392 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular with madness בַּשִּׁגָּע֑וֹן H7697 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular I will keep a watchful אֶפְקַ֣ח H6491 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker eye עֵינַ֔י H5869 Noun - cdc | first person common singular on וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the house בֵּ֤ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of Judah יְהוּדָה֙ H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular but I will strike אַכֶּ֖ה H5221 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular with blindness בַּֽעִוָּרֽוֹן׃ H5788 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular all וְכֹל֙ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct the horses ס֣וּס H5483 Noun - masculine singular construct of the nations הָֽעַמִּ֔ים H5971 Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 5

Original words

Then the leaders אַלֻּפֵ֥י H441 Noun - masculine plural construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֖ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular will say וְאָֽמְר֛וּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural in their hearts בְּלִבָּ֑ם H3820 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural The people יֹשְׁבֵ֣י H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular are my strength אַמְצָ֥ה H556 Noun - feminine singular for the LORD בַּיהוָ֥ה H3068 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֖וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural [is] their God אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 6

Original words

On that הַה֡וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular I will make אָשִׂים֩ H7760 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the clans אַלֻּפֵ֨י H441 Noun - masculine plural construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֜ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular like a firepot כְּֽכִיּ֧וֹר H3595 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . אֵ֣שׁ H784 Noun - common singular in a woodpile בְּעֵצִ֗ים H6086 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural like a flaming אֵשׁ֙ H784 Noun - common singular torch וּכְלַפִּ֥יד H3940 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct among the sheaves בְּעָמִ֔יר H5995 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular they will consume וְאָ֨כְל֜וּ H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the peoples הָעַמִּ֖ים H5971 Article | Noun - masculine plural around them סָבִ֑יב H5439 Adverb on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the right יָמִ֧ין H3225 Noun - feminine singular and on וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the left שְׂמֹ֛אול H8040 Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker while the people וְיָשְׁבָ֨ה H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֥ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular remain ע֛וֹד H5750 Adverb secure תַּחְתֶּ֖יהָ H8478 Preposition | third person feminine singular [there] בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃פ H3389 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 7

Original words

The LORD יְהוָ֛ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker will save וְהוֹשִׁ֧יעַ H3467 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular the tents אָהֳלֵ֥י H168 Noun - masculine plural construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֖ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular first בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה H7223 Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - feminine singular so that לְמַ֨עַן H4616 Conjunction the glory תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת H8597 Noun - feminine singular construct of the house בֵּית־ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of David דָּוִ֗יד H1732 Noun - proper - masculine singular [and] וְתִפְאֶ֛רֶת H8597 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct of the people יֹשֵׁ֥ב H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular may not לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle be greater תִגְדַּ֜ל H1431 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular than עַל־ H5921 Preposition that of Judah יְהוּדָֽה׃ H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

On that הַה֗וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular the LORD יְהוָה֙ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . בְּעַד֙ H1157 Preposition will defend יָגֵ֤ן H1598 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the people יוֹשֵׁ֣ב H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular so that הַה֖וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular - בַּיּ֥וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular the weakest הַנִּכְשָׁ֥ל H3782 Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular among them בָּהֶ֛ם Preposition | third person masculine plural will be וְהָיָ֞ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular like David כְּדָוִ֑יד H1732 Preposition-k | Noun - proper - masculine singular and the house וּבֵ֤ית H1004 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of David דָּוִיד֙ H1732 Noun - proper - masculine singular will be like God כֵּֽאלֹהִ֔ים H430 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural like the angel כְּמַלְאַ֥ךְ H4397 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular going before them לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Or Angel
Verse 9

Original words

So וְהָיָ֖ה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular on that הַה֑וּא H1931 Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular day בַּיּ֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular I will set out אֲבַקֵּ֗שׁ H1245 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular to destroy לְהַשְׁמִיד֙ H8045 Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the nations הַגּוֹיִ֔ם H1471 Article | Noun - masculine plural that come הַבָּאִ֖ים H935 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural against עַל־ H5921 Preposition Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.