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

1This 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.

3On 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.

4On 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.

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

6On 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.

7The 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.

8On 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.

9So 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 burdenמַשָּׂ֥אH4853Noun - masculine singular constructof the wordדְבַר־H1697Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularconcerningעַל־H5921PrepositionIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singular[Thus] declaresנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwho stretches outנֹטֶ֤הH5186Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthe heavensשָׁמַ֙יִם֙H8064Noun - masculine pluraland lays the foundationוְיֹסֵ֣דH3245Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularof the earthאָ֔רֶץH776Noun - feminine singularwho formsוְיֹצֵ֥רH3335Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthe spiritרֽוּחַ־H7307Noun - common singular constructof manאָדָ֖םH120Noun - masculine singularwithin himבְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃פH7130Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

Beholdהִנֵּ֣הH2009InterjectionIאָ֠נֹכִיH595Pronoun - first person common singularwill makeשָׂ֣םH7760Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֧םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singulara cupסַף־H5592Noun - masculine singular constructof drunkennessרַ֛עַלH7478Noun - masculine singularto allלְכָל־H3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructthe surroundingסָבִ֑יבH5439Adverbpeoplesהָעַמִּ֖יםH5971Article | Noun - masculine pluralוְגַ֧םוְגַ֧םH1571Conjunction-עַל־H5921PrepositionJudahיְהוּדָ֛הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularwill beיִֽהְיֶ֥הH1961Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularbesiegedבַמָּצ֖וֹרH4692Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularas well asעַל־H5921PrepositionJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃H3389Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

-וְהָיָ֣הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularOn thatהַ֠הוּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayבַיּוֹם־H3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularwhen allכֹּ֖לH3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe nationsגּוֹיֵ֥יH1471Noun - masculine plural constructof the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃H776Article | Noun - feminine singulargatherוְנֶאֶסְפ֣וּH622Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralagainst herעָלֶ֔יהָH5921Preposition | third person feminine singularI will makeאָשִׂ֨יםH7760Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֜םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singulara heavyמַֽעֲמָסָה֙H4614Noun - feminine singularstoneאֶ֤בֶןH68Noun - feminine singular constructfor allלְכָל־H3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructthe peoplesהָ֣עַמִּ֔יםH5971Article | Noun - masculine pluralallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructwho would heave it awayעֹמְסֶ֖יהָH6006Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularwill be severely injuredשָׂר֣וֹטH8295Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .יִשָּׂרֵ֑טוּH8295Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Verse 4

Original words

On thatהַה֜וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayבַּיּ֨וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singulardeclaresנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularI will strikeאַכֶּ֤הH5221Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singulareveryכָל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructhorseסוּס֙H5483Noun - masculine singularwith panicבַּתִּמָּה֔וֹןH8541Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularand [every] riderוְרֹכְב֖וֹH7392Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularwith madnessבַּשִּׁגָּע֑וֹןH7697Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularI will keep a watchfulאֶפְקַ֣חH6491Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markereyeעֵינַ֔יH5869Noun - cdc | first person common singularonוְעַל־H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe houseבֵּ֤יתH1004Noun - masculine singular constructof Judahיְהוּדָה֙H3063Noun - proper - masculine singularbut I will strikeאַכֶּ֖הH5221Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularwith blindnessבַּֽעִוָּרֽוֹן׃H5788Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularallוְכֹל֙H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructthe horsesס֣וּסH5483Noun - masculine singular constructof the nationsהָֽעַמִּ֔יםH5971Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 5

Original words

Then the leadersאַלֻּפֵ֥יH441Noun - masculine plural constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֖הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularwill sayוְאָֽמְר֛וּH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralin their heartsבְּלִבָּ֑םH3820Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluralThe peopleיֹשְׁבֵ֣יH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularare my strengthאַמְצָ֥הH556Noun - feminine singularfor the LORDבַּיהוָ֥הH3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָא֖וֹתH6635Noun - common plural[is] their Godאֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃H430Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 6

Original words

On thatהַה֡וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularI will makeאָשִׂים֩H7760Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe clansאַלֻּפֵ֨יH441Noun - masculine plural constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֜הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularlike a firepotכְּֽכִיּ֧וֹרH3595Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .אֵ֣שׁH784Noun - common singularin a woodpileבְּעֵצִ֗יםH6086Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plurallike a flamingאֵשׁ֙H784Noun - common singulartorchוּכְלַפִּ֥ידH3940Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructamong the sheavesבְּעָמִ֔ירH5995Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularthey will consumeוְאָ֨כְל֜וּH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe peoplesהָעַמִּ֖יםH5971Article | Noun - masculine pluralaround themסָבִ֑יבH5439Adverbonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe rightיָמִ֧יןH3225Noun - feminine singularand onוְעַל־H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe leftשְׂמֹ֛אולH8040Noun - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerwhile the peopleוְיָשְׁבָ֨הH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֥םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularremainע֛וֹדH5750Adverbsecureתַּחְתֶּ֖יהָH8478Preposition | third person feminine singular[there]בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃פH3389Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 7

Original words

The LORDיְהוָ֛הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerwill saveוְהוֹשִׁ֧יעַH3467Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularthe tentsאָהֳלֵ֥יH168Noun - masculine plural constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֖הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularfirstבָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑הH7223Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - feminine singularso thatלְמַ֨עַןH4616Conjunctionthe gloryתִּפְאֶ֣רֶתH8597Noun - feminine singular constructof the houseבֵּית־H1004Noun - masculine singular constructof Davidדָּוִ֗ידH1732Noun - proper - masculine singular[and]וְתִפְאֶ֛רֶתH8597Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular constructof the peopleיֹשֵׁ֥בH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularmay notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlebe greaterתִגְדַּ֜לH1431Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularthanעַל־H5921Prepositionthat of Judahיְהוּדָֽה׃H3063Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

On thatהַה֗וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularthe LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .בְּעַד֙H1157Prepositionwill defendיָגֵ֤ןH1598Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe peopleיוֹשֵׁ֣בH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularso thatהַה֖וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular-בַּיּ֥וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularthe weakestהַנִּכְשָׁ֥לH3782Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularamong themבָּהֶ֛םPreposition | third person masculine pluralwill beוְהָיָ֞הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularlike Davidכְּדָוִ֑ידH1732Preposition-k | Noun - proper - masculine singularand the houseוּבֵ֤יתH1004Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof Davidדָּוִיד֙H1732Noun - proper - masculine singularwill be like Godכֵּֽאלֹהִ֔יםH430Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plurallike the angelכְּמַלְאַ֥ךְH4397Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singulargoing before themלִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃H6440Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Or Angel
Verse 9

Original words

Soוְהָיָ֖הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularon thatהַה֑וּאH1931Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singulardayבַּיּ֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularI will set outאֲבַקֵּ֗שׁH1245Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularto destroyלְהַשְׁמִיד֙H8045Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe nationsהַגּוֹיִ֔םH1471Article | Noun - masculine pluralthat comeהַבָּאִ֖יםH935Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralagainstעַל־H5921PrepositionJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃H3389Noun - 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.