Zechariah 12:4-9

4 "In that day," declares the LORD, "I will strike every horse with bewilderment and his rider with madness. But I will watch * over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.

5 "Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, 'A strong support for us are the inhabitants of Jerusalem through the LORD of hosts, their God.'

6 "In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a ¹firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves, so they will consume on the right hand and on the left all the surrounding peoples, while the ²inhabitants of Jerusalem again dwell on their own sites in Jerusalem.

7 "The LORD also will ³save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of ⁴David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem will not be magnified above Judah.

8 "In that day the LORD will ⁵defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the one who ⁶is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like ⁷God, like the ⁸angel of the LORD before them.

9 "And in that day I will ⁹set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:4-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 12

This chapter contains a prophecy of the defence, protection, and salvation of the church of God; and of the effusion of the Spirit; and of the conversion of the Jews in the latter day. It begins with a title and preface, describing the power of God, from the creation of the heavens and earth, and soul of man, Zec 12:1 then follows the subject matter of the prophecy, in a way of judgment upon the enemies of the people of God, and in a way of salvation to them. The judgments on their enemies are signified by various metaphors; by Jerusalem's being a cup of trembling, a burdensome stone, and a hearth, and torch of fire to them, Zec 12:2,3,6. The effects of which are to them astonishment, madness, blindness, and utter destruction; and to the people of God confidence in him, salvation from him, and strength and protection by him, Zec 12:4,5,7,8 and, at the same time that God will destroy all the enemies of his people, he will pour out his Spirit upon his chosen ones among the Jews. The consequence of which will be, their faith in Christ, signified by looking to him whom they have pierced; and their repentance towards God, expressed by mourning; and this illustrated by mourning for an only and firstborn son, Zec 12:9,10 and which is further illustrated by the mourning for Josiah in the valley of Megiddon; and by an enumeration of the several families in Jerusalem, that should separately mourn on this account, Zec 12:11-14.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 10:17, 18; Obadiah 18; Zechariah 11:1
• 2. Zechariah 2:4; Zechariah 8:3-5
• 3. Jeremiah 30:18
• 4. Amos 9:11
• 5. Joel 3:16; Zechariah 9:14, 15
• 6. Leviticus 26:8; Joshua 23:10; Micah 7:8
• 7. Psalms 8:5; Psalms 82:6
• 8. Exodus 14:19; Exodus 33:2
• 9. Zechariah 14:2, 3

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "open My eyes"
• [b]. Lit "My strength is"
• [c]. Or "stumbles"
• [d]. Lit "seek to"