Zechariah 10:1-8

1 Ask ye of the Lord rain in late time, and the Lord shall make snows, and rain of might of cloud; and he shall give to them, to each by himself, herb in the field. (Ask ye of the Lord for a late rain, and the Lord shall make snows, and rain out of the might, or out of the power, of the clouds; and he shall give to all, to each one in his turn, grass, or hay, in his field.)

2 For simulacra spake unprofitable things, and diviners saw leasing; and dreamers spake vainly, idly they comforted; therefore they be led away as a flock, they shall be tormented, for a shepherd is not to them. (For idols spoke unprofitable things, and diviners saw lies; and dreamers spoke in vain, yea, they comforted in vain; and so the people be led away like a flock of sheep, and they shall be tormented, for they do not have a shepherd.)

3 On shepherds my strong vengeance is wroth, and on the bucks of goats I shall visit; for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock, the house of Judah, and hath put them as an horse of his glory in battle. (My strong vengeance is very angry against the shepherds, and I shall punish the goat-bucks; for the Lord of hosts hath visited his flock, the house of Judah, and hath made them like a horse of his glory in battle.)

4 Of him shall be a corner(stone), and of him a little pale, of him a bow of battle, and of him each exactor, either unjust asker, shall go out together. (From out of them shall come a cornerstone, and a little post, or a peg, and out of them a bow of battle, and every oppressor, or all the commanders, shall go out together.)

5 And they shall be as strong men, defouling (in the) clay of ways in battle, and they shall fight, for the Lord is with them; and riders of horses shall be confounded. (And they shall be like the strong men, who defile, or who trample, the clay of the ways in battle, and they shall fight, for the Lord is with them; and the riders of horses shall be confused, or shall be routed.)

6 And I shall comfort the house of Judah, and I shall save the house of Joseph; and I shall convert them, for I shall have mercy on them; and they shall be as they were, when I had not cast away them; for I shall be the Lord God of them, and I shall graciously hear them. (And I shall strengthen the house of Judah, and I shall save the house of Joseph; and I shall restore them, for I shall have mercy upon them, and they shall be as they were, when I had not cast them away; for I shall be the Lord their God, and I shall graciously hear, or I shall graciously answer, them.)

7 And they shall be as the strong men of Ephraim, and the heart of them shall be glad, as of wine; and the sons of them shall see, and be glad, and the heart of them shall make joy withoutforth in the Lord. (And they shall be like the strong men of Ephraim, and their hearts shall be happy, as if from wine; and their sons shall see, and be happy, and their hearts shall rejoice in the Lord.)

8 I shall hiss to them, and I shall gather them, for I again-bought them, and I shall multiply them, as they were multiplied before. (I shall whistle for them, and I shall gather them together, for I have redeemed them, and I shall multiply them, so that they become as numerous as they were before.)

Zechariah 10:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 10

This chapter is a prophecy of the conversion of the Jews in the latter day, when the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in, spoken of in the preceding chapter Zec 9:1-17. It begins with an exhortation to ask rain of the Lord; denounces wrath upon his enemies; and consists of various promises to his people. The exhortation to ask rain is in Zec 10:1 to which encouragement is given from its being of the Lord, from his willingness to grant it, and from the fruitfulness occasioned by it. The vanity of idols, and idolaters, who can not give it, is exposed; and the distress and confusion they were thrown into is observed, Zec 10:2. The anger of the Lord against the principal of them is declared; and his gracious visitation of the people of the Jews, whom he will honour and glorify, is taken notice of, Zec 10:3 from whom the Messiah sprung, than which a greater glory can not be enjoyed, Zec 10:4 and then follow various promises, relating to them; as of victory over their enemies, through the presence of the Lord with them, Zec 10:5 of strength and salvation to them, as owing to his free grace and mercy, Zec 10:6 of inward spiritual joy in them and theirs, Zec 10:7 of their effectual calling and spiritual increase, in consequence of redeeming grace, Zec 10:8 of their having a name and a place in Gospel churches, where they will remember the Lord, and live with their children, being converted, Zec 10:9 which conversion of theirs is represented in terms alluding to their deliverance from Egypt and Babylon, Zec 10:10,11 and the chapter is concluded with a promise of spiritual strength, so that they shall continue in their profession of faith in Christ, and persevere therein to the end, Zec 10:12.