Zechariah 2

1 And I raised mine eyes, and saw, and lo! a man, and lo! in his hand, a little cord of meters. (And I raised up my eyes, and saw, and lo! a man, and lo! in his hand, a little measuring cord.)

2 And I said, Whither goest thou? And he said to me, That I mete Jerusalem, and Judah; (to see) how much is the breadth thereof, and how much is the length thereof. (And I said, Where goest thou? And he said to me, So that I can measure Jerusalem, and Judah; to see how much is its breadth, and how much is its length.)

3 And lo! the angel that spake in me, went out, and another angel went out into the meeting of him, (And lo! the angel who spoke to me, went out, and another angel went out to meet him,)

4 and said to him, Run thou, speak to this young man, and say thou, Jerusalem shall be inhabited without wall, for the multitude of men and beasts in the middle thereof. (and said to him, Run thou, speak to this young man, and say thou, Jerusalem shall be inhabited like a city without walls, for the multitude of the people and of the beasts in its midst.)

5 And I shall be to it, saith the Lord, a wall of fire in compass; and I shall be in glory in [the] middle thereof. (And I shall be to it, saith the Lord, a wall of fire all around it; and I shall also be the glory in its midst.)

6 A! A! A! flee ye from the land of the north, saith the Lord, for in four winds of heaven I scattered you, saith the Lord. (O! O! O! flee ye from the land of the north, saith the Lord, for by the four winds of the heavens I have scattered you, saith the Lord.)

7 A! thou Zion, flee, that dwellest at the daughter of Babylon. (O! thou Zion, flee, thou who livest in Babylon.)

8 For the Lord of hosts saith these things, After glory he sent me to heathen men, which robbed you; for he that shall touch you, shall touch the apple of mine eye. (For the Lord of hosts saith these things, After the glory he hath sent me to the heathen, who robbed you; for he who toucheth you, toucheth the apple of my eye.)

9 For lo! I raise mine hand on them, and they shall be preys to these that served them; and ye shall know, that the Lord of hosts sent me. (For lo! I shall raise my hand against them, and they shall be prey for those who served them; and then ye shall know, that the Lord of hosts hath sent me.)

10 Daughter of Zion, praise thou, and be glad; for lo! I come, and I shall dwell in [the] middle of thee, saith the Lord. (Daughter of Zion, praise thou, and be happy; for lo! I come, and I shall live in thy midst, saith the Lord.)

11 And many folks shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall be to me into a people, and I shall dwell in the middle of thee; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts sent me to thee. (And many nations shall join the Lord on that day, and they shall be his people, and he shall live in their midst; and then thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me to thee.)

12 And the Lord shall wield Judah into his part, in the land hallowed, and shall choose yet Jerusalem. (And the Lord shall take Judah for his portion, in the hallowed, or in the consecrated, land, and shall once again choose Jerusalem.)

13 Each flesh be still from the face of the Lord, for he rose of his holy dwelling place. (Each person be still before the face of the Lord, for he hath risen up from his holy dwelling place.)

Zechariah 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The prosperity of Jerusalem. (1-5) The Jews called to return to their own land. (6-9) A promise of God's presence. (10-13)

Verses 1-5 The Son of David, even the Man Christ Jesus, whom the prophet sees with a measuring line in his hand, is the Master-Builder of his church. God notices the extent of his church, and will take care that whatever number of guests are brought to the wedding-supper, there shall be room. This vision means well to Jerusalem. The walls of a city, as they defend it, so they straiten its inhabitants; but Jerusalem shall be extended as freely as if it had no walls at all, yet shall be as safe as if it had the strongest walls. In the church of God there yet is room for other multitudes, more than man can number. None shall be refused who trust in Christ; and He never shuts out from heaven one true member of the church on earth. God will be a Wall of fire round them, which can neither be broken through nor undermined, nor can it be assailed without danger to those who attack. This vision was to have its full accomplishment in the gospel church, which is extended by admitting the Gentiles into it; and which has the Son of God for its Prince and Protector; especially in the glorious times yet to come.

Verses 6-9 If God will build Jerusalem for the people and their comfort, they must inhabit it for him and his glory. The promises and privileges with which God's people are blessed, should engage us to join them, whatever it costs us. When Zion is enlarged to make room for all God's Israel, it is the greatest madness for any of them to stay in Babylon. The captivity of a sinful state is by no means to be continued in, though a man may be easy in worldly matters. Escape for thy life, look not behind thee. Christ has proclaimed that deliverance to the captives, which he has himself wrought out, and it concerns every one to resolve that sin shall not have dominion over him. Those who would be found among God's children, must save themselves from this world, see ( Acts 2:40 ) . What Christ will do for his church, shall be an evident proof of God's care and affection. He that touches you, touches the apple of his eye. This is a strong expression of God's love to his church. He takes what is done against her as done against the tenderest part of the eye, to which the least touch is a great offence. Christ is sent to be the Protector of his church.

Verses 10-13 Here is a prediction of the coming of Christ in human nature. Many nations in that day would renounce idolatry, and God will own those for his people who join him with purpose of heart. Glorious times are foretold as a prophecy of our Lord's coming and kingdom. God is about to do something unexpected, and very surprising, and to plead his people's cause, which had long seemed neglected. Silently submit to his holy will, and patiently wait the event; assured that God will complete all his work. He will ere long come to judgment, to complete the salvation of his people, and to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their sins.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 2

This chapter contains a prophecy of the church under the Gospel dispensation; of the largeness and numbers of it; and of its protection and glory, through the presence of God in it. In this vision a man is seen with a measuring line in his hand, to measure Jerusalem with, Zec 2:1,2 upon which an angel bids the angel that talked with the prophet to declare to him the largeness, populousness, and safety of Jerusalem, Zec 2:3-5 then follows an exhortation to the people of God to come out of Babylon, Zec 2:6,7 and then a promise of the calling of the Gentiles, and of God's gracious inhabitation in his church, which would be matter of joy to Zion; and of his inheriting Judah, and choosing Jerusalem Zec 2:8-12 and the chapter is concluded with an address to all mankind, to be silent before the Lord, since he was raised up out of his habitation, Zec 2:13.