Zechariah 10:1-3
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Restoration of Judah and Israel
10 Ask rain from the Lord
in the season of the spring rain,
from the Lord who makes the storm clouds,
who gives showers of rain to you,[a]
the vegetation in the field to everyone.(A)
2 For the teraphim[b] utter nonsense,
and the diviners see lies;
the dreamers tell false dreams
and give empty consolation.
Therefore the people[c] wander like sheep;
they suffer for lack of a shepherd.(B)
3 My anger is hot against the shepherds,
and I will punish the leaders,[d]
for the Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them like his proud war horse.(C)
Zechariah 10:1-3
New English Translation
The Restoration of the True People
10 Ask the Lord for rain in the season of the late spring rains[a]—the Lord who causes thunderstorms—and he will give everyone showers of rain and green growth in the field. 2 For the household gods[b] have spoken wickedness, the soothsayers have seen a lie, and the dreamers have disclosed emptiness and give comfort in vain. Therefore the people set out like sheep and become scattered because they have no shepherd.[c] 3 “I am enraged at the shepherds and will punish the lead goats.
“For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has brought blessing to his flock, the house of Judah, and will transform them into his majestic warhorse.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Zechariah 10:1 tn Heb “the latter rain.” This expression refers to the last concentration of heavy rainfall in the spring of the year in Palestine, about March or April. Metaphorically and eschatologically (as here) the “latter rain” speaks of God’s outpouring of blessing in the end times (cf. Hos 6:3; Joel 2:21-25).
- Zechariah 10:2 tn The Hebrew word תְּרָפִים (terafim, “teraphim”) refers to small images used as means of divination and in other occult practices (cf. Gen 31:19, 34-35; 1 Sam 19:13, 16; Hos 3:4). A number of English versions transliterate the Hebrew term (cf. ASV, NAB, NASB, NRSV) or simply use the generic term “idols” (so KJV, NIV, TEV).
- Zechariah 10:2 sn Shepherd is a common OT metaphor for the king (see esp. Jer 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 23:1-2; 50:6; Ezek 34).
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