Zechariah 12:1-5
New English Translation
The Repentance of Judah
12 This is an oracle,[a] the Lord’s message concerning Israel: The Lord—he who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth, who forms the human spirit within a person[b]—says, 2 “I am about to make Jerusalem a cup that brings dizziness[c] to all the surrounding nations; indeed, Judah will also be included when Jerusalem is besieged. 3 Moreover, on that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy burden[d] for all the nations, and all who try to carry it will be seriously injured;[e] yet all the peoples of the earth will be assembled against it. 4 On that day,” says the Lord, “I will strike every horse with confusion and its rider with madness. I will pay close attention to the house of Judah, but will strike all the horses[f] of the nations[g] with blindness. 5 Then the leaders of Judah will say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a means of strength to us through their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’
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- Zechariah 12:1 tn See note at Isa 13:1.
- Zechariah 12:1 tn Heb “who forms the spirit of man within him” (so NIV).
- Zechariah 12:2 sn The image of a cup that brings dizziness is that of drunkenness. The Lord will force the nations to drink of his judgment and in doing so they will become so intoxicated by his wrath that they will stumble and become irrational.
- Zechariah 12:3 tn Heb “heavy stone” (so NRSV, TEV, NLT); KJV “burdensome stone”; NIV “an immovable rock.”
- Zechariah 12:3 sn In Israel’s and Judah’s past they had been uprooted by various conquerors such as the Assyrians and the Babylonians. In the eschaton, however, they will be so “heavy” with God’s glory and so rooted in his promises that no nation will be able to move them.
- Zechariah 12:4 tn Heb “every horse.”
- Zechariah 12:4 tn Or “peoples” (so NAB, NRSV).
Zechariah 12:1-5
New American Standard Bible
Jerusalem to Be Attacked
12 The pronouncement of the word of the Lord concerning Israel:
The Lord who (A)stretches out the heavens, (B)lays the foundation of the earth, and (C)forms the spirit of a person within him, declares: 2 “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a (D)cup [a]that causes staggering to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against (E)Judah. 3 It will come about on that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy (F)stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will (G)injure themselves severely. And all the (H)nations of the earth will be gathered against it. 4 On that day,” declares the Lord, “I will strike every horse with confusion and its rider with insanity. But I will [b]watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5 Then the [c]clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are a [d]strong support for us through the Lord of armies, their God.’
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- Zechariah 12:2 Lit of reeling
- Zechariah 12:4 Lit open My eyes
- Zechariah 12:5 Or chiefs
- Zechariah 12:5 Lit strength for me
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