Zechariah 2
Evangelical Heritage Version
The Third Vision: A Man With a Measuring Line
2 Then I looked up, and I saw a man standing there with a measuring line in his hand.[a] 2 I asked him, “Where are you going?”
He answered me, “To measure Jerusalem, to determine its width and its length.”
3 At that moment, when the angel who was speaking with me was about to leave, another angel came to meet him and 4 said, “Run and tell this young man that Jerusalem will be inhabited as a city without walls because of the large number of people and livestock in it. 5 For I myself will be a wall of fire around it, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory within it.”
6 Attention! This is urgent! Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord, for I have scattered you as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord.
7 Attention, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. 8 For this is what the Lord of Armies says. For the sake of his glory he sent me to the nations that plundered you, because whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye.[b][c] 9 Yes, I myself will swing my hand over them, and they will become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know that the Lord of Armies has sent me.
10 Sing loudly and rejoice, daughter of Zion. Yes, look! I am coming, and I will dwell among you, declares the Lord. 11 Many nations will be joined to the Lord on that day, and they will become my people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the Lord of Armies has sent me to you. 12 Then the Lord will take possession of Judah as his special portion of the holy soil, and he will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Keep silent before the Lord, all flesh, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
Footnotes
- Zechariah 2:1 English verses 2:1-13 are verses 2:5-17 in Hebrew.
- Zechariah 2:8 The term apple of the eye is an old English idiom for the pupil of the eye. Literally, the Hebrew reads daughter or gate of the eye.
- Zechariah 2:8 His eye is the reading in the main body of the Hebrew text. This reading could be understood as a statement of an angel referring to God’s eye or as the Angel of the Lord referring to the eye of God the Father. An alternate Hebrew reading is my eye. This would likely refer to the Angel of the Lord speaking of himself. A secondary issue in regard to the variant is whether some scribes had an aversion to speaking of touching God’s eye.
Zechariah 2
New King James Version
Vision of the Measuring Line
2 Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, (A)a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, “Where are you going?”
And he said to me, (B)“To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.”
3 And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 who said to him, “Run, speak to this young man, saying: (C)‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. 5 For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be (D)a wall of fire all around her, (E)and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”
Future Joy of Zion and Many Nations
6 “Up, up! Flee (F)from the land of the north,” says the Lord; “for I have (G)spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,” says the Lord. 7 “Up, Zion! (H)Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.”
8 For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who (I)touches you touches the [a]apple of His eye. 9 For surely I will (J)shake My hand against them, and they shall become [b]spoil for their servants. Then (K)you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me.
10 (L)“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I (M)will dwell in your midst,” says the Lord. 11 (N)“Many nations shall be joined to the Lord (O)in that day, and they shall become (P)My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then (Q)you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. 12 And the Lord will (R)take possession of Judah as His inheritance in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 (S)Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for He is aroused (T)from His holy habitation!”
Footnotes
- Zechariah 2:8 Lit. pupil
- Zechariah 2:9 booty or plunder
Zechariah 2
English Standard Version
A Vision of a Man with a Measuring Line
2 [a] And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, (A)a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, (B)“To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” 3 And behold, (C)the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him 4 and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, (D)‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited (E)as villages without walls, because of (F)the multitude of people and livestock in it. 5 And I will be to her (G)a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
6 Up! Up! (H)Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have (I)spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord. 7 (J)Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. 8 For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me[b] to the nations who plundered you, (K)for he who touches you touches (L)the apple of his eye: 9 “Behold, (M)I will shake my hand over them, (N)and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then (O)you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. 10 (P)Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for (Q)behold, I come (R)and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. 11 (S)And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. (T)And I will dwell in your midst, and (U)you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 12 (V)And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again (W)choose Jerusalem.”
13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
Footnotes
- Zechariah 2:1 Ch 2:5 in Hebrew
- Zechariah 2:8 Or he sent me after glory
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
