Zechariah 2
The Message
Third Vision: The Man with the Tape Measure
2 1-5 I looked up and was surprised to see
a man holding a tape measure in his hand.
I said, “What are you up to?”
“I’m on my way,” he said, “to survey Jerusalem,
to measure its width and length.”
Just then the Messenger-Angel on his way out
met another angel coming in and said,
“Run! Tell the Surveyor, ‘Jerusalem will burst its walls—
bursting with people, bursting with animals.
And I’ll be right there with her’—God’s Decree—‘a wall of fire
around unwalled Jerusalem and a radiant presence within.’”
* * *
6-7 “Up on your feet! Get out of there—and now!” God says so.
“Return from your far exile.
I scattered you to the four winds.” God’s Decree.
“Escape from Babylon, Zion, and come home—now!”
* * *
8-9 God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the One of Glory who sent me on my mission, commenting on the godless nations who stripped you and left you homeless, said, “Anyone who hits you, hits me—bloodies my nose, blackens my eye. Yes, and at the right time I’ll give the signal and they’ll be stripped and thrown out by their own servants.” Then you’ll know for sure that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me on this mission.
* * *
10 “Shout and celebrate, Daughter of Zion!
I’m on my way. I’m moving into your neighborhood!”
God’s Decree.
* * *
11-12 Many godless nations will be linked up with God at that time. (“They will become my family! I’ll live in their homes!”) And then you’ll know for sure that God-of-the-Angel-Armies sent me on this mission. God will reclaim his Judah inheritance in the Holy Land. He’ll again make clear that Jerusalem is his choice.
* * *
13 Quiet, everyone! Shh! Silence before God. Something’s afoot in his holy house. He’s on the move!
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
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
