Vision of the Measuring Line

Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, (A)a man with a measuring line in his hand. 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.”

And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, 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. 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

“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. “Up, Zion! (H)Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.”

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. 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!”

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 2:8 Lit. pupil
  2. Zechariah 2:9 booty or plunder

Zechariah’s Third Vision

And I looked up[a] and I saw, and look, a man, and in his hand was a measuring rope! And I asked, “Where are you going?” And he answered me, “To measure Jerusalem to see what is its width and what is its length.” And look, the angel who was talking to me was coming forward, and another angel was coming forward to meet him. And he said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited like villages without walls[b] because of the multitude of people and animals in its midst. And I will be for it a wall of fire all around,’ declares[c] Yahweh, ‘and I will be the glory in its midst.’”

“Woe! Woe! Flee from the land of the north,” declares[d] Yahweh, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of the heavens,” declares[e] Yahweh. “Woe, Zion! Escape, you inhabitants of the daughter of Babylon!” For thus said Yahweh of hosts, after glory[f] he sent me against the nations plundering you: Truly, the one touching you is touching the apple[g] of his eye. “Yes, look! I am going to wave my hand against them, and they will become plunder for their servants, and you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent me. 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for look, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,” declares[h] Yahweh. 11 “Many nations will join themselves to Yahweh on that day, and they will be my people, and I will dwell in your midst. And you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent me to you. 12 And Yahweh will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land,[i] and he will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all people,[j] before Yahweh, for he is roused from his holy dwelling.”[k]

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Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 2:1 Literally “lifted up my eyes”
  2. Zechariah 2:4 Literally “like open regions”
  3. Zechariah 2:5 Literally “a declaration of”
  4. Zechariah 2:6 Literally “a declaration of”
  5. Zechariah 2:6 Literally “a declaration of”
  6. Zechariah 2:8 The phrase “after glory” is difficult to interpret
  7. Zechariah 2:8 Hebrew “pupil,” but the expression “apple of his eye” has become well-established in English
  8. Zechariah 2:10 Literally “a declaration of”
  9. Zechariah 2:12 Literally “upon the land of the holiness”
  10. Zechariah 2:13 Literally “all flesh”
  11. Zechariah 2:13 Literally “the dwelling place of his holiness”