Christian Standard Bible
Zechariah 12:1
1A pronouncement: The word of the Lord concerning Israel. A declaration of the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him.
Zechariah 12:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
- New International Version (NIV)A prophecy: The word of the Lord concerning Israel. The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the human spirit within a person, declares:
- English Standard Version (ESV)The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him:
- New King James Version (NKJV)The burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. Thus says the Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him:
Context of Zechariah 12:1
A pronouncement: The word of the Lord concerning Israel. A declaration of the Lord, who stretched out the heavens, laid the foundation of the earth, and formed the spirit of man within him. 2“Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering for the peoples who surround the city. The siege against Jerusalem will also involve Judah. 3On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who try to lift it will injure themselves severely when all the nations of the earth gather against her.
Read all of Zechariah 12Zechariah 12:1 word by word
מַשָּׂ֥א דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל נְאֻם־יְהוָ֗ה נֹטֶ֤ה שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ וְיֹסֵ֣ד אָ֔רֶץ וְיֹצֵ֥ר רֽוּחַ־אָדָ֖ם בְּקִרְבּֽוֹ׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The burdenמַשָּׂאmaώώâ' · oracleH4853
- of the wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- for Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
- which stretchethנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
- forth the heavensשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- and layeth the foundationיָסַדyâsad · to foundH3245
- of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- and formethיָצַרyâtsar · to form: formedH3335
- the spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
- of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- withinקֶ֫רֶבqereb · entrails: amongH7130
Cross-references for Zechariah 12:1
- Zechariah 9:1A pronouncement: The word of the Lord is against the land of Hadrach, and Damascus is its resting place — for the eyes of humanity and all the tribes of Israel are on the Lord —
- Lamentations 2:14Your prophets saw visions for you that were empty and deceptive; they did not reveal your iniquity and so restore your fortunes. They saw pronouncements for you that were empty and misleading.
- Malachi 1:1A pronouncement: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi.
- Isaiah 51:22This is what your Lord says — the Lord, even your God, who defends his people — “Look, I have removed from your hand the cup that causes staggering; that goblet, the cup of my fury. You will never drink it again.
- Jeremiah 30:10As for you, my servant Jacob, do not be afraid — this is the Lord’s declaration — and do not be discouraged, Israel, for without fail I will save you out of a distant place, your descendants, from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return and have calm and quiet with no one to frighten him.
- Jeremiah 50:34Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of Armies is his name. He will fervently champion their cause so that he might bring rest to the earth but turmoil to those who live in Babylon.
- Ezekiel 36:5“‘This is what the Lord God says: Certainly in my burning zeal I speak against the rest of the nations and all of Edom, who took my land as their own possession with wholehearted rejoicing and utter contempt so that its pastureland became plunder.
- Joel 3:19Egypt will become desolate, and Edom a desert wasteland, because of the violence done to the people of Judah in whose land they shed innocent blood.
- Obadiah 1:16As you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations will drink continually. They will drink and gulp down and be as though they had never been.
- Job 26:7He stretches the northern skies over empty space; he hangs the earth on nothing.
- Psalms 102:25Long ago you established the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
- Psalms 104:2He wraps himself in light as if it were a robe, spreading out the sky like a canopy,
- Psalms 136:5He made the heavens skillfully. His faithful love endures forever.
- Isaiah 40:12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand or marked off the heavens with the span of his hand? Who has gathered the dust of the earth in a measure or weighed the mountains on a balance and the hills on the scales?
- Isaiah 42:5This is what God, the Lord, says — who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it —
- Isaiah 44:24This is what the Lord, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb, says: I am the Lord, who made everything; who stretched out the heavens by myself; who alone spread out the earth;
Commentaries on Zechariah 12:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1The burden of the word of the Lord - This is a new prophecy. It is directed both to Israel and Judah, though Israel alone is mentioned in this verse. Which stretcheth forth the heavens - See on Isaiah 42:5; (note). Formeth the spirit of man within him - Then it is not the same substance with his body. It is a Spirit within Him.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1The burden of the word of the Lord for - Rather, “upon (see at Nahum 1:1, p. 129) Israel.” If this prophecy is a continuation of the last, notwithstanding its fresh title, then “Israel” must be the Christian Church, formed of the true Israel which believed, and the Gentiles who were grafted into them. So Cyril; “Having spoken sufficiently of the Good Shepherd Christ, and of the foolish, most cruel shepherd who butchered the sheep, that is, antichrist, he…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Punishment of the enemies of Judah. (1-8) Repentance and sorrow of the Jews. (9-14) Verses 1-8 Here is a Divine prediction, which will be a heavy burden to all the enemies of the church. But it is for Israel; for their comfort and benefit. It is promised that God will make foolish the counsels, and weaken the courage of the enemies of the church. The exact meaning is not clear; but God often begins by calling the poor and despised; and in that day even…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-14The theme of Jerusalem versus the nations connects the four messages in Zechariah's second oracle. The nations gather against Jerusalem at both the start (Zechariah 12:1–9) and the end (14:1–15) of the oracle. The repeated phrase on that day points to the future day of the Lord. This oracle shows both judgment and blessing for Jerusalem. The main focus is the cleansing of the people of Israel (Zechariah 13:1), ending with God's universal kingdom…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-141. burden--"weighty prophecy"; fraught with destruction to Israel's foes; the expression may also refer to the distresses of Israel implied as about to precede the deliverance. for Israel--concerning Israel [Maurer]. stretcheth forth--present; now, not merely "hath stretched forth," as if God only created and then left the universe to itself (Joh 5:17). To remove all doubts of unbelief as to the possibility of Israel's deliverance, God prefaces the…Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 12:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Zechariah 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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