Zechariah 12:4

Zechariah 12:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
• New International Version (NIV)On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness,” declares the Lord. “I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations.
• New King James Version (NKJV)In that day,” says the Lord, “I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“On that day,” says the Lord, “I will cause every horse to panic and every rider to lose his nerve. I will watch over the people of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of their enemies.

Context of Zechariah 12:4

2"Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. 3On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. On that day, declares the Lord, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, 'The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the Lord of hosts, their God.' 6"On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:4 word by word

בַּיּ֨וֹם הַה֜וּא נְאֻם־יְהוָ֗ה אַכֶּ֤ה כָל־סוּס֙ בַּתִּמָּה֔וֹן וְרֹכְב֖וֹ בַּשִּׁגָּע֑וֹן וְעַל־בֵּ֤ית יְהוּדָה֙ אֶפְקַ֣ח אֶת־עֵינַ֔י וְכֹל֙ ס֣וּס הָֽעַמִּ֔ים אַכֶּ֖ה בַּֽעִוָּרֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• In that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• I will smiteנָכָהnâkâh · to smiteH5221
• every horseסוּסsûs sûs · horseH5483
• with astonishmentתִּמָּהוֹןtimmâhôn · bewildermentH8541
• and his riderרָכַבrâkab · to rideH7392
• with madnessשִׁגָּעוֹןshiggâ‛ôn · madnessH7697
• and I will openפָּקַחpâqach · to openH6491
• mine eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• upon the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063
• of the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• with blindnessעִוָּרוֹן‛ivvârôn ‛avvereth · blindnessH5788

Cross-references for Zechariah 12:4

• Zechariah 12:3On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.
• Isaiah 24:21On that day the Lord will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth.
• Zechariah 10:5They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the Lord is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.
• Zechariah 14:15And a plague like this plague shall fall on the horses, the mules, the camels, the donkeys, and whatever beasts may be in those camps.
• Deuteronomy 28:28The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of mind,
• 2 Kings 6:14So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city.
• Psalms 76:5The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; all the men of war were unable to use their hands.
• Ezekiel 38:4And I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed in full armor, a great host, all of them with buckler and shield, wielding swords.
• Ezekiel 39:20And you shall be filled at my table with horses and charioteers, with mighty men and all kinds of warriors,' declares the Lord God.
• Zechariah 9:8Then I will encamp at my house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with my own eyes.
• 1 Kings 8:29that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, 'My name shall be there,' that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.
• 2 Chronicles 6:20that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.
• 2 Chronicles 7:15Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.
• Nehemiah 1:6let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned.
• Isaiah 37:17Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
• Jeremiah 24:6I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up.

Commentaries on Zechariah 12:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4I will smite every horse - Some apply this to the wars of the Maccabees with the Syrians; but it is more likely to be a prophecy not yet accomplished. The terms are too strong for such petty and evanescent victories as those of the Maccabees.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, stupefying - Zechariah revives the words concentrated by Moses, to express the stupefaction at their ills, which God would accumulate upon His people, if they perseveringly rebelled against Him. Each expresses the intensity of the visitation. “The horse and his rider” Exodus 15:1. The scared cavalry throws into confusion the ranks, of which it was the boast and strength. And on the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Madness, blindness, and panic were some of the curses threatened against Israel for breaking the covenant (Deuteronomy 28:28). On the day of the Lord, these curses will instead affect Israel’s enemies (see 2 Kings 7:6–7). keep a watchful eye (literally open my eyes): God's open eyes symbolize divine help for those in great need (see Genesis 16:13–14; 21:19–21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. I will smite ... horse--The arm of attack especially formidable to Judah, who was unprovided with cavalry. So in the overthrow of Pharaoh (Ex 15:19, 21). open mine eyes upon ... Judah--to watch over Judah's safety. Heretofore Jehovah seemed to have shut His eyes, as having no regard for her. blindness--so as to rush headlong on to their own ruin (compare Zec 14:12, 13).Read the comment

Topics related to Zechariah 12:4

• Insanity
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning

In the dictionaries

• Judah
• Judah, kingdom of Judah
• Judea, Judah
• That Day
• Bible, the
• Burden
• Ezekiel
• Hearth
• Mad; Madness
• Salvation

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