Zechariah 10:11
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away. | They will pass through the sea of distress and strike the waves of the sea; all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart. | And he will pass through the sea of affliction, and will smite the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall dry up; and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedIn Zechariah 10 the LORD promises to gather his scattered people from far countries, including Egypt and Assyria, and bring them home. This verse pictures that return as a new crossing of the sea, like the Exodus. The powers that held them, Assyria and Egypt, will lose their pride and their rule. Zechariah 10:6Zechariah 10:8Zechariah 10:9Zechariah 10:10Zechariah 10:11Exodus 14:21
SpeakingThe LORD speaks through the prophet Zechariah. The chapter ends "saith the LORD." Zechariah 10:12Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe scattered house of Judah and house of Joseph (Ephraim), who are to be brought home. Also Assyria and Egypt, whose pride and rule are to end. Zechariah 10:6Zechariah 10:7Zechariah 10:10Zechariah 10:11
The one who passes through the sea goes with distress, strikes the waves, and dries up the deep places of the Nile, as the LORD once dried the sea for Israel. Then Assyria's pride is brought low and Egypt's sceptre, its mark of ruling power, is taken away. Other prophets also foretold the fall of Assyria and the end of Egypt's rule. Zechariah 10:11Exodus 14:21Isaiah 51:10Zephaniah 2:13Ezekiel 30:13Strong's H2975GStrong's H7626G
The prophecy was given in Jerusalem. The verse names the sea, the Nile river, Egypt and Assyria, the lands the people are gathered from. They are brought to Gilead and Lebanon. Zechariah overviewZechariah 10:10Zechariah 10:11Strong's H2975GEgyptAssyriaNile
The eventsThe verse looks ahead to a future gathering of God's people from the lands where they had been scattered. The text does not give a date for it. Zechariah 10:8Zechariah 10:9Zechariah 10:10
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most agree chapters 1-8 date from 520-518 BC, but chapters 9-14 are undated, and many assign them to a later writer. Others hold Zechariah wrote it all. Zechariah overview
HereTo assure the returned people that God would finish gathering his scattered flock. No power, however proud, could keep them from coming home. Zechariah 10:6Zechariah 10:8Zechariah 10:11Zechariah 10:12
In the whole of ScriptureGod's first rescue at the Red Sea becomes the pattern for his later rescues. Isaiah asks whether it was not the LORD who made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over. He also promises, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee." Exodus 14:21Isaiah 51:10Isaiah 43:2
For readersThe God who parted the sea still keeps his promises to his people. The proudest powers fall before him. His people are made strong in him and walk in his name. Zechariah 10:11Zechariah 10:12Isaiah 43:2
- riverיְאֹר
This word names the Nile. The river dried up here is Egypt's river, which ties this line to the fall of Egypt later in the verse. Strong's H2975GZechariah 10:11
- afflictionצָרָה
The word means straits, distress or trouble. The crossing comes through hard straits, yet God brings his people through them. Strong's H6869BZechariah 10:11Isaiah 43:2
- sceptreשֵׁ֫בֶט
The word means rod or staff, and also a sceptre as a mark of authority. Egypt losing its sceptre means its ruling power ends, as Ezekiel says: "there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt." Strong's H7626GEzekiel 30:13
- prideגָּאוֹן
The word can mean majesty or excellence, but also pride and arrogance in a bad sense. Here Assyria's exalted greatness is brought down. Strong's H1347Strong's H3381Zephaniah 2:13
Takeaway
Zechariah 10:11 promises a new Exodus. God will bring his scattered people home through every barrier, and the proud powers that held them will fall. Zechariah 10:10Zechariah 10:11Exodus 14:21Isaiah 51:10
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 520-518 BC. King of Persia: Darius I (522-486 BC). Where Zechariah prophesied. A small, poor community was rebuilding the temple among the ruins of the city Babylon had burned.
Who ruled
- King of PersiaDarius I522-486 BC
Zechariah dates his messages by the years of Darius. Darius confirmed Cyrus's decree and ordered the temple work to go on at royal expense. Zechariah 1:1Zechariah 7:1Ezra 6:1-12Haggai 1:1Behistun Inscription
- Governor of JudahZerubbabelc. 520 BC
A descendant of David who led the rebuilding. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it." Zechariah 4:6-10Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:8
- High priestJoshua the high priestc. 520 BC
Called Jeshua in Ezra. He stands in Zechariah's vision clothed in filthy garments, which are taken away, and later receives crowns as a sign. Zechariah 3:1-10Zechariah 6:11Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:2
- Persian governor "on this side the river"Tattenaic. 520 BC
The governor of the province west of the Euphrates. He asked who had allowed the building, wrote to Darius, and was told to let the work go on. Ezra 5:3-6Ezra 6:6-13
What was happening, 539 BC to 332 BC
- 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus king of Persia took Babylon, ending the empire that had destroyed Jerusalem. Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleThe first return
Cyrus let the exiles go home to build the LORD's house. About fifty thousand returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Ezra 1:1-4Ezra 2:1-2Ezra 2:64-65
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe foundation is laid, then the work stops
The returned exiles laid the temple's foundation with shouting and weeping. Opposition from their neighbors stopped the work until the second year of Darius. Ezra 3:10-13Ezra 4:4-5Ezra 4:24
- 525 BCWarPersia conquers Egypt
Cyrus's son Cambyses invaded and took Egypt, bringing the whole region from the Nile to the Indus under one king. Herodotus, Histories 3.1-16
- 522-521 BCWarDarius crushes the revolts
When Darius took the throne, provinces across the empire rebelled, Babylon twice. By 520 he had put them all down. Compare the riders' report in Zechariah's first vision: "all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." Behistun InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 3.150-159Zechariah 1:11
- 520 BCGod's peopleHaggai and Zechariah stir the people to build
In Darius's second year the two prophets urged the people to take up the temple work again, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua began to build. Ezra 5:1-2Haggai 1:1-15Zechariah 1:1
- c. 520-519 BCRulersDarius confirms Cyrus's decree
Tattenai questioned the building. A search found Cyrus's decree at Achmetha, and Darius ordered the work to continue and be paid for from royal taxes. Ezra 5:3-6:12
- 515 BCBuildingThe second temple is finished
The temple was finished on the third day of Adar in Darius's sixth year and dedicated with joy. Ezra 6:14-18Zechariah 4:9
- 490-479 BCWarPersia's wars with Greece
Persia invaded Greece twice and was turned back at Marathon (490), Salamis (480) and Plataea (479). Greece, which Zechariah names in 9:13, was becoming Persia's great rival. Herodotus, Histories 6.102-117Herodotus, Histories 8.40-96Herodotus, Histories 9.1-89Zechariah 9:13
- 445 BCBuildingNehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem's walls
Under the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah came from Shushan and rebuilt the walls in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 6:15
- 332 BCWarAlexander takes Tyre and Gaza
Alexander the Great besieged island Tyre for seven months and then Gaza for two, on his way to Egypt. Zechariah 9 speaks of Tyre's "strong hold" and of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron and Ashdod. Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 2.15-27Zechariah 9:3-7
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records (the Behistun Inscription, the Cyrus Cylinder, the Babylonian Chronicles) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Where
- Assyria regionMapAbout this place
- Egypt regionMapAbout this place
- Nile riverMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and he will pass | וְעָבַ֨ר | ve-'a-VAR | H5674A | to passעָבַר (a.var) 1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over 1a2) to pass beyond 1a3) to pass through, traverse 1a3a) passers-through (participle) 1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant) 1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by 1a4a) passer-by (participle) 1a4b) to be past, be over 1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance 1a6) to pass away 1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory) 1a6b) to vanish … |
| in the sea | בַּיָּ֜ם | bai-YAM | H3220G | seaיָם (yam) : sea 1) sea 1a) Mediterranean Sea 1b) Red Sea 1c) Dead Sea 1d) Sea of Galilee 1e) sea (general) 1f) mighty river (Nile) 1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court) 1h) seaward, west, westward |
| trouble | צָרָ֗ה | tza-RAH | H6869B | distressצָרָה (tsa.rah) straits, distress, trouble |
| and he will strike | וְהִכָּ֤ה | ve-hi-KAH | H5221 | to smiteנָכָה (na.khah) 1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill 1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten 1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust 1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast) 1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage 1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy 1d) (Hophal) to be smitten 1d1) to receive a blow 1d2) to be wounded 1d3) to be beaten 1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain 1d5) to be attacked and captured 1d6) to be smitten (with disease) … |
| in the sea | בַיָּם֙ | vai-YAM | H3220G | seaיָם (yam) : sea 1) sea 1a) Mediterranean Sea 1b) Red Sea 1c) Dead Sea 1d) Sea of Galilee 1e) sea (general) 1f) mighty river (Nile) 1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court) 1h) seaward, west, westward |
| waves | גַּלִּ֔ים | ga-LIM | H1530H | heapגַּל (gal) : heap/pile 1) heap, spring, wave, billow 1a) heap (of stones) 1a1) over dead body 1a2) alone 1a3) used in ratifying a covenant 1b) waves (fig. of chastisement of Jehovah) 1c) spring Also means: gal (גַּל ": wave" H1530H) |
| and they will dry up | וְהֹבִ֕ישׁוּ | ve-ho-VI-shu | H3001 | to witherיָבֵשׁ (ya.vesh) 1) to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be dry, be dried up, be without moisture 1a2) to be dried up 1b) (Piel) to make dry, dry up 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to dry up, make dry 1c1a) to dry up (water) 1c1b) to make dry, wither 1c1c) to exhibit dryness |
| all | כֹּ֖ל | kol | H3605 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606) |
| [the] depths of | מְצוּל֣וֹת | me-tzu-LOT | H4688 | depthמְצוֹלָה (me.tso.lah) depth, the deep, the deep sea |
| [the] River | יְאֹ֑ר | ye-'OR | H2975G | Nileיְאֹר (ye.or) This name means river, stream, canal Also named: shi.chor (שִׁיחוֹר "Nile" H7883H) |
| and it will be brought down | וְהוּרַד֙ | ve-hu-RAD | H3381 | to go downיָרַד (ya.rad) 1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come down 1a2) to sink 1a3) to be prostrated 1a4) to come down (of revelation) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to bring down 1b2) to send down 1b3) to take down 1b4) to lay prostrate 1b5) to let down 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought down 1c2) to be taken down |
| [the] pride of | גְּא֣וֹן | ge-'on | H1347 | prideגָּאוֹן (ga.on) 1) exaltation, majesty, pride 1a) majesty, exaltation, excellence 1a1) of nations 1a2) of God 1a3) of the Jordan 1b) pride, arrogance (bad sense) |
| Assyria | אַשּׁ֔וּר | 'a-SHUR | H0804G | Assyriaאַשּׁוּר (ash.shur) § Asshur or Assyria = "a step" the nation, Assyria the land, Assyria or Asshur |
| and [the] scepter of | וְשֵׁ֥בֶט | ve-SHE-vet | H7626G | tribe: staffשֵׁ֫בֶט (she.vet) : staff 1) rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe 1a) rod, staff 1b) shaft (of spear, dart) 1c) club (of shepherd's implement) 1d) truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority) 1e) clan, tribe |
| Egypt | מִצְרַ֖יִם | mitz-RA-yim | H4714G | Egyptמָצוֹר (ma.tsor) "Matsor", a name for Egypt Another spelling of mits.ra.yim (מִצְרַ֫יִם "Egypt" H4714G) This name means siege, entrenchment |
| it will depart | יָסֽוּר׃ | ya-SUR | H5493H | to turn aside: removeסוּר (sur) : remove 1) to turn aside, depart 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn aside, turn in unto 1a2) to depart, depart from way, avoid 1a3) to be removed 1a4) to come to an end 1b) (Polel) to turn aside 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to turn aside, cause to depart, remove, take away, put away, depose 1c2) to put aside, leave undone, retract, reject, abolish 1d) (Hophal) to be taken away, be removed |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.