Zechariah 10:7
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. | Ephraim will be like a mighty man, and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the LORD. | And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine; yea, their children shall see it, and rejoice; their heart shall be glad in Jehovah. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedZechariah 10 promises that the LORD will strengthen Judah, save the house of Joseph, and bring his scattered people home. Verse 7 says Ephraim, the people of Joseph, will become strong like a warrior and glad like men cheered by wine. Their children will see it too, and their joy will be in the LORD. Zechariah 10:6Zechariah 10:7Zechariah 10:8Zechariah 10:10Strong's H0669G
SpeakingThe LORD speaks through the prophet Zechariah. The chapter closes with "saith the LORD." Zechariah 10:12Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overview
Also involvedEphraim, named after Joseph's second son and standing for his tribe. In this chapter Ephraim is the "house of Joseph," scattered in far countries and in Egypt and Assyria, whom God promises to gather. Strong's H0669GZechariah 10:6Zechariah 10:9Zechariah 10:10
God promises that Ephraim, once cast off, will be made strong and filled with joy. The joy is compared to the gladness wine gives, but its true ground is the LORD himself. It reaches the next generation, as their children see it and are glad. Zechariah 10:6Zechariah 10:7Psalms 104:15Zechariah 9:15
The message was given in Jerusalem among the returned exiles. It speaks of Ephraim being gathered from far countries, Egypt and Assyria, into Gilead and Lebanon. Zechariah overviewZechariah 10:9Zechariah 10:10
The eventsThis is a promise about the future: "I will" gather them and bring them again. God gives the reason as something already done: "for I have redeemed them." The text gives no date for the gathering. Zechariah 10:6Zechariah 10:8Zechariah 10:10
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 9-14, which include this verse, carry no dates, and many scholars assign them to a later writer or writers; others hold that Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse assures God's people that the scattered house of Joseph is not forgotten. God says, "I have mercy upon them," and they will be "as though I had not cast them off." Zechariah 10:6Zechariah 10:8
In the whole of ScriptureIt belongs to the book's first burden about the coming king. In it God shepherds his flock, punishes false shepherds, and makes his people strong "in the LORD." It fits the book's call to return to the LORD, who will return to them. Zechariah overviewZechariah 10:3Zechariah 10:12
For readersLasting joy is found "in the LORD," not in wine. Ephesians 5:18-19 makes the same contrast: not drunk with wine but filled with the Spirit, singing in the heart to the Lord. Habakkuk 3:18 and Psalm 28:7 also show the heart rejoicing in the LORD. Zechariah 10:7Ephesians 5:18Ephesians 5:19Habakkuk 3:18Psalms 28:7
- mighty manגִּבּוֹר
The word means a strong, brave or mighty man, a warrior. It ties Ephraim to Judah, whom verse 5 also calls "mighty men" who fight because the LORD is with them. Strong's H1368Zechariah 10:5
- wineיַ֫יִן
Wine is used here only as a picture: the heart rejoices "as through wine." Zechariah 9:15 uses the same image, and Psalm 104:15 speaks of wine that makes the heart glad. Verse 7 then places the joy "in the LORD." Strong's H3196Zechariah 9:15Psalms 104:15Zechariah 10:7
- rejoiceגִּיל
It means to rejoice, exult, be glad. Here it names the joy of the people's heart "in the LORD," the high point of the verse. Strong's H1523Zechariah 10:7
- Ephraimאֶפְרַ֫יִם
Ephraim was Joseph's son and gave his name to a tribe. The name shows this promise is for the "house of Joseph," and not only for Judah. Strong's H0669GZechariah 10:6
Takeaway
God promises to restore even the people he had cast off. He makes them strong and gives them a joy rooted in himself that their children will share. True gladness is "in the LORD." Zechariah 10:6Zechariah 10:7Psalms 102:28Habakkuk 3:18
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.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and they will be | וְהָי֤וּ | ve-ha-YU | H1961 | to beהָיָה (ha.yah) 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) … |
| like a warrior | כְגִבּוֹר֙ | khe-gi-bOr | H1368 | mighty manגִּבּוֹר (gib.bor) adj 1) strong, mighty n m 2) strong man, brave man, mighty man |
| Ephraim | אֶפְרַ֔יִם | 'ef-RA-yim | H0669G | Ephraimאֶפְרַ֫יִם (eph.ra.yim) A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.41.52; son of: Joseph (H3130) and Asenath (H0621); brother of: Manasseh (H4519); father of: Shuthelah (H7803), Becher (H1071H), Tahan (H8465), Ezer (H5827), Elead (H0496) and Beriah (H1283H); also called Ephrathite (NIV: Ephraimite) at 1Sa.1.1; Ephron (Qere, KJV: Ephrain) at 2Ch.13.19; § Ephraim = "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful" 1) second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh 2) the tribe, Ephraim 3) the mountain country of Ephraim … |
| and it will be glad | וְשָׂמַ֥ח | ve-sa-MACH | H8055 | to rejoiceשָׂמַח (sa.mach) 1) to rejoice, be glad 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rejoice 1a2) to rejoice (arrogantly), exult (at) 1a3) to rejoice (religiously) 1b) (Piel) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad |
| heart their | לִבָּ֖ם | li-BAM | H3820A | mindבָּל (bal) mind, heart Aramaic of lev (לֵב "heart" H3820A) |
| like | כְּמוֹ־ | ke-mov- | H3644G | likeכְּמוֹ (ke.mo) adv 1) like, as, the like of which conj 2) when, according as, as it were |
| wine | יָ֑יִן | YA-yin | H3196 | wineיַ֫יִן (ya.yin) wine |
| and children their | וּבְנֵיהֶם֙ | u-ve-nei-HEM | H1121A | son: childבֵּן (ben) : child/son |
| they will see | יִרְא֣וּ | yir-'U | H7200G | to see: seeרָאָה (ra.ah) : see/show 1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to see 1a2) to see, perceive 1a3) to see, have vision 1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out 1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish 1a6) to look at, gaze at 1a7) to provide, choose 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to appear, present oneself 1b2) to be seen 1b3) to be visible 1c) (Pual) to be seen 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to see, show 1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at 1e) (Hophal) … |
| and they will be glad | וְשָׂמֵ֔חוּ | ve-sa-ME-chu | H8055 | to rejoiceשָׂמַח (sa.mach) 1) to rejoice, be glad 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rejoice 1a2) to rejoice (arrogantly), exult (at) 1a3) to rejoice (religiously) 1b) (Piel) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to rejoice, gladden, make glad |
| it may rejoice | יָגֵ֥ל | ya-GEL | H1523 | to rejoiceגִּיל (gil) 1) to rejoice, exult, be glad 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rejoice 1a2) to tremble (from fear) |
| heart their | לִבָּ֖ם | li-BAM | H3820A | mindבָּל (bal) mind, heart Aramaic of lev (לֵב "heart" H3820A) |
| in Yahweh | בַּיהוָֽה׃ | ba-YAH-weh | H3068G | Lordאֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.