Zechariah 12:9
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. | So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. | And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThis verse sits in the second burden of Zechariah, where the LORD promises to defend Jerusalem when the nations besiege it. It sums up the battle scene of verses 2-8: the LORD will set himself to destroy every nation that comes against the city. The next verse turns from rescue to repentance, as Jerusalem mourns for the one they pierced. Zechariah 12:2Zechariah 12:3Zechariah 12:8Zechariah 12:9Zechariah 12:10Zechariah overview
SpeakingThe LORD speaks in the first person ("I will seek"), through the prophet Zechariah. The burden opens by naming him as the one who stretches out the heavens and forms the spirit of man. Zechariah 12:1Zechariah 12:9Zechariah overview
ToThe message is addressed "for Israel." It first reached the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah 12:1Zechariah overview
Also involvedAll the nations that come against Jerusalem are the ones the LORD sets out to destroy. Judah, the house of David and the people of Jerusalem are the ones he defends. Zechariah 12:9Zechariah 12:7Zechariah 12:8
The LORD declares that in that day he will seek to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem. This matches the chapter's earlier pictures: Jerusalem as a cup of trembling and a burdensome stone that cuts in pieces all who lift it. Zechariah 14:3 also speaks of the LORD going out to fight the nations gathered against Jerusalem, though there, in 14:2, the city is first taken. Zechariah 12:9Zechariah 12:2Zechariah 12:3Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3
The scene is Jerusalem and the land of Judah around it, besieged by the surrounding peoples. The book was written in Jerusalem among the returned exiles. Zechariah 12:2Zechariah 12:6JerusalemZechariah overview
The eventsThe events are set "in that day," a phrase repeated through the chapter for a coming time of siege and rescue. The text does not give a date for it. Zechariah 12:3Zechariah 12:4Zechariah 12:8Zechariah 12:9Zechariah 12:11
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the book. His dated messages run from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most agree chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah then, but chapters 9-14 carry no dates, and many assign them to a later writer, while others hold Zechariah wrote the whole book. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse assures God's people that he himself will fight for Jerusalem and that the attacking nations will be cut in pieces. Haggai, preaching at the same time, gave a like promise that God would destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen. Zechariah 12:3Zechariah 12:8Zechariah 12:9Haggai 2:22Zechariah overview
In the whole of ScriptureZechariah's last chapters move toward the day when "the LORD shall be king over all the earth." God's victory over the nations here leads straight into his pouring out a spirit of grace on Jerusalem, so that they look on him whom they pierced, a verse John applies to Jesus' death. Zechariah overviewZechariah 12:10John 19:37
For readersThe promise rests on what God does, not on the people's own strength, as the book teaches: "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit." Isaiah gives the same kind of assurance: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." Zechariah overviewIsaiah 54:17Zechariah 12:5
Christians read this differently
No cited Scripture says when "that day" comes or whether this is the same battle as Zechariah 14:2-3. Some read it as a future, literal gathering of nations against the city of Jerusalem, linked with chapter 14. Others read it in light of 12:10 being applied to the cross (John 19:37), and see God's defense of his people as fulfilled more broadly. Zechariah 12:9Zechariah 12:10Zechariah 14:2Zechariah 14:3Zechariah overview
- I will seekבָּקַשׁ
The word means to seek, require or desire, including "to seek to secure." Here it describes the LORD's settled purpose against the attackers. Strong's H1245Zechariah 12:9
- that are comingבּוֹא
This verb can mean "to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy)." With "against Jerusalem," it marks the nations in view as invaders, the same ones laying siege in verse 2. Strong's H0935GStrong's H5921AZechariah 12:2
- dayיוֹם
The word can mean a literal day or a time or period in general. "That day" ties this verse to the repeated "in that day" promises of the chapter. Strong's H3117GStrong's H1931Zechariah 12:3Zechariah 12:8Zechariah 12:11
Takeaway
Zechariah 12:9 promises that the LORD himself will fight for Jerusalem and destroy every nation that attacks it in that day. The rescue is God's work, and it leads into Jerusalem's mourning for the one they pierced. Zechariah 12:9Zechariah 12:8Zechariah 12:10
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
- Jerusalem settlementMapAbout 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 it will be | וְהָיָ֖ה | ve-ha-YAH | 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) … |
| on the day | בַּיּ֣וֹם | bai-YOM | H3117G | dayיוֹם (yom) : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow |
| the that | הַה֑וּא | ha-HU' | H1931 | he/she/itהוּא (hu) pron 3p s 1) he, she, it 1a) himself (with emphasis) 1b) resuming subj with emphasis 1c) (with minimum emphasis following predicate) 1d) (anticipating subj) 1e) (emphasising predicate) 1f) that, it (neuter) demons pron 2) that (with article) |
| I will seek | אֲבַקֵּ֗שׁ | 'a-va-KESH | H1245 | to seekבָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) 1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to seek to find 1a2) to seek to secure 1a3) to seek the face 1a4) to desire, demand 1a5) to require, exact 1a6) to ask, request 1b) (Pual) to be sought |
| to destroy | לְהַשְׁמִיד֙ | le-hash-MID | H8045 | to destroyשָׁמַד (sha.mad) 1) to destroy, exterminate, be destroyed, be exterminated 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be annihilated, be exterminated 1a2) to be destroyed, be devastated 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to annihilate, exterminate 1b2) to destroy Aramaic equivalent: she.mad (שְׁמַד "to destroy" H8046) |
| all | כָּל־ | 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 nations | הַגּוֹיִ֔ם | ha-go-YIM | H1471A | nationגּוֹי (goy) 1) nation, people 1a) nation, people 1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people 1a2) of descendants of Abraham 1a3) of Israel 1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.) |
| that are coming | הַבָּאִ֖ים | ha-ba-'IM | H0935G | to come (in): comeבּוֹא (bo) : come/go_in 1) to go in, enter, come, go, come in 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to enter, come in 1a2) to come 1a2a) to come with 1a2b) to come upon, fall or light upon, attack (enemy) 1a2c) to come to pass 1a3) to attain to 1a4) to be enumerated 1a5) to go 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lead in 1b2) to carry in 1b3) to bring in, cause to come in, gather, cause to come, bring near, bring against, bring upon 1b4) to bring to pass 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought, brought in 1c2) to be introduced, be put |
| on | עַל־ | 'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| Jerusalem | יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ | ye-ru-sha-LIM | H3389 | Arielאֲרִיאֵל (a.ri.el) Ariel = "lion of God" or "lioness of God" Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.