Zechariah 2

Zechariah · Chapter 2

Zechariah 2:10

1I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.2Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.3And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,4And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:5For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.6Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.7Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.8For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.9For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.10Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.11And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.12And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.13Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
10Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.“Shout for joy and be glad, O Daughter of Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you,” declares the LORD.Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith Jehovah.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

In one of Zechariah's night visions, a man sets out to measure Jerusalem, and the LORD promises to be a wall of fire around the city and its glory within. He calls the exiles still in Babylon to flee home. Then he tells Zion to sing, because he himself is coming to live among his people. Zechariah overviewZechariah 2:1Zechariah 2:2Zechariah 2:4Zechariah 2:5Zechariah 2:6Zechariah 2:7Zechariah 2:10

SpeakingThe LORD speaks, as the closing words "saith the LORD" show. He gives the message through the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah. Zechariah 2:10Strong's H5002Zechariah overview

ToThe "daughter of Zion" is Jerusalem and its people, pictured as a daughter. They are the Jews who had come back from exile to rebuild, along with those still in Babylon who were called to return. Strong's H1323GStrong's H6726Zechariah overviewZechariah 2:7

Also involvedThe next verse widens the promise: many nations will be joined to the LORD in that day and become his people. Zechariah 2:11

Zion is told to shout for joy and be glad. The reason is that the LORD is about to come and dwell in her midst. Verse 11 repeats the promise and adds the nations, and verse 12 says he will choose Jerusalem again. Zechariah 2:10Zechariah 2:11Zechariah 2:12Strong's H7442BStrong's H0935G

The message is for Zion, another name for Jerusalem, where the returned exiles lived and Zechariah prophesied. Some of God's people were still living in Babylon, "the land of the north." Strong's H6726ZionZechariah overviewZechariah 2:6Zechariah 2:7

JUDAHMediterranean SeaZionTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsZechariah's dated messages run from the second year of Darius king of Persia, about 520 BC, to his fourth year, about 518 BC. Temple rebuilding had stalled under opposition, and in Darius's second year Haggai and Zechariah stirred the people to build again. Zechariah overview

WrittenTraditional: written by Zechariah between about 520 and 518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars also place chapters 1-8, including this verse, with Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview

HereThe promise encouraged a community whose temple work had stalled under opposition. God promised that Jerusalem would overflow like towns without walls, with himself as its wall of fire and its glory within. Zechariah 2:4Zechariah 2:5Zechariah overview

In the whole of ScriptureGod dwelling among his people runs through Scripture. It appears in Leviticus 26:12 ("I will walk among you"), Ezekiel 37:27 ("My tabernacle also shall be with them"), and Zechariah 8:3. Zephaniah 3:14-15 gives the same call to sing because the LORD is in Zion's midst, and John 1:14 says the Word "dwelt among us." Leviticus 26:12Ezekiel 37:27Zechariah 8:3Zephaniah 3:14Zephaniah 3:15John 1:14

For readersThe ground for joy is God's presence, not human strength or walls. The same chapter shows that this presence is meant to draw in many nations as his people. Zechariah 2:5Zechariah 2:10Zechariah 2:11Zechariah overview

Christians read this differently

In verses 8-11 the speaker says "the LORD of hosts hath sent me," and the text does not name who is sent. Some read the one sent as the prophet Zechariah. Others read him as the LORD's own messenger and see the coming to dwell fulfilled in Christ, who "dwelt among us" (John 1:14), with a further fulfillment when the LORD is king over all the earth (14:9). Zechariah 2:8Zechariah 2:9Zechariah 2:11John 1:14Zechariah overview

  • dwellשָׁכַן
    Hebrew · sha.khan · H7931

    The word means to settle down, abide, dwell, or tabernacle. It points to God living among his people, as in Ezekiel 37:27, "My tabernacle also shall be with them." Strong's H7931Ezekiel 37:27

  • midstתָּ֫וֶךְ
    Hebrew · ta.vekh · H8432

    It means the middle, or among a group of persons. God promises to be at the center of the city, as he says he will be "the glory in the midst of her" (2:5). Strong's H8432Zechariah 2:5

  • singרָנַן
    Hebrew · ra.nan · H7442B

    It means to cry out, give a ringing cry, or shout for joy. Zephaniah 3:14 pairs the same call to Zion with "shout, O Israel." Strong's H7442BZephaniah 3:14

  • comeבּוֹא
    Hebrew · bo · H0935G

    Joined with "lo" (behold), it is rendered "about to come" here. The LORD's coming is presented as at hand. Strong's H0935GStrong's H2005

Takeaway

Zion was told to rejoice because the LORD himself promised to come and live among his people. Scripture repeats this promise from Leviticus to John: God's presence is the reason for joy. Zechariah 2:10Leviticus 26:12Zechariah 8:3John 1:14

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
  1. 539 BC
    WarBabylon 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

  2. 538 BC
    God'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

  3. c. 536 BC
    God'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

  4. 525 BC
    WarPersia 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

  5. 522-521 BC
    WarDarius 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

  6. 520 BC
    God'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

  7. c. 520-519 BC
    RulersDarius 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

  8. 515 BC
    BuildingThe 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

  9. 490-479 BC
    WarPersia'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

  10. 445 BC
    BuildingNehemiah 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

  11. 332 BC
    WarAlexander 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

Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
shout for joyרָנִּ֥יra-NIH7442B
to sing

רָנַן (ra.nan) 1) to cry out, shout for joy, give a ringing cry 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exaltation, distress) 1a2) to cry aloud (in summons, exhortation of wisdom) 1b) (Piel) to give a ringing cry (in joy, exultation, praise 1c) (Pual) ringing cry, singing out (passive) 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to ring or sing out (for joy) 1e) (Hithpolel) rejoicing (participle) Also means: ran.nen (רַנֵּן "to sing" H7444)

and rejoiceוְשִׂמְחִ֖יve-sim-CHIH8055
to rejoice

שָׂמַח (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

O daughter ofבַּת־bat-H1323G
daughter

בַּת (bat) : daughter 1) daughter 1a) daughter, girl, adopted daughter, daughter-in-law, sister, granddaughters, female child, cousin 1a1) as polite address 1a2) as designation of women of a particular place 2) young women, women 1a3) as personification 1a4) daughter-villages 1a5) description of character Also means: bat (בַּת ": village" H1323H)

Zionצִיּ֑וֹןtzi-YONH6726
Zion

צִיּוֹן (tsiy.yon) Zion = "parched place" another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)

forכִּ֧יkiH3588A
for

כִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore

here Iהִנְנִי־hi-ni-H2005
look!

הֵן (hen) interj 1) behold, lo, though hypothetical part 2) if Aramaic equivalent: hen (הֵן "look!" H2006A)

[am] about to comeבָ֛אva'H0935G
to come (in): come

בּוֹא (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

and I will dwellוְשָׁכַנְתִּ֥יve-sha-khan-TIH7931
to dwell

שָׁכַן (sha.khan) 1) to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to settle down to abide 1a2) to abide, dwell, reside 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make settle down, establish 1b2) to make or cause to dwell 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to lay, place, set, establish, settle, fix 1c2) to cause to dwell or abide Aramaic equivalent: she.khan (שְׁכֵן "to dwell" H7932)

in midst of youבְתוֹכֵ֖ךְve-to-KHEKHH8432
midst

תָּ֫וֶךְ (ta.vekh) 1) midst, middle 1a) midst, middle 1b) into, through (after verbs of motion) 1c) among (of a number of persons) 1d) between (of things arranged by twos) 1e) from among (as to take or separate etc)

[the] utterance ofנְאֻם־ne-'um-H5002
utterance

נְאֻם (ne.um) 1) (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet) 1a) utterance, declaration, revelation (of prophet in ecstatic state) 1b) utterance, declaration (elsewhere always preceding divine name)

Yahwehיְהוָֽה׃YAH-wehH3068G
Lord

אֲדֹנָי (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.