Zechariah 2

Zechariah · Chapter 2

Zechariah 2:11

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
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.“On that day many nations will join themselves to the LORD, and they will become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you.And many nations shall join themselves to Jehovah in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

In Zechariah's vision of a measured Jerusalem, the LORD calls the exiles home and promises to dwell in Zion's midst. This verse widens that promise: many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day and become his people. God's dwelling among them will show that the LORD of hosts sent the speaker. Zechariah 2:1Zechariah 2:4Zechariah 2:5Zechariah 2:6Zechariah 2:10Zechariah 2:11

SpeakingThe LORD is speaking ("saith the LORD"), in a message reported by the prophet Zechariah. Yet the speaker also says "the LORD of hosts hath sent me," as in verses 8-9. Zechariah 2:10Zechariah 2:11Zechariah 2:8Zechariah 2:9Zechariah overview

To"Daughter of Zion": the people of Jerusalem and Judah who had returned from exile in Babylon, along with those of Zion still dwelling "with the daughter of Babylon." Zechariah 2:7Zechariah 2:10Zechariah overview

Also involved"Many nations": peoples outside Israel who will join themselves to the LORD and become his people. Zechariah 2:11Strong's H1471AZechariah 8:23

God promises that many nations will join the LORD and be counted as his people, while he dwells in Zion's midst. The nations that once plundered Zion face judgment, but many others will be brought in. Zechariah 8:20-23 repeats the hope: people from many cities and languages will say, "We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Zechariah 2:8Zechariah 2:9Zechariah 2:11Zechariah 8:20Zechariah 8:23

The promise centers on Jerusalem (Zion), in "the holy land" where the LORD chooses Jerusalem again. It was spoken to people there while the temple was being rebuilt, and it calls exiles to come out of "the land of the north" and Babylon. Zechariah 2:2Zechariah 2:6Zechariah 2:7Zechariah 2:12Zechariah overview

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The events"In that day" points to a coming time when the LORD acts for Zion. The verse itself gives no date for it. Zechariah 2:11Strong's H3117G

WrittenTraditional: written by Zechariah during his dated messages, about 520-518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree that chapters 1-8, which include this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview

HereTo encourage the returned exiles, whose temple work had stalled under opposition. God has not abandoned Jerusalem: he will be her wall of fire and dwell in her midst. Many nations will also be joined to him in that day. Zechariah 2:4Zechariah 2:5Zechariah 2:10Zechariah 2:11Zechariah overview

In the whole of ScriptureZechariah looks toward the day when "the LORD shall be king over all the earth." Other Scripture shares this hope: Luke 2:32 speaks of "a light to lighten the Gentiles," and Acts 28:28 says "the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles." Revelation 11:15 announces that "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ." Zechariah overviewLuke 2:32Acts 28:28Revelation 11:15

For readersGod's people are not defined by birth alone. People from many nations can be joined to the LORD and become his people, and the center of that hope is God dwelling among them. Zechariah 2:111 Peter 2:91 Peter 2:10Zechariah 8:23

Christians read this differently

The verse does not name the one who says "the LORD of hosts hath sent me," even though the LORD is the speaker in verse 10. Some read "me" as the prophet Zechariah, whose message would be confirmed. Others read it as the angel in the vision. Many read it as a divine Messenger who is himself the LORD, sent by the LORD of hosts, and identify him with Christ. Zechariah 2:3Zechariah 2:8Zechariah 2:9Zechariah 2:10Zechariah 2:11

  • shall be joinedלָוָה
    Hebrew · la.vah · H3867A

    The form used here means "to join oneself to." The lexicon glosses it "they will join themselves," so the nations are pictured as coming to the LORD themselves. Strong's H3867A

  • nationsגּוֹי
    Hebrew · goy · H1471A

    This word usually refers to non-Hebrew peoples. That makes the promise striking: outsiders "shall be my people." Strong's H1471AZechariah 2:11

  • dwellשָׁכַן
    Hebrew · sha.khan · H7931

    It means to settle down, abide or "tabernacle." It describes God making his settled home among his people, as promised in verse 10. Strong's H7931Zechariah 2:10

  • hath sent meשָׁלַח
    Hebrew · sha.lach · H7971G

    It means "to send." The same claim of being sent by the LORD of hosts appears in verses 8 and 9, and that repetition raises the question of who the sent one is. Strong's H7971GZechariah 2:8Zechariah 2:9

Takeaway

God's promise to dwell in Zion overflows to the nations: many peoples will join the LORD and be his people. The New Testament speaks in similar terms: "the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles," and those who "were not a people" are "now the people of God." Zechariah 2:11Acts 28:281 Peter 2:10

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
  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.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and they will join themselvesוְנִלְווּ֩ve-nil-VUH3867A
to join

לָוָה (la.vah) 1) to join, be joined 1a) (Qal) to join, be joined, attend 1b) (Niphal) to join oneself to, be joined unto

nationsגוֹיִ֨םgo-YIMH1471A
nation

גּוֹי (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.)

manyרַבִּ֤יםra-BIMH7227A
many

רַב (rav) adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly

toאֶל־'el-H0413
to(wards)

אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Yahwehיְהוָה֙YAH-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)

in the dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai-YOMH3117G
day

יוֹם (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 thatהַה֔וּאha-HU'H1931
he/she/it

הוּא (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)

and they will becomeוְהָ֥יוּve-HA-yuH1961
to be

הָיָה (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) …

into a peopleלְעָ֑םle-'AMH5971A
people

עַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men

and I will dwellוְשָׁכַנְתִּ֣יve-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 youבְתוֹכֵ֔ךְve-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)

and you will knowוְיָדַ֕עַתְּve-ya-DA-'atH3045
to know

יָדַע (ya.da) 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) …

thatכִּי־ki-H3588A
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

Yahwehיְהוָ֥הYAH-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)

of hostsצְבָא֖וֹתtze-va-'otH6635B
Hosts

צָבָא (tsa.va) The Hosts (of the Lord) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

he has sent meשְׁלָחַ֥נִיshe-la-CHA-niH7971G
to send: depart

שָׁלַח (sha.lach) : depart/send 1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to send 1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct 1a3) to send away 1a4) to let loose 1b) (Niphal) to be sent 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out 1c2) to let go, set free 1c3) to shoot forth (of branches) 1c4) to let down 1c5) to shoot 1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled 1e) (Hiphil) to send

to youאֵלָֽיִךְ׃'e-LA-yikhH0413
to(wards)

אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.