Zechariah 9:11
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. | As for you, because of the blood of My covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit. | As for thee also, because of the blood of thy covenant I have set free thy prisoners from the pit wherein is no water. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe LORD speaks to the daughter of Zion, whose lowly King was promised in 9:9. Because of the blood of His covenant with her, He says He has set her captives free from a pit with no water. The next verse calls these freed ones "prisoners of hope" and promises them double. Zechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:11Zechariah 9:12Strong's H0859C
SpeakingThe LORD is speaking. He says "I have sent forth" here, and in the nearby verses He says "I will" act and declare. Zechariah 9:10Zechariah 9:11Zechariah 9:12
To"Thee" is a feminine singular word. It points back to the "daughter of Zion" and "daughter of Jerusalem" of verse 9, meaning the people of God in Jerusalem. The book was first given to Judah after the return from exile in Babylon. Strong's H0859CZechariah 9:9Zechariah overview
Also involvedZion's "prisoners," her captive people. Verse 12 calls them "prisoners of hope" and urges them to turn to the strong hold. Strong's H0615Zechariah 9:11Zechariah 9:12
God promises release to His captive people, and He bases it on covenant blood. At Sinai, Moses sprinkled "the blood of the covenant" on Israel (Exodus 24:8). The word for pit can also mean a cistern, dungeon, or the pit of the grave, and Isaiah speaks of the captive who longs to be loosed and "not die in the pit" (Isaiah 51:14), and of bringing "the prisoners from the prison" (Isaiah 42:7). Zechariah 9:11Exodus 24:8Strong's H0953AIsaiah 51:14Isaiah 42:7
The message is addressed to Zion and Jerusalem. The "pit wherein is no water" is a picture of captivity, not a named place. Zechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:11Zechariah overview
The eventsThe release belongs to the promised day of Zion's coming King and the LORD's saving of His flock "in that day." The text gives no calendar date. Zechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:16
WrittenTraditional view: Zechariah wrote the whole book, and its dated messages fall in 520-518 BC. Scholarly view: chapters 9-14 carry no dates, and many scholars assign them to a later writer or writers, though others hold that Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse gives the captives a reason to hope. God says He frees them "by the blood of thy covenant." So they are called to turn to the strong hold as "prisoners of hope." Zechariah 9:11Zechariah 9:12Zechariah overview
In the whole of ScriptureThe verse follows the promise of the King who brings salvation and peace (9:9-10). It leads into the LORD defending and saving His people (9:15-16). Jesus later spoke of "my blood of the new testament," meaning the new covenant, "shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:28; see 1 Corinthians 11:25). Zechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:10Zechariah 9:15Zechariah 9:16Matthew 26:281 Corinthians 11:25
For readersGod's release of His people rests on His covenant, sealed with blood. Hebrews 10:29 warns against counting "the blood of the covenant" an unholy thing. Zechariah 9:11Hebrews 10:29
Christians read this differently
Christians read "the blood of thy covenant" in two main ways. Some take it as the Sinai covenant, which Moses sealed by sprinkling "the blood of the covenant" on the people (Exodus 24:8). Others take it as looking ahead to the new covenant in Christ's blood (Matthew 26:28; 1 Corinthians 11:25), since it follows the promise of the coming King in 9:9. Exodus 24:8Matthew 26:281 Corinthians 11:25Zechariah 9:9
- theeאַתְּ
This word means "you" in the feminine singular. That ties the verse to the "daughter of Zion" in verse 9. The promise is spoken to Zion as a whole people. Strong's H0859CZechariah 9:9
- covenantבְּרִית
The word means a covenant, alliance, or pledge, including a divine ordinance with signs or pledges between God and man. Here it is "thy covenant," a bond tied to blood, as at Sinai in Exodus 24:8. Strong's H1285Exodus 24:8
- pitבּוֹר
The word can mean a pit, well, cistern, dungeon, or the pit of the grave. Isaiah 51:14 likewise speaks of a captive who hopes not to "die in the pit." Strong's H0953AIsaiah 51:14
- sent forthשָׁלַח
In this form the verb can mean to let go or set free. It describes God releasing the captives, not just sending them somewhere. Strong's H7971H
Takeaway
God frees His captive people from a pit with no water, by the blood of His covenant. Those He frees are called "prisoners of hope" and told to turn to the strong hold. Zechariah 9:11Zechariah 9:12Exodus 24:8
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| also | גַּם־ | gam- | H1571 | alsoגַּם (gam) 1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea 1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis) 1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative) 1c) even (for stress) 1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax) 1e) also (of correspondence or retribution) 1f) but, yet, though (adversative) 1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case) 2) (TWOT) again, alike |
| you | אַ֣תְּ | 'at | H0859C | you(f.s.)אַתְּ (at.te) you (second pers. sing. fem.) A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A) |
| by [the] blood of | בְּדַם־ | be-dam- | H1818 | bloodדָּם (dam) 1) blood 1a) of wine (fig.) |
| covenant your | בְּרִיתֵ֗ךְ | be-ri-TEKH | H1285 | covenantבְּרִית (be.rit) 1) covenant, alliance, pledge 1a) between men 1a1) treaty, alliance, league (man to man) 1a2) constitution, ordinance (monarch to subjects) 1a3) agreement, pledge (man to man) 1a4) alliance (of friendship) 1a5) alliance (of marriage) 1b) between God and man 1b1) alliance (of friendship) 1b2) covenant (divine ordinance with signs or pledges) 2) (phrases) 2a) covenant making 2b) covenant keeping 2c) covenant violation |
| I will set free | שִׁלַּ֤חְתִּי | shi-LACH-ti | H7971H | to send: departשָׁלַח (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 |
| prisoners your | אֲסִירַ֙יִךְ֙ | 'a-si-RA-yikh | H0615 | prisonerאָסִיר (a.sir) prisoner, captive, bondman |
| from a pit | מִבּ֔וֹר | mi-BOR | H0953A | pitבּוֹר (bor) pit, well, cistern, dungeon, pit of the grave |
| [which] not | אֵ֥ין | 'ein | H0369 | nothingאַ֫יִן (a.yin) 1) nothing, not, nought n 1a) nothing, nought neg 1b) not 1c) to have not (of possession) adv 1d) without w/prep 1e) for lack of |
| water | מַ֖יִם | MA-yim | H4325G | waterמַי (ma.yim) 1) water, waters 1a) water 1b) water of the feet, urine 1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.