Zechariah 9

Zechariah · Chapter 9

Zechariah 9:14

1The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.2And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.3And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.4Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.5Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.6And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.7And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.8And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.10And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.11As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.12Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;13When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.14And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.15The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.16And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.17For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
14And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.Then the LORD will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will sound the ram’s horn and advance in the whirlwinds of the south.And Jehovah shall be seen over them; and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning; and the Lord Jehovah will blow the trumpet, and will go with whirlwinds of the south.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

God has just promised to use Judah and Ephraim like a bow and a sword against the sons of Greece. In this verse the LORD himself appears over his people as a warrior: his arrow flashes like lightning, he sounds the ram's horn, and he marches in southern storm winds. The next verses say he will defend and save them as his flock. Zechariah 9:13Zechariah 9:14Zechariah 9:15Zechariah 9:16

SpeakingThe verse is part of "the burden of the word of the LORD." Traditional: the prophet Zechariah, named as the book's author, delivered it. Scholarly: many scholars assign chapters 9-14 to a later writer or writers, while others hold that Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah 9:1Zechariah overview

ToThe people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylon. In the chapter they are addressed as the daughter of Zion and the "prisoners of hope." Zechariah overviewZechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:12

Also involved"Them" are God's people, Judah and Ephraim, the sons of Zion. They are set against the sons of Greece, whom the LORD fights. Zechariah 9:13Zechariah 9:15

The verse pictures God going into battle for his people. Lightning is his arrow, a ram's horn signals the attack, and storm winds go with him. Other Scripture uses the same pictures of God fighting: he "shot out lightnings" and sent his arrows, and he comes "with his chariots like a whirlwind." Zechariah 9:14Psalms 18:14Psalms 144:6Isaiah 66:15

The battle centers on Zion, Judah and Ephraim, after an oracle against the nations around them, such as Damascus, Tyre and the Philistine cities. The storm comes from the south, the same image used in Isaiah 21:1, "as whirlwinds in the south pass through." Zechariah 9:13Zechariah 9:1Zechariah 9:2Zechariah 9:5Isaiah 21:1

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThe passage looks ahead to a coming deliverance "in that day." The verse itself gives no date for it. Zechariah 9:16Zechariah 9:14

WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520-518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 9-14 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 the returned exiles that their victory will come from the LORD, not from their own strength. It fits the book's theme: "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit." Zechariah 9:15Zechariah overview

In the whole of ScriptureZechariah repeatedly shows the LORD as his people's defender. He is a wall of fire around Jerusalem, and later he will "go forth, and fight against those nations." The trumpet also recalls Isaiah's "great trumpet" that gathers God's scattered people to worship at Jerusalem. Zechariah 2:5Zechariah 14:3Isaiah 27:13

For readersGod's people are not left to fight alone. The LORD himself goes out over them, defends them, and saves them "as the flock of his people." Zechariah 9:14Zechariah 9:15Zechariah 9:16

  • shall be seenרָאָה
    Hebrew · ra.ah · H7200G

    In this form the word means "to appear, present oneself, be visible." The LORD does not stay hidden but shows himself over his people. Strong's H7200G

  • lightningבָּרָק
    Hebrew · ba.raq · H1300B

    The lexicon notes a figurative use of this word for a flashing arrow-head. That fits the picture of God's arrow going out like lightning, as in Psalm 18:14. Strong's H1300BPsalms 18:14

  • trumpetשֹׁפָר
    Hebrew · sho.phar · H7782

    The word is shofar, a horn or ram's horn. Here "the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet" himself. Strong's H7782Zechariah 9:14

  • southתֵּימָן
    Hebrew · te.man · H8486

    The word can mean the south, the southern part of the sky, or the south wind. So it pictures storms rushing up from the south, as in Isaiah 21:1. Strong's H8486Isaiah 21:1

Takeaway

Zechariah 9:14 shows the LORD going to war for his people with lightning, trumpet and storm. Their deliverance rests on him: "The LORD of hosts shall defend them." Zechariah 9:14Zechariah 9:15

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 Yahwehוַֽיהוָה֙va-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)

over themעֲלֵיהֶ֣ם'a-lei-HEMH5921A
upon

עַל (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) …

he will appearיֵֽרָאֶ֔הye-ra-'EHH7200G
to see: see

רָאָה (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 it will go forthוְיָצָ֥אve-ya-TZA'H3318G
to come out: come

יָצָא (ya.tsa) : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth

like the lightningכַבָּרָ֖קkha-ba-RAKH1300B
lightning

בָּרָק (ba.raq) 1) lightning 1a) lightnings, lightning flashes 1b) of flashing arrow-head (fig.)

arrow hisחִצּ֑וֹchi-TZOH2671
arrow

חֵץ (chets) arrow

and [the] Lordוַֽאדֹנָ֤יva-do-NAIH0136
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)

Yahwehיְהֹוִה֙YAH-wehH3069
YHWH/God

יְהֹוִה (ye.ho.vih) 1) Jehovah-used primarily in the combination 'Lord Jehovah' 1a) equal to ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068) but pointed with the vowels of e.lo.him (אֱלֹהִים "God" H0430)

on the ram's hornבַּשּׁוֹפָ֣רba-sho-FARH7782
trumpet

שֹׁפָר (sho.phar) horn, ram's horn

he will give a blastיִתְקָ֔עyit-KA'H8628
to blow

תָּקַע (ta.qa) 1) to blow, clap, strike, sound, thrust, give a blow, blast 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to thrust, drive (of weapon) 1a2) to give a blast, give a blow 1a3) to strike or clap hands 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be blown, blast (of horn) 1b2) to strike or pledge oneself

and he will goוְהָלַ֖ךְve-ha-LAKHH1980I
to go

הוּךְ (hukh) (P'al) to go, come, walk, be brought Aramaic of ha.lakh (הָלַךְ ": walk" H1980)

in [the] storm winds ofבְּסַעֲר֥וֹתbe-sa-'a-ROTH5591B
tempest

סַ֫עַר (sa.ar) tempest Another spelling of se.a.rah (סְעָרָה "tempest" H5591B)

[the] southתֵּימָֽן׃tei-MANH8486
south

תֵּימָן (te.man) 1) south, southward, whatever is on the right (so the southern quarter), south wind 1a) south (of territory) 1b) southern quarter (of the sky) 1c) toward the south, southward (of direction) 1d) south wind

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