Zechariah 9:16
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | And 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. | On that day the LORD their God will save them as the flock of His people; for like jewels in a crown they will sparkle over His land. | And Jehovah their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted on high over his land. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedAfter promising Zion's lowly king (9:9) and victory for Judah and Ephraim over their enemies (9:13-15), the oracle says the LORD will save his people like a shepherd saves his flock. They will be like jewels in a crown, lifted up over his land. The next verse praises his goodness and the plenty that follows (9:17). Zechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:13Zechariah 9:14Zechariah 9:15Zechariah 9:16Zechariah 9:17
SpeakingThe words come as "the burden of the word of the LORD" (9:1), and here the speaker talks about the LORD in the third person. Chapter 9 names no prophet. Traditional: Zechariah wrote it. Scholarly: many assign chapters 9-14 to a later writer or writers, while others hold Zechariah wrote the whole book. Zechariah 9:1Zechariah 9:16Zechariah overview
ToThe book is addressed to the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overview
Also involved"Them" are God's people, Judah and Ephraim, the "sons" of Zion whom the LORD defends in battle. Zechariah 9:13Zechariah 9:15Zechariah 9:16
The LORD their God will rescue his people in that day, caring for them as his own flock. He will treat them as precious, like stones set in a crown and lifted up for all to see on his land. Zechariah 9:16Strong's H3467Strong's H6629GStrong's H5145HStrong's H5264
The promise centers on Zion and Jerusalem and on the LORD's own land, where his people will be lifted up. The book is addressed to Jerusalem and Judah. Zechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:16Zechariah overview
The events"In that day" points ahead to the time of the victory just described, when Zion's sons rise against the sons of Greece (9:13). The verse gives no date. Zechariah 9:13Zechariah 9:16Strong's H3117G
WrittenTraditional: written by Zechariah, whose dated messages run from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 9-14 carry no dates, and many assign them to a later writer or writers, while others hold Zechariah wrote the whole book. Zechariah overview
HereTo assure God's people that the LORD himself would defend and rescue them, and would treat them as precious to him. Zechariah 9:8Zechariah 9:15Zechariah 9:16Zechariah overview
In the whole of ScriptureThe chapter moves from judgment on neighboring nations (9:1-7) to Zion's coming king (9:9-10) and God's rescue of his people (9:11-17). Other prophets use the same pictures: God saves his flock (Ezekiel 34:22) and makes his people "a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD" (Isaiah 62:3). Zechariah 9:1Zechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:10Zechariah 9:11Ezekiel 34:22Isaiah 62:3
For readersThe LORD defends his people and saves them as the flock of his people, and they are like the stones of a crown to him. Ezekiel calls them God's flock (Ezekiel 34:31), and Jesus uses the same flock language for his followers (Luke 12:32; John 10:27). Zechariah 9:15Zechariah 9:16Ezekiel 34:31Luke 12:32John 10:27
- flockצֹאן
The word means sheep and goats, small cattle. It pictures God as a shepherd saving his sheep, the same picture as Ezekiel 34:22 and 34:31. Strong's H6629GEzekiel 34:22Ezekiel 34:31
- crownנֵ֫זֶר
This word means consecration or separation, and a crown as a sign of consecration; it is used of the high priest and the Nazarite. So the people are pictured as set apart to God, not only as decoration. Strong's H5145H
- lifted upנָסַס
The word means to be lifted up or displayed, though the lexicon notes its meaning is uncertain. Either way, God's people are shown openly on his land like an ensign. Strong's H5264Zechariah 9:16
- saveיָשַׁע
The word means to save, deliver, or give victory. In this battle setting (9:13-15), it is rescue that God himself carries out. Strong's H3467Zechariah 9:13Zechariah 9:15
Takeaway
The LORD rescues his people like a shepherd and prizes them like jewels in a crown. Their safety and worth come from him, not from their own might. Zechariah 9:16Zechariah 9:15Isaiah 62:3Zechariah overview
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and he will deliver them | וְֽהוֹשִׁיעָ֞ם | ve-ho-shi-'AM | H3467 | to saveיָשַׁע (ya.sah) 1) to save, be saved, be delivered 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be liberated, be saved, be delivered 1a2) to be saved (in battle), be victorious 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to save, deliver 1b2) to save from moral troubles 1b3) to give victory to |
| Yahweh | יְהוָ֧ה | YAH-weh | H3068G | Lordאֲדֹנָי (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) |
| God their | אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֛ם | 'e-lo-hei-HEM | H0430G | Godאֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| on the day | בַּיּ֥וֹם | 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 | הַה֖וּא | 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) |
| like [the] flock of | כְּצֹ֣אן | ke-TZON | H6629G | flockצֹאן (tson) 1) small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks 1a) small cattle (usually of sheep and goats) 1b) of multitude (simile) 1c) of multitude (metaphor) |
| people his | עַמּ֑וֹ | a-MO | H5971A | peopleעַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men |
| for | כִּ֚י | ki | H3588A | forכִּי (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 |
| stones of | אַבְנֵי־ | 'av-nei- | H0068G | stoneאֶ֫בֶן (e.ven) : stone 1) stone (large or small) 1a) common stone (in natural state) 1b) stone, as material 1b1) of tablets 1b2) marble, hewn stones 1c) precious stones, stones of fire 1d) stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon 1e) weight 1f) plummet (stones of destruction) also made of metal 1g) stonelike objects, eg hailstones, stony heart, ice 1h) sacred object, as memorial Samuel set up to mark where God helped Israel to defeat the Philistines 1i) (simile) 1i1) sinking in water, motionlessness 1i2) strength, firmness, solidity 1i3) commonness 1j) (metaph) 1j1) petrified with terror … |
| a crown | נֵ֔זֶר | NE-zer | H5145H | consecration: Nazirite vowנֵ֫זֶר (ne.zer) 1) consecration, crown, separation, Nazariteship 1a) crown (as sign of consecration), earring 1a1) stones of a crown, diadem, stones of charming 1b) woman's hair 1c) consecration 1c1) of high priest 1c2) of Nazarite |
| [will] display themselves | מִֽתְנוֹסְס֖וֹת | mit-no-SOT | H5264 | to shineנָסַס (na.sas) 1) to be lifted up (meaning uncertain) 1a) (Hithpoel) to be lifted up, be displayed |
| 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) … |
| land his | אַדְמָתֽוֹ׃ | 'ad-ma-TO | H0127G | land: soilאֲדָמָה (a.da.mah) : soil 1) ground, land 1a) ground (as general, tilled, yielding sustenance) 1b) piece of ground, a specific plot of land 1c) earth substance (for building or constructing) 1d) ground as earth's visible surface 1e) land, territory, country 1f) whole inhabited earth 1g) city in Naphtali |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.