Zechariah 9

Zechariah · Chapter 9

Zechariah 9:4

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
4Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.Behold, the Lord will impoverish her and cast her wealth into the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.Behold, the Lord will dispossess her, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Zechariah 9 opens with a burden, or heavy message, against the nations around Israel: Hadrach, Damascus, Hamath, Tyre and Sidon, then the Philistine cities. Verse 3 says Tyre built a strong hold and piled up silver and gold like dust. Verse 4 answers that pride: the LORD himself will strip Tyre, strike her strength in the sea, and burn her with fire. Zechariah 9:1Zechariah 9:2Zechariah 9:3Zechariah 9:4Zechariah 9:5

SpeakingThe chapter is "the burden of the word of the LORD," so the LORD is the one who speaks this judgment. Traditional: Zechariah, the prophet of the book, delivered it. Scholarly: chapters 9-14 are undated, and many scholars assign them to a later writer or writers, while others hold Zechariah wrote the whole book. Zechariah 9:1Zechariah overview

ToThe book was given to the people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overview

Also involvedTyre, the rich seaport city named in verses 2-3, is the one judged. Its fall also strikes fear into the Philistine cities of Ashkelon, Gaza and Ekron. Zechariah 9:2Zechariah 9:3Zechariah 9:5Tyre

The LORD promises to take away Tyre's possessions, break her strength or wealth that rested on the sea, and have fire consume her. Her strong hold and heaped-up gold will not save her. Zechariah 9:3Zechariah 9:4Strong's H3423HStrong's H2428GStrong's H0398

Tyre was a seaport city on the coast by Asher's land (Joshua 19:29). Ezekiel calls it the renowned city "strong in the sea," which explains why its power is struck "in the sea." TyreEzekiel 26:17Strong's H3220GJoshua 19:29

JUDAHMediterranean SeaTyreJerusalemSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThe verse foretells a future judgment on Tyre; the text itself does not give a date for when it would happen. Zechariah 9:4

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, while others hold Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah overview

HereThe verse shows that Tyre's wisdom, fortress and wealth cannot stand against the LORD. Earlier prophets spoke the same judgment: Amos said God would send fire on the wall of Tyre, and Ezekiel said a fire would devour her. Zechariah 9:2Zechariah 9:3Amos 1:10Ezekiel 28:18Ezekiel 28:16

In the whole of ScriptureThe judgment on the nations in verses 1-8 clears the way for God to guard his house and for Zion's lowly king to come, riding upon an ass, speaking peace to the nations. Zechariah 9:8Zechariah 9:9Zechariah 9:10Zechariah overview

For readersWealth and strong defenses do not protect anyone from God's judgment. As Proverbs says, "Riches profit not in the day of wrath." Zechariah 9:3Zechariah 9:4Proverbs 11:4

  • cast her outיָרַשׁ
    Hebrew · ya.rash · H3423H

    The word means to seize, dispossess, or impoverish. Here it is glossed "he will dispossess it," so the point is that the LORD strips Tyre of what she has heaped up. Strong's H3423HZechariah 9:3

  • powerחַ֫יִל
    Hebrew · cha.yil · H2428G

    The word can mean strength, army, or wealth, and here it is glossed "wealth its." It ties back to the silver and gold of verse 3 as well as Tyre's sea strength. Strong's H2428GZechariah 9:3Ezekiel 26:17

  • devouredאָכַל
    Hebrew · a.khal · H0398

    The word means to eat or devour, and it is used of fire consuming. The same picture appears in Amos 1:10 and Ezekiel 28:18, where fire devours Tyre. Strong's H0398Amos 1:10Ezekiel 28:18

Takeaway

Tyre trusted in her fortress and her gold, but the LORD would strip her, break her sea power, and burn her. Other prophets confirm this judgment, and it reminds readers that riches cannot save in the day of wrath. Zechariah 9:3Zechariah 9:4Amos 1:10Ezekiel 28:18Proverbs 11:4

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
there!הִנֵּ֤הhi-NEHH2009
behold

הִנֵּה (hin.neh) behold, lo, see, if

[the] Lordאֲדֹנָי֙'a-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)

he will dispossess itיֽוֹרִשֶׁ֔נָּהyo-ri-SHE-nahH3423H
to possess: possess

יָרַשׁ (ya.rash) : possess/inherit 1) to seize, dispossess, take possession off, inherit, disinherit, occupy, impoverish, be an heir 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take possession of 1a2) to inherit 1a3) to impoverish, come to poverty, be poor 1b) (Niphal) to be dispossessed, be impoverished, come to poverty 1c) (Piel) to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to possess or inherit 1d2) to cause others to possess or inherit 1d3) to impoverish 1d4) to dispossess 1d5) to destroy, bring to ruin, disinherit

and he will strikeוְהִכָּ֥הve-hi-KAHH5221
to smite

נָכָה (na.khah) 1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill 1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten 1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust 1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast) 1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage 1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy 1d) (Hophal) to be smitten 1d1) to receive a blow 1d2) to be wounded 1d3) to be beaten 1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain 1d5) to be attacked and captured 1d6) to be smitten (with disease) …

in the seaבַיָּ֖םvai-YAMH3220G
sea

יָם (yam) : sea 1) sea 1a) Mediterranean Sea 1b) Red Sea 1c) Dead Sea 1d) Sea of Galilee 1e) sea (general) 1f) mighty river (Nile) 1g) the sea (the great basin in the temple court) 1h) seaward, west, westward

wealth itsחֵילָ֑הּchei-LAHH2428G
strength: soldiers

חַ֫יִל (cha.yil) : soldiers/army 1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army 1a) strength 1b) ability, efficiency 1c) wealth 1d) force, army

and itוְהִ֖יאve-HI'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)

by the fireבָּאֵ֥שׁba-'ESHH0784
fire

אֵשׁ (esh) 1) fire 1a) fire, flames 1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany) 1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching) 1d) altar-fire 1e) God's anger (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)

it will be consumedתֵּאָכֵֽל׃te-'a-KHELH0398
to eat

אָכַל (a.khal) 1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to eat (human subject) 1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds) 1a3) to devour, consume (of fire) 1a4) to devour, slay (of sword) 1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought) 1a6) to devour (of oppression) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be eaten (by men) 1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire) 1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh) 1c) (Pual) 1c1) to cause to eat, feed with 1c2) to cause to devour 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to feed 1d2) to cause to eat 1e) (Piel) 1e1) consume Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)

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