Zechariah 9:4
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Behold, 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, sourcedZechariah 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
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
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
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
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
- 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.
Where
- Tyre settlementMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| there! | הִנֵּ֤ה | hi-NEH | H2009 | beholdהִנֵּה (hin.neh) behold, lo, see, if |
| [the] Lord | אֲדֹנָי֙ | 'a-do-NAI | H0136 | 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) |
| he will dispossess it | יֽוֹרִשֶׁ֔נָּה | yo-ri-SHE-nah | H3423H | to possess: possessיָרַשׁ (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 strike | וְהִכָּ֥ה | ve-hi-KAH | H5221 | to smiteנָכָה (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 sea | בַיָּ֖ם | vai-YAM | H3220G | seaיָם (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 its | חֵילָ֑הּ | chei-LAH | H2428G | strength: soldiersחַ֫יִל (cha.yil) : soldiers/army 1) strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army 1a) strength 1b) ability, efficiency 1c) wealth 1d) force, army |
| and it | וְהִ֖יא | ve-HI' | 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) |
| by the fire | בָּאֵ֥שׁ | ba-'ESH | H0784 | fireאֵשׁ (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 consumed | תֵּאָכֵֽל׃ | te-'a-KHEL | H0398 | to eatאָכַל (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.