Zechariah 9:7
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | And 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. | I will remove the blood from their mouths and the abominations from between their teeth. Then they too will become a remnant for our God; they will become like a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites. | And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth; and he also shall be a remnant for our God; and he shall be as a chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedAfter judging the proud Philistine cities (9:5-6), the LORD says he will take the blood and the detestable things out of the Philistine's mouth. A remnant left over will then belong to Israel's God, be "as a governor in Judah," and Ekron will be "as a Jebusite," like the Canaanites who once lived at Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem. Zechariah 9:5Zechariah 9:6Zechariah 9:7Strong's H8251Strong's H2983G
SpeakingThe LORD speaks ("I will take away"), through the prophet Zechariah, who adds "our God." Zechariah 9:7Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe Philistines, pictured as one person. The cities named are Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron, and the verse turns to the part of them that survives. Zechariah 9:5Zechariah 9:6Zechariah 9:7
God promises to remove the "blood" and the "detestable things" from the Philistine's mouth and teeth. Then the survivor will belong to God and be "as a governor in Judah." Zechariah 9:7Strong's H1818Strong's H8251Strong's H7604
The Philistine cities on the coast. Ekron was the most northerly of the five chief Philistine cities and lay in the lowlands of Judah. Zechariah 9:5Strong's H6138Ekron
The eventsThis is a prophecy about the future. Judgment first falls on the cities of 9:1-6, from Hadrach and Damascus to Tyre and the Philistine cities, and then a remnant is joined to God. It comes just before the promise of Zion's lowly king (9:9). Zechariah 9:1Zechariah 9:6Zechariah 9:7Zechariah 9:9
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, with dated messages from about 520-518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 9-14 carry no dates, and many assign them to a later writer or writers, while others hold Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse shows that God's judgment on the Philistines is not the end of them. He removes what is detestable and makes a surviving remnant "for our God." Zechariah 9:6Zechariah 9:7Strong's H7604
In the whole of ScriptureOther prophets give the same hope for foreign nations. Isaiah sees the LORD bless "Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands" (Isaiah 19:25). In the same chapter, Zechariah's coming king will "speak peace unto the heathen" (9:10). Isaiah 19:25Zechariah 9:10
For readersEven long-time enemies of God's people can come to belong to God. That happens when he takes away what is detestable in them. Zechariah 9:7Isaiah 19:25
- abominationsשִׁקּוּץ
The word means a detestable thing or idol. So what God removes from the Philistine's mouth is something detestable to him, named alongside blood. Strong's H8251Zechariah 9:7
- he that remainethשָׁאַר
The word means to be left over or survive, and as a participle, a remnant. It is the survivors after the judgment of 9:5-6 who become God's. Strong's H7604Zechariah 9:6Zechariah 9:7
- governorאַלּוּף
The Hebrew word is glossed "chief." The verse says the survivor "shall be as a governor in Judah." Strong's H0441BZechariah 9:7
- Jebusiteיְבוּסִי
The Jebusites were Canaanites who lived in or around Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem. The verse compares Ekron to them. Strong's H2983GZechariah 9:7
Takeaway
God judges the pride of the Philistines, but he also takes away what is detestable in a remnant of them and makes it his own. This matches the wider prophetic hope that the nations will be blessed by the LORD. Zechariah 9:6Zechariah 9:7Isaiah 19:25
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
- Ekron 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and I will remove | וַהֲסִרֹתִ֨י | va-ha-si-ro-TI | H5493G | departedיָסוּר (ya.sur) those departing, revolting |
| bloods its | דָמָ֜יו | da-MAV | H1818 | bloodדָּם (dam) 1) blood 1a) of wine (fig.) |
| from mouth its | מִפִּ֗יו | mi-PIV | H6310G | lipפֶּה (peh) : lip/mouth peh 1) mouth 1a) mouth (of man) 1b) mouth (as organ of speech) 1c) mouth (of animals) 1d) mouth, opening, orifice (of a well, river, etc) 1e) extremity, end pim 2) a weight equal to one third of a shekel, occurs only in 1Sa 13:21 |
| and detestable things its | וְשִׁקֻּצָיו֙ | ve-shi-ku-TZAV | H8251 | abominationשִׁקּוּץ (shiq.quts) detestable thing or idol, abominable thing, abomination, idol, detested thing |
| from between | מִבֵּ֣ין | mi-BEIN | H0996G | betweenבַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) : between between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between |
| teeth its | שִׁנָּ֔יו | shi-NAV | H8127G | toothשֵׁן (shen) : tooth 1) tooth, ivory 1a) tooth 1a1) of man, lex talionis, beast 1b) tooth, tine (of fork) 1c) ivory 1c1) as material 1c2) of commerce 1d) sharp pointed rock |
| and it will be left | וְנִשְׁאַ֥ר | ve-nish-'AR | H7604 | to remainשָׁאַר (sha.ar) 1) to remain, be left over, be left behind 1a) (Qal) to remain 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be left over, be left alive, survive 1b1a) remainder, remnant (participle) 1b2) to be left behind 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to leave over, spare 1c2) to leave or keep over 1c3) to have left 1c4) to leave (as a gift) |
| 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 |
| it | ה֖וּא | 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) |
| to God our | לֵֽאלֹהֵ֑ינוּ | le-lo-HEI-nu | H0430G | Godאֱלֹהִים (e.lo.him) This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| and it will be | וְהָיָה֙ | ve-ha-YAH | H1961 | to beהָיָה (ha.yah) 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) … |
| like a chief | כְּאַלֻּ֣ף | ke-'a-LUF | H0441B | chiefאַלּוּף (al.luph) chief |
| in Judah | בִּֽיהוּדָ֔ה | bi-hu-DAH | H3063G | Judahיְהוּד (ye.hud) A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.35; son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812); brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); married to Bath-shua (H1323I) and Tamar (H8559); father of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209), Shelah (H7956), Perez (H6557) and Zerah (H2226I) Aramaic of ye.hu.dah (יְהוּדָה "Judah" H3063) Judah-the territory of the tribe of Judah |
| and Ekron | וְעֶקְר֖וֹן | ve-'ek-RON | H6138 | Ekronעֶקְרוֹן (eq.ron) Ekron = "emigration" or "torn up by the roots" the most northerly of the 5 principal cities of the Philistines; located in the lowlands of Judah and later given to Dan Also named: eq.ro.ni (עֶקְרוֹנִי "Ekron" H6139) |
| [will be] like a Jebusite | כִּיבוּסִֽי׃ | ki-vu-SI | H2983G | Jebusiteיְבוּסִי (ye.vu.si) Someone descended from Jebus(?) of the Canaanites, first mentioned at Gen.10.16; descended from Canaan (H3667); along with Sidon (H6721), Heth (H2845), Amorite (H0567), Girgashite (H1622), Hivite (H2340), Arkite (H6208), Sinite (H5513), Arvadite (H0721), Zemarite (H6786) and Hamathite (H2577) § Jebusite = "descendants of Jebus" descendants of the 3rd son of Canaan who lived in or around the site of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.