Zechariah 9:13
What does Zechariah 9:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Zechariah 9:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zechariah 9:13 means
This verse describes God's active preparation for battle on behalf of His people. He declares, "I have bent Judah for me, I have filled the bow with Ephraim." This powerful imagery portrays Judah as God's war bow and Ephraim as the arrow, signifying that God Himself is equipping and empowering His divided people (Judah and Ephraim representing the reunited Israel) for divine warfare. The purpose of this empowerment is explicitly stated: "I will stir up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece." This points to a future conflict where God will use His people as a formidable weapon, "as the sword of a mighty man," against the emerging power of Greece, a prophecy fulfilled centuries later in the Maccabean period struggles against Hellenistic rule.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For I have bent Judah for me, I have filled the bow with Ephraim; and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and will make thee as the sword of a mighty man.
KJV
King James Version · 1611When 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For I have bent Judah for me, I have filled the bow with Ephraim; and I will stir up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and will make thee as the sword of a mighty man.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For I have made Judah a bow bent for my use, I have made Ephraim the arrows of the bow; I will make your sons, O Zion, take up arms against your sons, O Greece, and will make you like the sword of a man of war.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862For I have trodden for Me Judah, A bow I have filled <FI>with<Fi> Ephraim, And I have stirred up thy sons, O Zion, Against thy sons, O Javan, And I have set thee as the sword of a hero.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Because I have bent Juda for me as a bow, I have filled Ephraim: and I will raise up thy sons, O Sion, above thy sons, O Greece, and I will make thee as the sword of the mighty.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For I have bent Judah for me, I have filled the bow with Ephraim; and I will raise up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and make thee like the sword of a mighty man.
Context
Following the promise of double restoration for the "prisoners of hope" in verse 12, this verse dramatically shifts to a martial tone, revealing how God will empower His restored people. It details God's preparation of Judah and Ephraim as instruments for battle. This empowerment against Greece then naturally leads to the depiction of Jehovah Himself fighting alongside and for His people in verses 14 and 15, emphasizing the supernatural nature of their coming victories.
v.12Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even to-day do I declare that I will render double unto thee.
v.13This passage
v.14And 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.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 49:2
and he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me: and he hath made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he kept me close:
- Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
- Daniel 8:21
And the rough he-goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
- Micah 5:4
And he shall stand, and shall feed his flock in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of Jehovah his God: and they shall abide; for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
- Revelation 19:15
And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.
- Psalms 49:2
Both low and high, Rich and poor together.
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