Zechariah 9:3
What does Zechariah 9:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Zechariah 9:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Zechariah 9:3 means
This verse vividly describes the prosperity and security of Tyre. The city had constructed a formidable stronghold, reflecting its military and defensive might. Furthermore, Tyre had accumulated immense wealth, amassing "silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets." This imagery emphasizes the sheer abundance and seemingly limitless riches of Tyre, underscoring its pride and reliance on material possessions rather than on God. This serves to amplify the shock and certainty of its impending downfall, as even such impregnable wealth would prove insufficient against divine judgment.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Tyre did build herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Tyre did build herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Tyre made for herself a strong place, and got together silver like dust and the best gold like the earth of the streets.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Tyre doth build a bulwark to herself, And doth heap silver as dust, And gold as mire of out-places.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Tyre hath built herself a strong hold, and heaped together silver as earth, and gold as the mire of the streets.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Tyre hath built herself a stronghold, and hath heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
Context
Following the identification of Tyre and Sidon as targets of judgment due to their wisdom in verse 2, this verse provides concrete evidence of that wisdom in action: their fortifications and vast wealth. This detailed description of Tyre's strength and riches in building its stronghold and accumulating wealth directly precedes the pronouncement of its destruction in verse 4, making the contrast between its perceived might and its actual vulnerability stark.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezekiel 27:33
When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many peoples; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.
- 2 Samuel 24:7
and came to the stronghold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites; and they went out to the south of Judah, at Beer-sheba.
- Job 27:16
Though he heap up silver as the dust, And prepare raiment as the clay;
- Ezekiel 28:4
by thy wisdom and by thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures;
- Job 22:24
And lay thou thy treasure in the dust, Andthe gold ofOphir among the stones of the brooks;
- Joshua 19:29
and the border turned to Ramah, and to the fortified city of Tyre; and the border turned to Hosah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea by the region of Achzib;
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