The Meaning of Zechariah 9:8 Explained

Zechariah 9:8

KJV: And 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.

YLT: And I have pitched for My house a camp, Because of the passer through, and of the returner, And pass not through against them again doth an exactor, For, now, I have seen with My eyes.

Darby: And I will encamp about my house because of the army, because of those that pass by and that return; and the exactor shall not pass through them any more: for now have I seen it with mine eyes.

ASV: And I will encamp about my house against the army, that none pass through or return; and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.

Discover Zechariah 9:8

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Zechariah 9:8?

MEANING: What does Zechariah 9:8 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Zechariah 9:8 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Zechariah 9:8?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And 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. 

What does Zechariah 9:8 Mean?

Study Notes

because of him
There seems to be a reference here to the advance and return of Alexander ( Zechariah 9:13 ) after the battle of Issus, who subdued the cities mentioned in Zechariah 9:1-6 , and afterward returned to Greece without harming Jerusalem. But the greater meaning converges on the yet future last days as the last clause of verse Zechariah 9:8 shows, for many oppressors have passed through Jerusalem since the days of Alexander.
last days
A distinction must be observed between "the last days" when the prediction relates to Israel, and the "last days" when the prediction relates to the church 1 Timothy 4:1-3 ; 2 Timothy 3:1-8 ; Hebrews 1:1 ; Hebrews 1:2 ; 1 Peter 1:4 ; 1 Peter 1:5 ; 2 Peter 3:1-9 ; 1 John 2:18 ; 1 John 2:19 ; Judges 1:17-19 . Also distinguish the expression the "last days" (plural) from "the last day" (singular); the latter expression referring to the resurrections and last judgment; John 6:39 ; John 6:40 ; John 6:44 ; John 6:54 ; John 11:24 ; John 12:48 . The "last days" as related to the church began with the advent of Christ Hebrews 1:2 but have especial reference to the time of declension and apostasy at the end of this age; 2 Timothy 3:1 ; 2 Timothy 4:4 . The "last days" as related to Israel are the days of Israel's exaltation and blessing, and are synonymous with the kingdom-age; Isaiah 2:2-4 ; Micah 4:1-7 . They are "last" not with reference to this dispensation, but with reference to the whole of Israel's history.

Verse Meaning

The Lord promised to protect His people and land as with a band of soldiers since enemies would oppose them. "House" is probably a metonym for the whole land including its people. No enemy would oppress them ever again because the Lord had seen the plight of His people and would defend them (cf. Zechariah 4:10; Exodus 3:7; Psalm 32:8). This promise of no more oppression anticipates the second advent of Messiah.
"For their preservation at the time of Alexander and for their future deliverance from every oppressor, Israel is indebted to the providence of God which watched over them for good." [1]
This section is a prophetic description of Yahweh"s march from the north, using Alexander the Great as His instrument, destroying Gentiles nations but preserving the Jews. Zechariah later predicted the coming Roman Empire ( Zechariah 11:4-14) and the kingdom of Messiah (chs12-14).
"As history shows, the agent of the Lord"s judgment was Alexander the Great. After defeating the Persians (333 B.C.), Alexander moved swiftly toward Egypt. On his march he toppled the cities in the Aramean (Syrian) interior, as well as those on the Mediterranean coast. Yet, on coming to Jerusalem, he refused to destroy it." [2]
Josephus reported that Alexander had a dream and because of it decided to spare Jerusalem. [3]
"The first section of this ... part of the book establishes from the start two important facts: the Lord"s victory is certain, and he intends to bring back to Himself peoples long alienated from Him. These truths underlie all that follows and culminate in the universal worship of the King, the Lord of hosts, in Zechariah 14:16-19." [4]
"One should not ... anticipate a future scenario in which God will literally march from Hadrach to Jerusalem, establishing his dominion over all opposition. What is at hand is a formulaic way of asserting an unquestionably literal establishment of YHWH"s kingship in the end times, a suzerainty to be achieved in the pattern well known to Zechariah and his fellow countrymen on the human level." [5]

Context Summary

Zechariah 9:1-8 - The Nations Will Seek The God Of Israel
In his final answer the prophet gives a delightful picture of the future, which was on the eve of complete realization. So entirely would the memory of the past be obliterated that fateful anniversaries would soon fade from their minds. Indeed they would discover that their dark days had been the source and origin of their glad ones. In all subsequent ages, even when persecuting the Jews, the foremost nations have taken hold of their skirts, appropriating their sacred writings, venerating their lawgivers, prophets, and saints; and believing in the noblest representative of their race.
The prophet passes his eye over the surrounding nations, showing that his people need fear no more, because their oppressors had been effectually silenced. [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 9

1  God defends his church
9  Zion is exhorted to rejoice for the coming of Christ, and his peaceable kingdom
12  God's promises of victory and defense

What do the individual words in Zechariah 9:8 mean?

And I will camp around My house because of the army because of him who passes by and him who returns and No shall pass through them more an oppressor for now have I seen with My eyes -
וְחָנִ֨יתִי לְבֵיתִ֤י מִצָּבָה֙ מֵעֹבֵ֣ר וּמִשָּׁ֔ב וְלֹֽא־ יַעֲבֹ֧ר עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם ע֖וֹד נֹגֵ֑שׂ כִּ֥י עַתָּ֖ה רָאִ֥יתִי בְעֵינָֽי ס

וְחָנִ֨יתִי  And  I  will  camp 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָנָה  
Sense: to decline, incline, encamp, bend down, lay siege against.
לְבֵיתִ֤י  around  My  house 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
מִצָּבָה֙  because  of  the  army 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַצָּבָה 
Sense: guard, watch, army.
מֵעֹבֵ֣ר  because  of  him  who  passes  by 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
וּמִשָּׁ֔ב  and  him  who  returns 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
וְלֹֽא־  and  No 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יַעֲבֹ֧ר  shall  pass 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם  through  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
ע֖וֹד  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
נֹגֵ֑שׂ  an  oppressor 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָגַשׂ  
Sense: to press, drive, oppress, exact, exert demanding pressure.
עַתָּ֖ה  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
רָאִ֥יתִי  have  I  seen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
בְעֵינָֽי  with  My  eyes 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to Zechariah 9:8?

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