Zechariah 9:13
11 As for you, because of the blood of My covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; even today I declare that I will restore to you double.
For I will bend Judah as My bow and fit it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against the sons of Greece. I will make you like the sword of a mighty man.
14 Then the LORD will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord GOD will sound the ram’s horn and advance in the whirlwinds of the south.
15 The LORD of Hosts will shield them. They will destroy and conquer with slingstones; they will drink and roar as with wine. And they will be filled like sprinkling bowls, drenched like the corners of the altar.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For I will bend Judah as My bow and fit it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against the sons of Greece. I will make you like the sword of a mighty man.
- KJV
- When 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.
- WEB
- For indeed I bend Judah as a bow for me. I have loaded the bow with Ephraim. I will stir up your sons, Zion, against your sons, Greece, and will make you like the sword of a mighty man.
- ASV
- For 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.
- DARBY
- For 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.
- BLB
- For I have bent for Myself Judah [as] a bow, I have filled [it] with Ephraim, and I have raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Javan, and I have set like the sword of a mighty one!
- ÅB
- For jeg spenner Juda som min bue og legger Efra'im på buen, og jeg egger dine sønner, Sion, mot dine sønner, Javan[^6], og jeg gjør deg lik en kjempes sverd.
- OTB
- For jeg vil bøye Juda som min bue,
Jeg vil fylle buen med Efraim.
Og jeg vil vekke dine sønner, Sion, mot dine sønner, Hellas;
Og jeg vil gjøre deg som et krigers sverd. - B1930
- For jeg spenner Juda som min bue og legger Efra'im på buen, og jeg egger dine sønner, Sion, mot dine sønner, Javan, og jeg gjør dig lik en kjempes sverd. / < d.e. Grekenland.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”
Read in contextIsaiah 49:2
He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver.
Read in contextZechariah 10:3–7
“My anger burns against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders. For the LORD of Hosts attends to His flock, the house of Judah; He will make them like His royal steed in battle.
Read in contextPsalms 45:3
Strap your sword at your side, O mighty warrior; appear in your majesty and splendor.
Read in contextJoel 3:6–8
You sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks, to send them far from their homeland.
Read in contextHebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Read in contextZechariah 12:2–8
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.
Read in contextRevelation 19:15
And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
Read in context