# Zechariah 2

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**Zechariah 2** is the second of the 14 [chapters](/source/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible) in the [Book of Zechariah](/source/Book_of_Zechariah) in the [Hebrew Bible](/source/Hebrew_Bible) or the [Old Testament](/source/Old_Testament) of the [Christian](/source/Christianity) [Bible](/source/Bible).[1][2][3] This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet [Zechariah](/source/Zechariah_(Hebrew_prophet)). In the Hebrew Bible it forms part of the [Book of the Twelve Minor Prophets](/source/Twelve_Minor_Prophets).[4] This chapter is a part of a section (so-called "First Zechariah") consisting of [Zechariah 1](/source/Zechariah_1)–[8](/source/Zechariah_8).[5] It records the third of eight visions received by the prophet (verses 1–5), followed by an oracle calling the exiles to return to the city where Yahweh is about to dwell and all nations will come (verses 6–13).[6]

## Text

The original text was written in the [Hebrew language](/source/Biblical_Hebrew). [This chapter is divided into](/source/Chapters_and_verses_of_the_Bible) 13 verses in English Bibles. The Hebrew Bible uses different "[verse numbering](#Verse_numbering)" (see below).

### Verse numbering

There are some differences in verse numbering of this chapter in English Bibles and Hebrew texts:[3][7]

English Hebrew 1:18-21 2:1-4 2:1-13 2:5-17

This article generally follows the common numbering in Christian English Bible versions, with notes to the numbering in Hebrew Bible versions.

### Textual witnesses

Some early [manuscripts](/source/Biblical_manuscript#Old_Testament_manuscripts) containing the text of this chapter in [Hebrew](/source/Biblical_Hebrew) are of the [Masoretic Text](/source/Masoretic_Text), which includes the [Codex Cairensis](/source/Codex_Cairensis) (from year 895), [the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets](/source/Codex_Babylonicus_Petropolitanus) (916), and [Codex Leningradensis](/source/Leningrad_Codex) (1008).[8][9][a]

Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the [Dead Sea Scrolls](/source/Dead_Sea_Scrolls), that is, 4Q80 (4QXIIe; 75–50 BCE) with extant verses 6–10 (verses 10–14 in Masoretic verse numbering).[10][11][12][13]

There is also a translation into [Koine Greek](/source/Koine_Greek) known as the [Septuagint](/source/Septuagint), made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include [Codex Vaticanus](/source/Codex_Vaticanus) (**B**; \mathfrak{G}B; 4th century), [Codex Sinaiticus](/source/Codex_Sinaiticus) (**S**; [BHK](/source/Biblia_Hebraica_(Kittel)): \mathfrak{G}S; 4th century), [Codex Alexandrinus](/source/Codex_Alexandrinus) (**A**; \mathfrak{G}A; 5th century) and [Codex Marchalianus](/source/Codex_Marchalianus) (**Q**; \mathfrak{G}Q; 6th century).[14] Some fragments containing parts of this chapter (a revision of the Septuagint) were found among the [Dead Sea Scrolls](/source/Dead_Sea_Scrolls), i.e., [Naḥal Ḥever 8Ḥev1 (8ḤevXIIgr)](/source/Greek_Minor_Prophets_Scroll_from_Nahal_Hever); late 1st century BCE) with extant verses 3-5, 7-8, 12-13 (verses 7–9, 11–12, 16–17 in Masoretic verse numbering).[11][15][16]

## Vision of the measuring line (2:1–5; Hebrew 2:5–9)

This section records the third of Zechariah's eight visions, in which he saw a man with a [measuring](/source/Measuring) line travelling to [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem) to measure the city's length and width.[17] The vision points to the unlimited size of the restored city (cf. ), assuring the people that God's glory will be in there (cf. ; ). Jerusalem will become "a city without walls".[18] Katrina Larkin notes that "the formerly negative image of a city without walls becomes a positive one".[19] God will protect the people as in the past ().[6]

## Future joy of Zion and many nations (2:6–13; Hebrew 2:10–17)

The oracle in this section, added onto the third vision,[19] urges the exiles who are still in [Babylon](/source/Babylon) to return to Zion, for God will dwell in that city Jerusalem, and other nations will come.[6]

### Verse 6

- *Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord.*[20]

The "land of the north" refers to Babylon,[21] and, more broadly, to the whole [Babylonian empire](/source/Babylonian_empire).[22] The [King James Version](/source/King_James_Version)'s distinctive wording reads "Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north."[23]

### Verse 10

- *Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion:* - *for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee,*
- *saith the Lord.*[24]

- "Lo, I come": Septuagint: ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἔρχομαι; in the [Gospel of Matthew](/source/Gospel_of_Matthew), [Jesus Christ](/source/Jesus) is called ὁ ἐρχόμενος, "he who comes" ().[25]
- "Dwell in the midst of thee" is alluded to in the [Gospel of John](/source/Gospel_of_John): "The Word was made Flesh and **dwelt among us**" ([John 1:14](/source/John_1:14)) and in the [Book of Revelation](/source/Book_of_Revelation): "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and **He will dwell with them**, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them and shall be their God" ([Revelation 21:3](/source/Revelation_21:3)).[26] Thus, it refers primarily at Messiah's first advent (; [John 1:14](/source/John_1:14); ; );[27] yet more fully at the second advent (; cf. [Zechariah 9:9](/source/Zechariah_9:9), ; ; ).[27] God dwells spiritually in his people (),[27] alluding to the constant presence of Jesus Christ in his churches.[28]

### Verse 11

- *And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day,* - *and shall be my people:*
- *and I will dwell in the midst of thee,* - *and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.*[29]

- "Many nations shall be joined to the Lord": ("shall be joined" = "shall join themselves"); "shall fly for refuge unto the Lord" (Septuagint);[25] "cleaving to Him by a close union".[26] [Isaiah](/source/Isaiah) speaks about 'single proselytes' in , whereas [Jeremiah](/source/Jeremiah) uses 'the word of Israel's self-exhortation' when they return from Babylon, that "going and weeping," they shall go and seek the Lord their God, saying, "Come and let us join ourselves unto the Lord, in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten" ().[26]
- "My people": or "unto me for a people"; Septuagint: "shall be unto him for a people" (cf. ). Many nations who will become "the Lord's people" share that title with people of Israel (cf. ; ; ; ),[25]
- "Sent me unto thee": an addition of "unto thee" to the same formula (). Here [YHWH](/source/YHWH) first says, "I will dwell", then says that YHWH "sent", thus, 'YHWH the Sender and YHWH the Sent must be One'.[27]

## See also

- [Darius I](/source/Darius_I)
- [Judah](/source/Judah_(biblical_person))
- [Jerusalem](/source/Jerusalem)
- Related [Bible](/source/Bible) parts: [Isaiah 2](/source/Isaiah_2), [Isaiah 11](/source/Isaiah_11), [Micah 4](/source/Micah_4), [Zephaniah 2](/source/Zephaniah_2), [Haggai 1](/source/Haggai_1), [Haggai 2](/source/Haggai_2), [Zechariah 1](/source/Zechariah_1), [Zechariah 3](/source/Zechariah_3), [Zechariah 4](/source/Zechariah_4), [Zechariah 5](/source/Zechariah_5), [Zechariah 6](/source/Zechariah_6), [John 1](/source/John_1), [Revelation 21](/source/Revelation_21)

## Notes

1. The [Aleppo Codex](/source/Aleppo_Codex) (930) now only contains Zechariah 9:17b–14:21.[10]

## References

1. Collins 2014, p. 421.

1. Hayes 2015, Chapter 23.

1. [Zechariah, Book of](http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/15199-zechariah-book-of). [Jewish Encyclopedia](/source/Jewish_Encyclopedia)

1. Mason 1993, pp. 826–828.

1. Coogan 2007, p. 1357 Hebrew Bible.

1. Mason 1993, p. 826.

1. [Interlinear Hebrew-English Old Testament - Zechariah 2](http://www.scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/OTpdf/zec2.pdf).

1. Würthwein 1995, pp. 35–37.

1. Boda 2016, pp. 2–3.

1. Boda 2016, p. 3.

1. [Dead sea scrolls – Zechariah](http://thewaytoyahuweh.com/research/dead-sea-scrolls/#zechariah)

1. Ulrich 2010, p. 620.

1. Fitzmyer 2008, p. 39.

1. Würthwein 1995, pp. 73–74.

1. Fitzmyer 2008, p. 128.

1. Boda 2016, p. 5.

1. : [New International Version](/source/New_International_Version)

1. Larkin 2007, p. 612.

1. : ESV

1. : [New Living Translation](/source/New_Living_Translation)

1. [Perowne, T. T.](/source/T._T._Perowne) (1890), [Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges](https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/zechariah/2.htm) on Zechariah 2, accessed on 3 January 2025

1. : KJV

1. [KJV](/source/King_James_Version) or Hebrew Bible

1. Exell, Joseph S.; Spence-Jones, Henry Donald Maurice (editors). The [Pulpit Commentary](/source/Pulpit_Commentary). "Zechariah 2". First publication: 1890.

1. [Barnes, Albert](/source/Albert_Barnes_(theologian)). Notes on the Old Testament. "Zechariah 2". London, Blackie & Son, 1884. Reprint, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998.

1. Jamieson, Robert; [Fausset, Andrew Robert](/source/Andrew_Robert_Fausset); [Brown, David](/source/David_Brown_(Free_Church_of_Scotland)). *[Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary On the Whole Bible](/source/Jamieson-Fausset-Brown_Bible_Commentary)*. ["Zechariah 2"](http://biblehub.com/commentaries/jfb/zechariah/2.htm). 1871.

1. [Gill, John](/source/John_Gill_(theologian)). *Exposition of the Entire Bible. Exposition of the Old and New Testament*. "Zechariah 2". Published in 1746-1763.

1. KJV or Hebrew Bible

## Sources

- Boda, Mark J. (2016). [*The Book of Zechariah*](https://books.google.com/books?id=EwJRCwAAQBAJ). New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Harrison, R. K. & Hubbard, Jr, Robert L. (eds.). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 978-0802823755.
- Collins, John J. (2014). [*Introduction to the Hebrew Scriptures*](https://books.google.com/books?id=fbsoBAAAQBAJ). Fortress Press. ISBN 9781451469233.
- Coogan, Michael David (2007). [*The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version, Issue 48*](https://books.google.com/books?id=HmpMPgAACAAJ). Augmented 3rd ed. Coogan, Michael David; Brettler, Marc Zvi; Newsom, Carol Ann; Perkins, Pheme (eds.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195288810.
- Fitzmyer, Joseph A. (2008). [*A Guide to the Dead Sea Scrolls and Related Literature*](https://books.google.com/books?id=TILXeWJ2eNAC). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. ISBN 9780802862419.
- Hayes, Christine (2015). [*Introduction to the Bible*](https://books.google.com/books?id=SKbkXYHxvlAC). Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300188271.
- Larkin, Katrina J. A. (2007). ["37. Zechariah"](https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ). *The Oxford Bible Commentary*. first (paperback) ed. Barton, John & Muddiman, John (eds.). Oxford University Press. pp. 610–615. ISBN 978-0199277186. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- Mason, Rex (1993). ["Zechariah, The Book of."](https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195046458). *The Oxford Companion to the Bible*. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195046458.
- Ulrich, Eugene (ed.) (2010). [*The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants*](https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls). Brill.
- Würthwein, Ernst (1995). [*The Text of the Old Testament*](https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC). Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

## External links

### Jewish

- [Zechariah 2 Hebrew with Parallel English](http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt2302.htm)
- [Zechariah 2 Hebrew with Rashi's Commentary](http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/16206)

### Christian

- [Zechariah 2 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate](http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=43&c=2) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170202114623/http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=43&c=2) 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zechariah 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zechariah_2) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zechariah_2?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.