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ZECHARIAH • CHAPTER 10
Zechariah 10
Night visions, restoration, priesthood, royal imagery, symbolic actions, apocalyptic conflict, and future hope.
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Zechariah 10
WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE
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1
Ask of Yahweh rain in the spring time,
Yahweh who makes storm clouds,
and he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field.
Yahweh who makes storm clouds,
and he gives rain showers to everyone for the plants in the field.
2
For the teraphim have spoken vanity,
and the diviners have seen a lie;
and they have told false dreams.
They comfort in vain.
Therefore they go their way like sheep.
They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd.
and the diviners have seen a lie;
and they have told false dreams.
They comfort in vain.
Therefore they go their way like sheep.
They are oppressed, because there is no shepherd.
3
My anger is kindled against the shepherds,
and I will punish the male goats;
For Yahweh of Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them as his majestic horse in the battle.
and I will punish the male goats;
For Yahweh of Armies has visited his flock, the house of Judah,
and will make them as his majestic horse in the battle.
4
From him will come the cornerstone,
from him the nail,
from him the battle bow,
from him every ruler together.
from him the nail,
from him the battle bow,
from him every ruler together.
5
They shall be as mighty men,
treading down muddy streets in the battle;
and they shall fight, because Yahweh is with them;
and the riders on horses will be confounded.
treading down muddy streets in the battle;
and they shall fight, because Yahweh is with them;
and the riders on horses will be confounded.
6
“I will strengthen the house of Judah,
and I will save the house of Joseph,
and I will bring them back;
for I have mercy on them;
and they will be as though I had not cast them off:
for I am Yahweh their God, and I will hear them.
and I will save the house of Joseph,
and I will bring them back;
for I have mercy on them;
and they will be as though I had not cast them off:
for I am Yahweh their God, and I will hear them.
7
Ephraim will be like a mighty man,
and their heart will rejoice as through wine;
yes, their children will see it, and rejoice.
Their heart will be glad in Yahweh.
and their heart will rejoice as through wine;
yes, their children will see it, and rejoice.
Their heart will be glad in Yahweh.
8
I will signal for them, and gather them;
for I have redeemed them;
and they will increase as they have increased.
for I have redeemed them;
and they will increase as they have increased.
9
I will sow them among the peoples;
and they will remember me in far countries;
and they will live with their children, and will return.
and they will remember me in far countries;
and they will live with their children, and will return.
10
I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt,
and gather them out of Assyria;
and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon;
and there won’t be room enough for them.
and gather them out of Assyria;
and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon;
and there won’t be room enough for them.
11
He will pass through the sea of affliction,
and will strike the waves in the sea,
and all the depths of the Nile will dry up;
and the pride of Assyria will be brought down,
and the scepter of Egypt will depart.
and will strike the waves in the sea,
and all the depths of the Nile will dry up;
and the pride of Assyria will be brought down,
and the scepter of Egypt will depart.
12
I will strengthen them in Yahweh;
and they will walk up and down in his name,” says Yahweh.
and they will walk up and down in his name,” says Yahweh.
PROPHETIC
Where this chapter fits
Zechariah uses prophetic or apocalyptic language shaped by political crisis, judgment, hope, symbolic imagery, and expectations about God's action in history.
Chapter numbers were added long after the biblical books were written.
Read this chapter together with what comes immediately before and after it.
ANCIENT TEXT, MODERN QUESTIONS
Historical claims should be compared with historical evidence.
Scientific claims should be compared with science.
Moral claims should be examined morally.
Theological claims require theological and philosophical argument.
QUESTIONS WORTH ASKING
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What kind of literature is this?
Narrative, poetry, prophecy, law, letters, wisdom, and apocalypse communicate differently.
What historical evidence matters?
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What are the strongest competing interpretations?
Compare serious Jewish, Christian, academic, and skeptical readings rather than caricatures.
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