Zechariah 12 · Verse 5

Zechariah 12:5

And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God.
Zechariah 12:5, King James Version

Zechariah 12:5 in other translations

BSBThen the leaders of Judah will say in their hearts: ‘The people of Jerusalem are my strength, for the LORD of Hosts is their God.’
WEBThe chieftains of Judah will say in their heart, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in the LORD of Armies their God.’
ASVAnd the chieftains of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength in Jehovah of hosts their God.
YLTAnd leaders of Judah have said in their heart, ‘Strength to me are the inhabitants of Jerusalem, In Jehovah of Hosts their God.'
DARBYAnd the leaders of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength through Jehovah of hosts their God.
BBEAnd the families of Judah will say in their hearts, The people of Jerusalem have their strength in the Lord of armies, their God.
WebsterAnd the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.

What does Zechariah 12:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. shall say--when they see the foe divinely smitten with "madness." Judah ... Jerusalem--here distinguished as the country and the metropolis. Judah recognizes her "strength" to be "Jerusalem and its inhabitants" as the instrument, and "Jehovah of hosts their God" (dwelling especially there) as the author of all power (Joe 3:16). My strength is the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who have the Lord their God as their help. The repulse of the foe by the metropolis shall assure the Jews of the country that the same divine aid shall save them.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 The governors of Judah - This supposes a union between the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Zechariah 12:1-8

Here is a Divine prediction, which will be a heavy burden to all the enemies of the church. But it is for Israel; for their comfort and benefit. It is promised that God will make foolish the counsels, and weaken the courage of the enemies of the church. The exact meaning is not clear; but God often begins by calling the poor and despised; and in that day even the feeblest will resemble David, and be as eminent in…

Read the full comment on Zechariah 12:1-8 →

Zechariah 12:5 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְאָֽמְר֛וּve.'a.me.Ruand they will sayH559
אַלֻּפֵ֥י'a.lu.Fei[the] chiefs ofH441
יְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahJudahH3063
בְּלִבָּ֑םbe.li.Bamin heart theirH3820
אַמְצָ֥ה'am.Tzah[are] strengthH556
לִי֙liof me
יֹשְׁבֵ֣יyo.she.Vei[the] inhabitants ofH3427
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔םye.ru.sha.LimJerusalemH3389
בַּיהוָ֥הba.Yah.wehby YahwehH3068
צְבָא֖וֹתtze.va.'otof hostsH6635
אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם\׃'e.lo.hei.HemGod theirH430

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Zechariah 12:5

  • Joel 3:16

    The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

  • Psalms 18:32

    It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

  • Zechariah 10:12

    And I will strengthen them in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the Lord.

  • Psalms 18:39

    For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.

  • Psalms 144:1

    A Psalm of David. Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

  • Psalms 20:6-7

    Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

    And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

  • Isaiah 28:6

    And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.

  • Isaiah 41:10-16

    Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. …

  • Psalms 46:1

    To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

  • Jeremiah 30:21

    And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord.

  • Zechariah 10:6

    And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the governors.
6; Jud 5:9; Isa 1:10,23,26; 29:10; 32:1; 60:17; Jer 30:21; 33:26
Eze 45:8,9
The inhabitants, etc. or, There is strength to me, and to theinhabitants, etc.
10:6,12; Ps 18:32,39; 20:6,7; 46:1; 68:34,35; 118:10-14; 144:1
Isa 28:6; 41:10-16; Joe 3:16; 2Co 12:9,10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Zechariah 12:4

    In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.

  • Zechariah 12:5

    And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God.

  • Zechariah 12:6

    In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.

Read all of Zechariah 12

Zechariah 12:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y los capitanes de Judá dirán en su corazón: Mi fuerza son los moradores de Jerusalem en Jehová de los ejércitos su Dios.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et les chefs de Juda diront en leur cœur: Les habitants de Jérusalem seront ma force, par l’ Éternel des armées, leur Dieu.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und die Fürsten von Juda werden in ihrem Herzen sprechen: Eine Stärke sind mir die Bewohner von Jerusalem in Jehova der Heerscharen, ihrem Gott. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et dicent duces Juda in corde suo: Confortentur mihi habitatores Jerusalem in Domino exercituum, Deo eorum!