Zechariah 12 · Verse 6

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.
Zechariah 12:6, King James Version

Zechariah 12:6 in other translations

BSBOn that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among the sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right and on the left, while the people of Jerusalem remain secure there.
WEBIn that day I will make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves. They will devour all the surrounding peoples on the right hand and on the left; and Jerusalem will yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem.
ASVIn that day will I make the chieftains of Judah like a pan of fire among wood, and like a flaming torch among sheaves; and they shall devour all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left; and they of Jerusalem shall yet again dwell in their own place, even in Jerusalem.
YLTIn that day I make the leaders of Judah As a hearth of fire among trees, And as a torch of fire in a sheaf, And they have consumed--on the right and on the left--all the peoples round about, And Jerusalem hath inhabited again her place in Jerusalem.
DARBYIn that day will I make the leaders of Judah like a hearth of fire among wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left; and Jerusalem shall dwell again in her own place, in Jerusalem.
BBEIn that day I will make the families of Judah like a pot with fire in it among trees, and like a flaming stick among cut grain; they will send destruction on all the peoples round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem will be living again in the place which is hers, that is, in Jerusalem.
WebsterIn that day will I make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people around, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.

What does Zechariah 12:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. On "governors of Judah," see on Zec 9:7. hearth--or pan. torch ... in a sheaf--Though small, it shall consume the many foes around. One prophet supplements the other. Thus Is 29:1-24; Joe 3:1-21; Zec 12:1-14:21, describe more Antichrist's army than himself. Daniel represents him as a horn growing out of the fourth beast or fourth kingdom; St. John, as a separate beast having an individual existence. Daniel dwells on his worldly conquests as a king; St. John, more on his spiritual tyranny, whence he adds a second beast, the false prophet coming in a semblance of spirituality. What is briefly described by one is more fully prophesied by the other [Roos].

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 Jerusalem shall be inhabited again - This seems to refer to the future conversion of the Jews, and their "return to their own land."

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 12:6 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.

בַּיּ֣וֹםbai.Yomon the dayH3117
הַה֡וּאha.Hu'<the> thatH1931
אָשִׂים֩'a.SimI will makeH7760
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אַלֻּפֵ֨י'a.lu.Fei[the] chiefs ofH441
יְהוּדָ֜הye.hu.DahJudahH3063
כְּֽכִיּ֧וֹרke.khi.Yorlike a pot ofH3595
אֵ֣שׁ'eshfireH784
בְּעֵצִ֗יםbe.'e.Tzimamong wood<s>H6086
וּכְלַפִּ֥ידu.khe.la.Pidand like a torch ofH3940
אֵשׁ֙'eshfireH784
בְּעָמִ֔ירbe.'a.Miramong cut grainH5995
וְאָ֨כְל֜וּve.'A.khe.Luand they will consumeH398
עַל\־'al-onH5921
יָמִ֧יןya.Min[the] right [side]H3225
וְעַל\־ve.'al-and onH5921
שְׂמֹ֛אולse.Mol[the] left [side]H8040
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הָעַמִּ֖יםha.'a.Mimthe peoplesH5971
סָבִ֑יבsa.Vivall aroundH5439
וְיָשְׁבָ֨הve.ya.she.Vahand it will remainH3427
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֥םye.ru.sha.LimJerusalemH3389
ע֛וֹדodagainH5750
תַּחְתֶּ֖יהָtach.Tei.hain place itsH8478
בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם\׃\ \פbi.ru.sha.Limin JerusalemH3389

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

Cross references for Zechariah 12:6

  • Obadiah 1:18

    And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it.

  • Zechariah 2:4

    And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:

  • Psalms 149:6-9

    Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.

  • Daniel 2:44-45

    And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

  • Micah 5:5-8

    And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

  • Nehemiah 11:1-36

    And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. Now these are the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, to wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon’s servants. And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez; …

  • Zechariah 14:10-11

    All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin’s gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king’s winepresses. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

  • Isaiah 41:15-16

    Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

  • Isaiah 54:3

    For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

  • Jeremiah 30:18

    Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

  • Zechariah 9:15

    The Lord of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.

  • Zechariah 8:3-5

    Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
like an hearth.
Isa 10:16,17; Ob 1:18; Re 20:9
they.
9:15; Ps 149:6-9; Isa 41:15,16; Da 2:34,35,44,45; Mic 4:13; 5:5-8
Re 19:19,20
on the right.
Isa 9:20; 54:3; 2Co 6:7
Jerusalem shall.
1:16; 2:4,12; 8:3-5; 14:10,11; Ne 11:1-36; Jer 30:18; 31:38-40
Eze 48:30-35

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Zechariah 12:7

    The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.

Read all of Zechariah 12

Zechariah 12:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
En aquel día pondré los capitanes de Judá como un brasero de fuego en leña, y como una hacha de fuego en gavillas; y consumirán á diestra y á siniestra todos los pueblos alrededor: y Jerusalem será otra vez habitada en su lugar, en Jerusalem.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
En ce jour-là, je rendrai les chefs de Juda semblables à un foyer de feu au milieu du bois et à une torche de feu dans une gerbe, et ils dévoreront à droite et à gauche tous les peuples d’alentour, et Jérusalem demeurera encore à sa place, à Jérusalem.
German
Elberfelder 1871
An jenem Tage werde ich die Fürsten von Juda machen gleich einem Feuerbecken unter Holzstücken und gleich einer Feuerfackel unter Garben; und sie werden zur Rechten und zur Linken alle Völker ringsum verzehren. Und fortan wird Jerusalem an seiner Stätte wohnen in Jerusalem.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
In die illa ponam duces Juda sicut caminum ignis in lignis, et sicut facem ignis in fœno: et devorabunt ad dexteram et ad sinistram omnes populos in circuitu, et habitabitur Jerusalem rursus in loco suo in Jerusalem.