Zechariah 12

King James Version

Full text for Zechariah Chapter 12

1¶ The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

2Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah [and] against Jerusalem.

3And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

4In 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.

5And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem [shall be] my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.

6In 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.

7The 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.

8In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David [shall be] as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.

9¶ And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

10And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.

11In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

12And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

13The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;

14All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Zechariah 12 declares the Lord's promise to defend Jerusalem against all nations, making it an unmovable burden to its attackers. God will empower Judah's leaders and inhabitants, ensuring their victory and the destruction of their enemies. Following this deliverance, the Lord will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication, leading to a profound national mourning for the one they have pierced.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with the Lord, as the Creator, announcing a burden concerning Israel. He declares that Jerusalem will become a 'cup of trembling' and a 'burdensome stone' for all nations that gather against it, leading to their destruction. The Lord promises to smite the horses and riders of the enemy with confusion and blindness, while opening His eyes upon Judah. He will empower the governors of Judah to be like a 'hearth of fire' among their foes, and even the feeble among Jerusalem's inhabitants will become mighty. The Lord will save Judah first, and then defend Jerusalem, utterly destroying all nations that attack it. This divine intervention will be followed by the pouring out of a spirit of grace and supplications upon the house of David and Jerusalem's inhabitants, causing them to look upon the Lord whom they have pierced and mourn deeply, as for an only son.

Long Summary

Zechariah 12 begins with a solemn declaration from the Lord, the Creator of the heavens, earth, and human spirit, concerning Israel. He prophesies that in a future day, Jerusalem will become a 'cup of trembling' to all surrounding peoples during a siege against both Judah and Jerusalem. Furthermore, Jerusalem will be made a 'burdensome stone' for all nations, and any who attempt to lift it will be cut in pieces, even if all the peoples of the earth gather against it. The Lord promises to strike the enemy's horses with astonishment and their riders with madness, while granting clear sight and protection to the house of Judah. The governors of Judah will be supernaturally empowered, becoming like a 'hearth of fire' that devours all the surrounding peoples, ensuring Jerusalem is re-inhabited in its own place. The Lord will save the tents of Judah first, preventing the glory of David's house and Jerusalem's inhabitants from overshadowing Judah. On that day, the Lord will defend Jerusalem's inhabitants, making the feeble among them as strong as David, and the house of David as mighty as God or the angel of the Lord. The chapter culminates with the Lord's promise to destroy all nations that come against Jerusalem, followed by a profound spiritual transformation. He will pour out a 'spirit of grace and of supplications' upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, causing them to look upon the Lord whom they have pierced. This recognition will lead to an intense, widespread mourning, likened to grieving for an only son or firstborn, and compared to the great mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. The lamentation will be deeply personal, with every family and their wives mourning separately, including the families of David, Nathan, Levi, and Shimei, signifying a comprehensive national repentance.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Sovereignty and ProtectionThe chapter opens by establishing the Lord as the Creator of all things, emphasizing His ultimate authority and power to defend Israel and Jerusalem against all adversaries.
  • Jerusalem's InvincibilityThe Lord declares Jerusalem will become a 'cup of trembling' and a 'burdensome stone' for all nations that attack it, leading to their utter destruction and the city's secure re-establishment.
  • Empowerment of JudahGod promises to supernaturally strengthen Judah's leaders and inhabitants, making them formidable defenders like a 'hearth of fire' and transforming the feeble into mighty warriors.
  • Spirit of Grace and SupplicationThe Lord will pour out a divine spirit of favor and prayer upon the house of David and Jerusalem, leading to a spiritual awakening and deep repentance among the people.
  • Mourning for the Pierced OneThe people will look upon the Lord, whom they have pierced, and engage in a profound, bitter mourning, likened to grieving for an only son or firstborn, signifying a deep national sorrow and recognition.
  • Widespread LamentationA great and individual mourning will spread throughout the land, with every family and their wives mourning separately, reflecting a comprehensive and personal repentance across all societal strata.