Zechariah 2
Contemporary English Version
Third Vision: A Measuring Line
2 This time I saw someone holding a measuring line, 2 and I asked, “Where are you going?”
“To measure Jerusalem,” was the answer. “To find out how wide and long it is.”
3 The angel who had spoken to me came toward me, when another angel came up to him 4 and said, “Hurry! Tell that man with the measuring line that Jerusalem won't have any boundaries. It will be too full of people and animals even to have a wall. 5 The Lord himself has promised to be a protective wall of fire surrounding Jerusalem, and he will be its shining glory in the heart of the city.”
A Call to Action
6 The Lord says to his people, “Run! Escape from the land in the north, where I scattered you to the four winds. 7 Leave Babylonia and hurry back to Zion.”
8 Then the glorious Lord All-Powerful ordered me to say to the nations that had raided and robbed Zion:
Zion is as precious to the Lord as are his eyes. Whatever you do to Zion, you do to him. 9 And so, he will put you in the power of your slaves, and they will raid and rob you. Then you will know that I am a prophet of the Lord All-Powerful.
10 City of Zion, sing and celebrate! The Lord has promised to come and live with you. 11 When he does, many nations will turn to him and become his people. At that time you will know that I am a prophet of the Lord All-Powerful. 12 Then Judah will be his part of the holy land, and Jerusalem will again be his chosen city.
13 Everyone, be silent!
The Lord is present
and moving about
in his holy place.
Zechariah 2
1599 Geneva Bible
2 The restoring of Jerusalem and Judah.
1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold, a [a]man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, that I may see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
3 And behold, the Angel that talked with me, went forth, and another Angel went out to meet him,
4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this [b]young man, and say, [c]Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls, for the multitude of men and cattle therein.
5 For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of [d]fire round about, and will [e]be the glory in the midst of her.
6 Ho, ho, come [f]forth, and flee from the land of the North, saith the Lord: for I have scattered you into the four [g]winds of the heaven, saith the Lord.
7 [h]Save thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babel.
8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, After this [i]glory hath he sent me unto the nations, which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you, toucheth the [j]apple of his eye.
9 For behold, I will lift up mine hand [k]upon them: and [l]they shall be a spoil to those that served them, and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath [m]sent me.
10 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter Zion: for lo, I come, and will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.
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.
12 And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
13 Let all flesh be still before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy place.
Footnotes
- Zechariah 2:1 This is the Angel who was Christ: for in respect of his office he is ofttimes called an Angel, but in respect of his eternal essence, is God, and so called.
- Zechariah 2:4 Meaning, himself Zechariah.
- Zechariah 2:4 Signifying the spiritual Jerusalem and Church under Christ, which should be extended by the Gospel through all the world, and should need no material walls, nor trust in any worldly strength, but should be safely preserved and dwell in peace among all their enemies.
- Zechariah 2:5 To defend my Church, to fear the enemies and to destroy them if they approach near.
- Zechariah 2:5 In me they shall have their full felicity and glory.
- Zechariah 2:6 He calleth to them, which partly for fear, and partly for their own case, remained still in captivity, and so preferred their own private commodities to the benefits of God promised in his Church.
- Zechariah 2:6 As it was I that scattered you, so have I power to restore you.
- Zechariah 2:7 By fleeing from Babylon, and coming to the Church.
- Zechariah 2:8 Seeing that God had begun to show his grace among you by delivering you, he continueth the same still toward you, and therefore sendeth me his Angel and his Christ to defend you from your enemies, that they shall not hurt you, neither by the way nor at home.
- Zechariah 2:8 Ye are so dear unto God, that he can no more suffer your enemies to hurt you, than a man can abide to be thrust in the eye, Ps. 17:8.
- Zechariah 2:9 Upon the heathen your enemies.
- Zechariah 2:9 They shall be your servants, as you have been theirs.
- Zechariah 2:9 This must necessarily be understood of Christ, who being God equal with his Father, was sent as he was Mediator to dwell in his Church and to govern them.
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