Zechariah 2
International Children’s Bible
The Vision of the Measuring Line
2 Then I looked up. And I saw a man holding a line for measuring things. 2 I asked him, “Where are you going?”
He said to me, “I am going to measure Jerusalem. I will see how wide and how long it is.”
3 Then the angel who was talking with me left. And another angel came out to meet him. 4 The second angel said to him, “Run and tell that young man this: ‘Jerusalem will become a city without walls because there will be so many people and cattle in it. 5 I will be a wall of fire around it,’ says the Lord. ‘And I will be the glory within it.’
6 “Hurry! Run away from Babylon. I have scattered you in all directions,” says the Lord.
7 “Hurry, people of Jerusalem! Escape from Babylon.” 8 This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says: “Whoever hurts you hurts what is precious to me.”
So the Lord will honor me. And he will send me to speak against those nations who scattered you. 9 “I will raise my hand against them. Their slaves will rob them.”
Then you will know that the Lord of heaven’s armies sent me.
10 “Shout and be glad, Jerusalem. I am coming, and I will live among you,” says the Lord. 11 “At that time people from many nations will come to the Lord. And they will become my people. I will live among you. And you will know that the Lord of heaven’s armies has sent me to you. 12 Judah will be the Lord’s special part of the holy land. And Jerusalem will be his chosen city again. 13 Be silent, everyone. The Lord is coming out of the holy place where he lives.”
Zechariah 2
King James Version
2 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to 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 young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
5 For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lord.
7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me.
10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I 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 Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Zechariah 2
English Standard Version
A Vision of a Man with a Measuring Line
2 [a] And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, (A)a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, (B)“To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” 3 And behold, (C)the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him 4 and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, (D)‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited (E)as villages without walls, because of (F)the multitude of people and livestock in it. 5 And I will be to her (G)a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
6 Up! Up! (H)Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have (I)spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord. 7 (J)Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. 8 For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me[b] to the nations who plundered you, (K)for he who touches you touches (L)the apple of his eye: 9 “Behold, (M)I will shake my hand over them, (N)and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then (O)you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. 10 (P)Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for (Q)behold, I come (R)and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. 11 (S)And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. (T)And I will dwell in your midst, and (U)you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 12 (V)And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again (W)choose Jerusalem.”
13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.
Footnotes
- Zechariah 2:1 Ch 2:5 in Hebrew
- Zechariah 2:8 Or he sent me after glory
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
