Zechariah10
New King James Version
1Ask the Lord for rain In the time of the latter rain. The Lord will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.
2For the idols speak delusion; The diviners envision lies, And tell false dreams; They comfort in vain. Therefore the people wend their way like sheep; They are in trouble because there is no shepherd.
3“My anger is kindled against the shepherds, And I will punish the goatherds. For the Lord of hosts will visit His flock, The house of Judah, And will make them as His royal horse in the battle.
4From him comes the cornerstone, From him the tent peg, From him the battle bow, From him every ruler together.
5They shall be like mighty men, Who tread down their enemies In the mire of the streets in the battle. They shall fight because the Lord is with them, And the riders on horses shall be put to shame.
6“I will strengthen the house of Judah, And I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back, Because I have mercy on them. They shall be as though I had not cast them aside; For I am the Lord their God, And I will hear them.
7Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, And their heart shall rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; Their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.
8I will whistle for them and gather them, For I will redeem them; And they shall increase as they once increased.
9“I will sow them among the peoples, And they shall remember Me in far countries; They shall live, together with their children, And they shall return.
10I will also bring them back from the land of Egypt, And gather them from Assyria. I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon, Until no more room is found for them.
11He shall pass through the sea with affliction, And strike the waves of the sea: All the depths of the River shall dry up. Then the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, And the scepter of Egypt shall depart.
12“So I will strengthen them in the Lord, And they shall walk up and down in His name,” Says the Lord.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Zechariah 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Blessings to be sought from the Lord. (1–5). God will restore his people. (6–12).
vv1-5
Spiritual blessings had been promised under figurative allusions to earthly plenty. Seasonable rain is a great mercy, which we may ask of God when there is most need of it, and we may look for it to come. We must in our prayers ask for mercies in their proper time. The Lord would make bright clouds, and give showers of rain. This may be an exhortation to seek the influences of the Holy Spirit, in faith and by prayer, through which the blessings held forth in the promises are obtained and enjoyed. The prophet shows the folly of making addresses to idols, as their fathers had done. The Lord visited the remnant of his flock in mercy, and was about to renew their courage and strength for conflict and victory. Every creature is to us what God makes it to be. Every one raised to support the nation, as a corner-stone does the building, or to unite those that differ, as nails join the different timbers, must come from the Lord; and those employed to overcome their enemies, must have strength and success from him. This may be applied to Christ; to him we must look to raise up persons to unite, support, and defend his people. He never will say, Seek ye me in vain.
vv6-12
Here are precious promises to the people of God, which look to the state of the Jews, and even to the latter days of the church. Preaching the gospel is God's call for souls to come to Jesus Christ. Those whom Christ redeemed by his blood, God will gather by his grace. Difficulties shall be got over easily, and effectually, as those in the way of the deliverance out of Egypt. God himself will be their strength, and their song. When we resist, and so overcome our spiritual enemies, then our hearts shall rejoice. If God strengthen us, we must bestir ourselves in all the duties of the Christian life, must be active in the work of God; and we must do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Key Words
שָׁאַל: to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand
מָטַר: rain
עֵת: time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.
מַלְקוֹשׁ: the spring rain; figuratively, eloquence
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
חֲזִיז: a flash of lightning
נָתַן: to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
גֶּשֶׁם: a shower
אִישׁ: a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
עֶשֶׂב: grass (or any tender shoot)
Cross References
Zechariah 10Poole and JFB connect the promise of the 'latter rain' to this well-known Hosea passage.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The connection of teraphim (idols) and lack of spiritual leadership in Israel's history.
Supported by JFB
Poole and JFB compare Zechariah's 'goats' with Ezekiel's judgment of the pushy rams and he-goats.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
JFB notes that 'corners' here, as in Samuel, metaphorically denotes chief rulers or governors.
Supported by JFB
JFB compares the 'nail' in Zechariah to the secure peg on which national glory hangs.
Supported by JFB
JFB associates the seasonal expectation of 'latter rain' with Job's description of hope.
Supported by JFB
JFB connects the false comforters and vain dreams to Job's description of 'comfort in vain'.
Supported by JFB
JFB relates the scattering of sheep without a shepherd to Ezekiel's extensive indictment.
Supported by JFB
JFB links the visitation of the flock in Zechariah to the messianic visitation of Luke.
Supported by JFB
Poole and JFB note the shift from sheepish weakness to the military courage shown in chapter 9.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
JFB links asking Jehovah for rain to Jeremiah's declaration that only God can give showers.
Supported by JFB
Poole details the Hebrew terms for lightning and rain by cross-referencing Job's storm imagery.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Poole mentions the specific judgments on false leaders and 'goats' by cross-referencing Jeremiah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
JFB typologically associates the scattered shepherdless flock with the disciples forsaking Jesus.
Supported by JFB