Zechariah 10:11 kjv
And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.
Zechariah 10:11 nkjv
He 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.
Zechariah 10:11 niv
They will pass through the sea of trouble; the surging sea will be subdued and all the depths of the Nile will dry up. Assyria's pride will be brought down and Egypt's scepter will pass away.
Zechariah 10:11 esv
He shall pass through the sea of troubles and strike down the waves of the sea, and all the depths of the Nile shall be dried up. The pride of Assyria shall be laid low, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart.
Zechariah 10:11 nlt
They will pass safely through the sea of distress,
for the waves of the sea will be held back,
and the waters of the Nile will dry up.
The pride of Assyria will be crushed,
and the rule of Egypt will end.
Zechariah 10 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 14:21-22 | Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea…and the Lord made the sea dry land and divided the waters. | God divides the Red Sea. |
| Ex 14:27-28 | The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen…not even one of them remained. | God overwhelms Egyptian army. |
| Isa 11:11 | The Lord will extend His hand yet a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, Egypt… | Prophecy of a second, greater return. |
| Isa 11:15-16 | And the Lord will utterly dry up the tongue of the Sea of Egypt...He will divide it into seven channels... | Drying waters for return pathway. |
| Isa 43:16 | Thus says the Lord, who makes a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, | God's power to create a path. |
| Isa 43:17 | Who brings forth the chariot and horse, the army and power…they are extinguished, snuffed out like a wick. | Destruction of oppressors. |
| Jer 23:7-8 | They shall no longer say, 'As the Lord lives who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt,' but, 'As the Lord lives who brought up the sons of Israel from the north land…' | Greater future deliverance than Exodus. |
| Eze 37:21 | I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side… | God's worldwide regathering. |
| Hos 11:11 | They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria. | Future return from Egypt and Assyria. |
| Mic 7:15 | As in the days when you came forth from the land of Egypt, I will show you miracles. | God's future miraculous acts of salvation. |
| Zech 9:10 | And He will speak peace to the nations; and His dominion will be from sea to sea… | Context of Messianic King's rule. |
| Psa 77:19-20 | Your way was in the sea, and Your paths in the mighty waters…You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. | God's leadership through Red Sea. |
| Nah 1:4 | He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; He dries up all the rivers. Bashan withers, Carmel and the flower of Lebanon wither. | God's universal power over creation. |
| Job 9:8 | Who alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea; | God's absolute power. |
| Rev 16:12 | The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates; and its water was dried up… | Symbolic drying of water for divine purpose. |
| Jn 6:19 | When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat… | Jesus' divine power over waters. |
| Col 2:15 | When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him. | Christ's victory over spiritual foes. |
| Eph 4:8 | When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives… | Christ's triumph over death/powers. |
| Zech 10:10 | For I will bring them back from the land of Egypt and gather them from Assyria… | Immediate preceding verse, re-gathering theme. |
| Isa 51:10 | Was it not You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway for the redeemed to cross over? | God's power to make a path. |
| Psa 89:9 | You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them. | God's dominion over the sea. |
| Isa 27:1 | In that day the Lord will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent…and He will slay the dragon that lives in the sea. | Victory over symbolic enemies/powers. |
Zechariah 10 verses
Zechariah 10 11 Meaning
Zechariah 10:11 prophesies a powerful, divinely orchestrated return of God's people from exile, particularly from regions associated with their historical oppressors, Egypt and Assyria. It depicts the Lord as performing an act reminiscent of the Exodus, conquering all obstacles – symbolized by seas and rivers – and humbling the proud powers that had enslaved or dominated His people. This verse signifies God's sovereign ability to break down any barrier and dismantle any human or spiritual opposition to fully restore His scattered flock.
Zechariah 10 11 Context
Zechariah 10 is part of a prophetic section (chapters 9-14) focusing on future events concerning God's people, including the coming of the Messiah, judgment on surrounding nations, and the ultimate restoration and cleansing of Israel. Chapter 10 itself primarily deals with the Lord's care for His "flock" (Israel/Judah), contrasting Himself as the true shepherd with false leaders (10:2-3) and promising to make Judah strong like a warhorse and bless Ephraim (10:3-7). Verse 10 explicitly states the intention to gather them from Egypt and Assyria, signifying a worldwide return. Verse 11 powerfully amplifies how this return will happen: by divine intervention, overcoming immense obstacles, evoking the imagery of the first Exodus. It foreshadows a comprehensive restoration, enabling the Lord to lead His people back into their land, reinforcing the themes of divine power and Israel's renewed strength under God's hand.
Zechariah 10 11 Word analysis
- And he shall pass through (וְעָבַר - ve'avar): From the root עָבַר (‘avar), meaning "to pass over, through, by." Here, it signifies divine movement, an active and powerful passing through a difficult barrier, not merely skirting it. It conveys an unstoppable progress initiated by God Himself, echoing God's "passing over" during the Passover or leading through the Red Sea.
- the sea of affliction (בַּיָּם צָרָה - ba-yam tzarah): Literally, "in the sea, affliction." Yam (יָם) means "sea," specifically often the Red Sea in Exodus contexts or large bodies of water. Tzarah (צָרָה) means "distress, trouble, anguish, tribulation." This phrase describes the sea itself as a symbol of overwhelming distress or a barrier characterized by suffering. It signifies any massive, oppressive obstacle, whether geographical, political, or spiritual.
- and strike (וְהִכָּה - ve-hikkah): From the Hiphil of נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike, smite, attack, destroy." It implies decisive and forceful action. God Himself directly confronting and conquering the obstacle.
- the waves (גַּלִּים - gallim): Plural of גַּל (gal), meaning "wave" or "billow." Waves often symbolize powerful, uncontrollable forces or overwhelming enemies (Psa 93:3-4, Jer 51:42). God's action against the waves demonstrates His mastery over chaotic forces.
- in the sea (בַּיָּם - ba-yam): Reinforces the location of this divine conquest, within the very source of the 'waves' and 'affliction.'
- and all the depths (כָּל־מַשְׁבַּי - kol-mashbei): Kol (כָּל) means "all." Mashbei (מַשְׁבַּי), plural of מַשְׁבֵּר (mashber), meaning "birth pangs" or "breaker." In the context of water, it can mean channels, springs, or depths of the river where it 'breaks' or turns. Some interpretations suggest 'overflows' or 'channels.' Here it implies the very lifeblood or sustaining power of the Nile.
- of the Nile (יְאֹר - ye'or): Specifically refers to the Nile River, the life source of Egypt. Its drying up symbolizes the utter humbling and defeat of Egyptian power and influence. It's a direct reference back to the Exodus plagues where the Nile was affected (Ex 7:19-21) and God's overall control over Egyptian vitality.
- shall dry up (וְיִבְשׁוּ - ve-yivshu): From the root יָבֵשׁ (yabesh), meaning "to be dry, withered, ashamed." The drying up signifies the complete removal of power and a source of life for an oppressive nation, rendering it impotent.
- and the pride (גְּאוֹן - ge'on): Meaning "pride, majesty, excellency, arrogance, swelling." It denotes the formidable power, self-exaltation, and imperialistic haughtiness of a nation.
- of Assyria (אַשּׁוּר - Ashshur): Refers to the Assyrian Empire, a powerful nation that historically oppressed Israel and Judah (e.g., Isa 10:12). Its pride was particularly noted in prophetic writings (Isa 10:12-14).
- shall come down (וְהוּרַד - ve-hurad): From the Hophal of יָרַד (yarad), "to go down, descend," here in the passive, "be brought down, be humiliated." It emphasizes divine agency in bringing about the downfall of this oppressive power.
- and the scepter (וְשֵׁבֶט - ve-shevet): Meaning "rod, staff, tribe, scepter." Here it signifies the authority, rule, or military might of a nation.
- of Egypt (מִצְרַיִם - Mitzrayim): Refers to Egypt, another dominant power and source of historical oppression and temptation for Israel.
- shall depart (יָסוּר - yasur): From the root סוּר (sur), meaning "to turn aside, depart, remove, take away." This signifies the complete removal or cessation of Egypt's power or ability to influence/oppress.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And he shall pass through the sea of affliction and strike the waves in the sea": This powerfully evokes the Red Sea crossing (Ex 14), portraying God as actively engaging with and subduing the very obstacles that represent Israel's distress and captivity. It suggests divine leadership through impossible conditions.
- "and all the depths of the Nile shall dry up": A specific reference to Egypt and a challenge to its very existence and the pagan deities associated with the Nile (e.g., Hapi, Osiris). This signifies the drying up of Egyptian power, resources, and influence, making it a defeated nation, much like the plagues against Egypt in Exodus.
- "and the pride of Assyria shall come down and the scepter of Egypt shall depart": These two phrases emphasize the comprehensive dismantling of the power and arrogance of Israel's major historical oppressors. Assyria represents the oppressive power from the north/east, and Egypt from the south/west. Their humbling ensures Israel's secure return and freedom, polemicizing against their gods and asserting Yahweh's supremacy.
Zechariah 10 11 Bonus section
- New Exodus Theme: The imagery in Zechariah 10:11 is a clear example of the "New Exodus" motif in biblical prophecy, signifying that God's future redemptive work for Israel will surpass the historical Exodus in glory and scope. This divine act will be a grand demonstration of power over both nature and world powers.
- Divine Polemic: By drying up the Nile and bringing down the pride of nations, Zechariah directly challenges the idols and perceived might of the world powers. The drying of the Nile (related to the Egyptian deity Hapi) and the humbling of proud Assyria are profound statements that the God of Israel reigns supreme over all other gods and human authority.
- Comprehensive Restoration: The mention of Egypt and Assyria, historically the primary spheres of Israel's scattering, symbolizes a complete and universal gathering of all of God's people, regardless of where they are dispersed. It's not limited to specific geographical regions but covers all who belong to the Lord.
Zechariah 10 11 Commentary
Zechariah 10:11 portrays God as the divine warrior, echoing the triumphs of the first Exodus, but applying them to a future, even more profound, regathering. The verse is not merely a historical allusion but a prophetic promise of a "New Exodus," wherein God will supernaturally clear the way for His scattered people to return. The "sea of affliction," the "waves," and the "Nile" represent all insurmountable barriers—whether geographic, political, or spiritual—that stand between God's people and their destined place. The "pride of Assyria" and the "scepter of Egypt" symbolize the arrogance and authority of all human empires that have opposed God's will and oppressed His chosen ones. God's action against these powers asserts His absolute sovereignty over nations and natural elements. This is not a partial victory but a complete subjugation of all forces inimical to His plan of salvation and restoration. The ultimate fulfillment points to the future kingdom when Christ triumphs over all earthly opposition and gathers His elect from every corner of the earth.