Zechariah 10 5

Zechariah 10:5 kjv

And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.

Zechariah 10:5 nkjv

They 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.

Zechariah 10:5 niv

Together they will be like warriors in battle trampling their enemy into the mud of the streets. They will fight because the LORD is with them, and they will put the enemy horsemen to shame.

Zechariah 10:5 esv

They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the LORD is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses.

Zechariah 10:5 nlt

They will be like mighty warriors in battle,
trampling their enemies in the mud under their feet.
Since the LORD is with them as they fight,
they will overthrow even the enemy's horsemen.

Zechariah 10 verses

Zechariah 10 5 Meaning

This verse describes God's divine empowerment of Judah, likening their soldiers to a cavalry that demolishes the enemy with contempt. It speaks of God granting them victory and restoring their strength.

Zechariah 10 5 Context

Zechariah's prophecy is set during the post-exilic period, with a focus on rebuilding Jerusalem and its temple. The nation of Judah had experienced severe judgment and exile due to their sin but now faces a renewed covenant and a promise of restoration. This chapter (Zechariah 10) specifically addresses the future restoration of Israel and Judah, contrasting their current vulnerability with their future divinely ordained strength. It calls for them to rely on God, not on false gods or human leadership, for victory and deliverance.

Zechariah 10 5 Word Analysis

• וּכְגִבּוֹרֵי (u·ke·gib·bo·rey): "And like heroes/mighty men." The particle "וּ" (u) signifies "and," connecting this image to the preceding promise. "גִּבּוֹרֵי" (gib·bo·rey) is the plural of "גִּבּוֹר" (gib·bor), meaning hero, warrior, mighty man. This highlights a powerful, seasoned fighting force.
• יְהוּדָה (Ye·hu·dah): "Judah." This refers specifically to the tribe and kingdom of Judah, representing God's chosen people.
• כְּאַנְשֵׁי (ke·’an·shey): "As men of." The preposition "כְּ" (ke) means "like" or "as." "אַנְשֵׁי" (’an·shey) is the construct form of "אִישׁ" (’ish), meaning "man," or more broadly, "people."
• חֵיל (cheyl): "Host/Army/Force." This word denotes a large military force, a regiment, or wealth and strength. Here, it specifically refers to a formidable army.
• וּמַרְכִּבֵי (u·mar·kivey): "And riders/charioteers." The "וּ" (u) again means "and." "מַרְכִּבֵי" (mar·kivey) is the construct plural of "רֹכֵב" (ro·chev), meaning "rider," or "מֶרְכָּבָה" (merk·a·vah), "chariot." It refers to cavalry, a powerful military asset in ancient warfare.
• רָכַב (ra·khav): "Who rode." This is the Qal perfect 3rd person masculine plural form of the verb "רָכַב" (ra·khav), meaning "to ride." It describes the action of riding, emphasizing movement and charge.
• יְשׁוּעָה (ye·shu·’ah): "Victory/Deliverance." From the root "יָשַׁע" (ya·sha), to save, deliver, rescue. This is the noun form signifying salvation or victory.
• בַּמִּלְחָמָה (bam·mil·cha·mah): "In the battle/war." The preposition "בְּ" (be) means "in." "מִלְחָמָה" (mil·cha·mah) means war or battle. This indicates the context of God's people in active conflict.
• וְיִרְעַץ (ve·yir·’atz): "And shall trample down/crush." The "וְ" (ve) means "and." "יִרְעַץ" (yir·’atz) is the Hiphil imperfect 3rd person masculine singular of the root "רָעַץ" (ra·’atz), meaning "to shatter, break, crush." This depicts a forceful, decisive victory where the enemy is utterly defeated.
• חֹצְצֵי (cho·tze·tsey): "The defenders/shields/bulwarks of." The construct plural of "חוֹצֵץ" (cho·tzez), which can mean one who partitions or defends, or a strong rampart or bulwark. It can also refer to those who hold shields.
• אֶפְרָיִם (’eph·ra·yim): "Ephraim." Often used as a representative term for the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Here, it could refer to the remnants of the northern tribes or symbolically encompass all Israel.
• וּקְשׁוֹת (u·qe·shot): "And bows." The "וּ" (u) means "and." "קְשׁוֹת" (qe·shot) is the plural of "קֶשֶׁת" (qe·sheth), meaning "bow." This points to the use of ranged weapons by the enemy.
• נִגְאָלִים (nig·’a·lim): "Polluted/despiled/defiled." This participle is from the root "גָּאַל" (ga·’al), meaning to be polluted or defiled. It suggests that the enemy or their actions were morally impure, making them fit for divine judgment.

Group by words-group analysis:

• "Like heroes... like men of war": This parallelism emphasizes the transformation of Judah from potentially a less formidable state into a potent military force through God's power.
• "riders upon war horses... shall trample down the horsemen": This vivid imagery showcases a complete inversion of military power, where Judah's mounted warriors overwhelm the enemy's cavalry, signifying an unexpected and overwhelming victory.
• "trample down... of Ephraim and bows of Benjamin": The mention of Ephraim and Benjamin might allude to internal strife or a specific historical conflict, but more broadly it can represent enemies or even apostate elements of Israel. The "bows" being crushed symbolizes the breaking of the enemy's primary offensive capability.
• "and all that force shall be trodden under foot": This concludes the depiction of absolute victory, showing the complete subjugation and destruction of the enemy's military might.

Zechariah 10 5 Bonus Section

This verse is part of a larger prophetic discourse where Zechariah is calling Israel to repentance and to trust in God's strength rather than in worldly alliances or their own abilities. The contrast between the former weakness and future strength highlights the theme of divine sovereignty and faithfulness to His covenant people. While often understood in a literal military sense for ancient Israel, the imagery can also be interpreted metaphorically within Christian theology to represent the spiritual victory believers have through Christ over sin and the forces of darkness. The ultimate fulfillment of such martial promises is often seen in Christ's victory on the cross and His coming reign. The verse contrasts sharply with pagan deities who were seen as warriors needing to be appeased; here, Yahweh Himself empowers His people, acting as the true divine warrior.

Zechariah 10 5 Commentary

Zechariah 10:5 is a powerful promise of God's intervention and empowerment for Judah. It foretells a time when God will grant His people overwhelming victory in battle. They will not be ordinary fighters, but will possess the strength and skill of seasoned warriors, even "heroes" and an "army." The image of riding war horses and trampling down enemy cavalry speaks to a decisive, crushing defeat inflicted upon their foes. This victory is not due to their own might, but from God, who transforms them into an unstoppable force. The enemies mentioned, like Ephraim and those with bows, represent those who oppose God's people and purpose. Ultimately, this verse assures Judah that God will not only deliver them from their enemies but will do so with overwhelming power, leading to total victory and a demonstration of His divine authority. This serves as a profound encouragement for a people who have experienced defeat and oppression.