Zechariah 10:7 kjv
And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD.
Zechariah 10:7 nkjv
Those 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.
Zechariah 10:7 niv
The Ephraimites will become like warriors, and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the LORD.
Zechariah 10:7 esv
Then Ephraim shall become like a mighty warrior, and their hearts shall be glad as with wine. Their children shall see it and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the LORD.
Zechariah 10:7 nlt
The people of Israel will become like mighty warriors,
and their hearts will be made happy as if by wine.
Their children, too, will see it and be glad;
their hearts will rejoice in the LORD.
Zechariah 10 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Neh 8:10 | ...for the joy of the LORD is your strength. | Joy from God directly results in strength. |
| Psa 18:32 | It is God who arms me with strength... | God as the source of human strength and victory. |
| Psa 33:21 | For our heart is glad in Him... | Joy anchored in trusting God. |
| Psa 104:15 | ...and wine that makes glad the heart of man. | Acknowledges wine's ability to gladden the heart. |
| Isa 11:13 | Ephraim shall not be jealous of Judah... | Prophecy of reunion and end of division for Israel. |
| Isa 12:6 | Cry aloud and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. | Joyful worship due to God's presence and greatness. |
| Isa 25:6 | ...a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine... | Wine symbolizes blessings and celebratory joy in God's kingdom. |
| Isa 60:1 | Arise, shine, for your light has come... | Calls Israel to strength and glory because of God's action. |
| Isa 65:18 | Be glad and rejoice forever in what I create... | Future joy and gladness established by God's creation. |
| Jer 31:12 | They shall come and sing aloud... their soul shall be like a well-watered garden. | Pictures the spiritual and physical flourishing of restored Israel. |
| Ezek 37:16-22 | ...I will join them, both Judah and Ephraim, to one stick... one king shall be king over them all. | The ultimate promise of the reunification of all Israel. |
| Hos 1:11 | ...and they shall appoint for themselves one head. | Further prophecy of Israel's future unity. |
| Joel 2:21 | Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done great things! | Assurance of future joy because of God's deeds. |
| Joel 3:10 | ...let the weak say, ‘I am a warrior.’ | God transforming the weak into strong through His power. |
| Hab 3:18 | Yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. | Profound joy in God despite difficult circumstances. |
| Php 4:4 | Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. | New Testament exhortation to continual, God-centered joy. |
| Php 4:13 | I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. | God empowering believers to accomplish His will. |
| Rom 14:17 | ...righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. | The Kingdom of God brings spiritual joy, not just external things. |
| Psa 22:31 | They shall come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn... | Future generations will acknowledge and witness God's work. |
| Psa 78:6 | That the next generation might know them... | The importance of passing God's truths to future generations. |
| Psa 16:11 | In Your presence there is fullness of joy... | The source of ultimate and lasting joy is God's presence. |
| 1 Pet 1:8 | Though you have not seen Him... you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy. | Believers experience inexpressible joy in their salvation through Christ. |
Zechariah 10 verses
Zechariah 10 7 Meaning
Zechariah 10:7 paints a vivid picture of restoration, empowerment, and profound joy for God's people, specifically Ephraim, representing the entirety of reunified Israel. The verse declares that they will regain formidable strength, becoming like mighty warriors. Their inner state will be transformed from weakness to exultation, experiencing a deep and uninhibited gladness akin to the invigorating effect of wine. Crucially, this divine blessing will extend beyond the current generation, as their children will witness God's transformative work, sharing in and inheriting this great joy, a joy fundamentally rooted in and directed towards the LORD Himself.
Zechariah 10 7 Context
Zechariah 10 is part of a series of prophecies (chapters 9-14) focusing on God's future deliverance and restoration of His people, contrasting their weakness and past failures with God's glorious intervention. Preceding this verse, Zechariah 10:2 warns against the folly of seeking guidance from idols ("teraphim") and diviners, emphasizing that reliance on such brings distress and scattering. The "shepherds" (leaders) who fail to guide God's flock are also condemned. Zechariah 10:3 then signals God's anger against these false leaders and His promise to care for His flock, Judah. Zechariah 10:4-5 highlight God raising up His own leaders and making His people triumphant in His strength. Therefore, verse 7 serves as a direct continuation and powerful promise of this restoration, especially for "Ephraim," which represents the formerly dispersed and divided Northern Kingdom of Israel. Historically, Judah had returned from Babylonian exile, but the larger, more dispersed Northern Kingdom (Ephraim) remained scattered. This prophecy speaks to a future, comprehensive reunification and spiritual revitalization, directly polemicizing against reliance on human strength, idolatry, or corrupt leadership, affirming that only God is the true source of their future strength, joy, and prosperity.
Zechariah 10 7 Word analysis
- And Ephraim (וְהָיָה אֶפְרַיִם - Wə-hāyâ 'Ephrayim): "Ephraim" historically denotes the dominant tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. In prophetic literature, "Ephraim" often refers to the entire Northern Kingdom, and here, by extension, represents all of dispersed Israel who would be reunited with Judah in the eschatological future. The initial "and" (wə) connects this promise directly to God's past intervention and future plans, signaling a continuation of the divine purpose of restoration.
- shall be like a mighty man (כַּגִּבֹּור - ka-gibbôr): The Hebrew word "gibbor" (גִּבֹּור) signifies a strong, valiant warrior, a hero, or a mighty one. This term contrasts sharply with the weakness and scattering mentioned earlier (Zech 10:2) and depicts a divinely empowered people. Their former frailty and humiliation will be replaced by significant spiritual and potentially physical prowess, indicative of victory and effectiveness.
- and their heart (וְשָׂמַח לִבָּם - wə-śāmach libbām): The "heart" (לֵבָב - levav) in biblical thought is the seat of intellect, emotion, will, and conscience. This implies a complete internal transformation, affecting their very being. It signifies a profound inner condition, not just external display.
- shall rejoice (שָׂמַח - samach): "Samach" (שָׂמַח) is a broad term for joy, gladness, or rejoicing. Here, it denotes deep-seated, fervent gladness that arises from their restored state and God's intervention.
- as through wine (כְּמוֹ יָיִן - kə-mō yāyin): This is a powerful simile. Wine (יָיִן - yayin) is associated with celebration and can cause exuberance, boldness, and freedom from inhibition (Psa 104:15). The comparison suggests an overflowing, unrestrained, and deeply satisfying joy. Importantly, it signifies the intensity and effects of joy, rather than the act of physical drunkenness. The joy is not intoxicating in a negative sense, but intensely liberating and animating.
- yes, their children (וּבְנֵיהֶם - ū-vənêhem): Refers to the descendants or the next generation. This highlights the lasting and trans-generational nature of God's blessing. The future continuity of God's covenantal promises is ensured.
- shall see it (יִרְאוּ - yir'û): They will literally witness the restored strength and joy of their parents and community. This seeing signifies understanding, experience, and confirmation of God's faithfulness.
- and be glad (וְשָׂמֵחוּ - wə-śāmēḥû): Similar to "rejoice," reiterates the response of joy upon witnessing the divine blessing. This is a communal, shared gladness.
- their heart shall rejoice in the LORD (לִבָּם יָגִיל בַּיהוָה׃ - libbām yāgîl ba-YHWH): This is the culmination and true essence of the joy. "Yagil" (יָגִיל) is another strong word for rejoicing, often implying triumph or ecstatic delight. The critical element is "in the LORD" (בַּיהוָה - ba-YHWH), emphasizing that YHWH, the covenant God, is both the source and the object of their joy. Their joy is not self-derived, or solely from worldly prosperity, but fundamentally flows from and centers upon their relationship with their faithful God. This distinguishes it from fleeting carnal joy.
Zechariah 10 7 Bonus section
- This verse embodies the "divine warrior" motif, where God makes His people strong as if they are the warriors, through His power residing within them, not their inherent might.
- The "joy as through wine" metaphor implicitly rejects a purely legalistic or dour spirituality, affirming that godly joy can be vibrant and unrestrained, though always within the boundaries of God's character and directed towards Him.
- The re-empowerment of Ephraim holds significant eschatological implications, hinting at the future, literal regathering and spiritual restoration of the ten tribes alongside Judah, before the Messianic era. It connects to the theme of Israel becoming God's instrument in the world.
- The double mention of "rejoice" (שָׂמַח, יָגִיל) underlines the absolute certainty and overflowing nature of this future gladness, moving from a general sense of happiness to an ecstatic, triumphal delight.
Zechariah 10 7 Commentary
Zechariah 10:7 serves as a radiant prophecy of divine transformation for God's scattered people, particularly highlighting Ephraim. It promises not merely external strength but an internal revitalization, marked by a joy so profound and uninhibited it's compared to the effect of wine. This comparison emphasizes the vivacity and exuberance of their spiritual joy, which sets them apart from the despondency of their past. This transformation is entirely God's doing, enabling His people to function as "mighty men" – empowered agents of His will, capable of overcoming adversity, much like true spiritual warriors. The inclusion of "their children" witnessing this renewal signifies the enduring and generational nature of God's covenant blessings; the future lineage will partake in and affirm this glorious work. Most critically, the verse clarifies the origin and object of this joy: it is "in the LORD." This is not a superficial happiness but a deep, enduring delight derived from their restored relationship with YHWH, marking a decisive shift from seeking solace in false gods or foreign alliances (Zech 10:2). Their strength will come from Him, and their gladness will be focused on Him, distinguishing this divine joy from carnal revelry or temporary pleasures. It anticipates the eschatological ingathering of God's people, imbued with spiritual vitality and purpose through His indwelling presence.