Zechariah 10 9

Zechariah 10:9 kjv

And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.

Zechariah 10:9 nkjv

"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.

Zechariah 10:9 niv

Though I scatter them among the peoples, yet in distant lands they will remember me. They and their children will survive, and they will return.

Zechariah 10:9 esv

Though I scattered them among the nations, yet in far countries they shall remember me, and with their children they shall live and return.

Zechariah 10:9 nlt

Though I have scattered them like seeds among the nations,
they will still remember me in distant lands.
They and their children will survive
and return again to Israel.

Zechariah 10 verses

Zechariah 10 9 Meaning

Zechariah 10:9 speaks of God's sovereign act of dispersing His people, Israel, among the Gentile nations not for abandonment, but with a divine purpose. Even in their scattered state, they are promised to remember their covenant with God and His faithfulness. This remembrance signifies a turning back to Him, which then enables their physical survival, the continuity of their lineage through their children, and ultimately, their prophesied return from distant lands to their own dwelling place.

Zechariah 10 9 Context

Zechariah 10 is part of the book's second major prophetic section (chapters 9-14), which transitions from focusing on rebuilding the temple to foretelling the coming of the Messiah and the glorious future of God's people. Chapter 10 specifically deals with the restoration of Israel, portraying God as the true Shepherd who will gather His scattered flock, contrasting Himself with false leaders who are condemned earlier in the chapter. Verse 9 elaborates on God's method of restoration: the dispersion (sowing) among nations will lead to their remembering God, resulting in their preservation and ultimate return. This verse envisions a restoration far grander and more extensive than the initial return from Babylonian exile, pointing to a future, global ingathering of all Israel.

Zechariah 10 9 Word analysis

• And I will sow them (וְזְרַעְתִּים, wəzəra‘tîm): The verb "sow" (zara') is used here by God, indicating a deliberate, sovereign action. It is not a random scattering but a purposeful planting. Just as a farmer scatters seeds with the intention of a future harvest, God disperses Israel with a view toward their eventual gathering and spiritual fruitfulness. This imagery implies God's continued involvement and care, even in their discipline. It signifies both judgment (scattering for disobedience) and grace (a plan for future growth and restoration, preventing utter destruction).
• among the peoples (בָעַמִּים, vā‘ammîm): Refers to the Gentile nations. This signifies the wide extent of Israel's dispersion across the known world, beyond merely neighboring countries. It highlights the universality of God's dominion and the global reach of His disciplinary and restorative acts.
• and they shall remember Me (זָכְרוּנִי, zāḵərûnî): The Hebrew verb zakhar means "to remember," but in a biblical context, it implies more than mere recall; it means to call to mind with a view to action, to actively respond to a covenant relationship. This remembrance of God points to spiritual repentance, a turning from sin and a return to faithfulness, recognizing God's sovereignty and His past covenant mercies. It is the crucial spiritual prerequisite for their physical restoration.
• in far countries (אֶרֶץ מֶרְחַק, ʾereṣ merḥaq): Literally "land of distance." This emphasizes the profound and prolonged nature of their exile and dispersion. Despite being far removed geographically and culturally from their homeland and temple, the memory of God and His covenant persists within them.
• and they shall live with their children (וְחָיוּ אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם, wəḥāyû ʾeṯ-bənêhem): This promises the continuity of their physical existence and lineage, even through generations of dispersion. It assures survival, demonstrating God's preservation of a remnant against all odds. It emphasizes the family unit as the bearer of the covenant hope, ensuring that the covenant promises are passed down through progeny, enabling their eventual return as a coherent people.
• and return (וְשָׁבוּ, wəšāḇû): The verb shuv means "to return" or "to turn back." In its broadest biblical sense, it signifies both a physical return to the land and a spiritual return (repentance) to God. Here, it encompasses both, indicating a complete restoration—spiritual alignment with God leading to a physical ingathering to their homeland. This final step completes the divine cycle initiated by their dispersal.
• "I will sow them among the peoples, and they shall remember Me": This phrase highlights God's sovereignty. He initiates the scattering (judgment and preservation), and He also supernaturally influences their spiritual state ("remember Me"). This is not simply a human act of reflection, but a divinely enabled turning of the heart back to Him amidst hardship.
• "they shall remember Me...and they shall live...and return": This sequence reveals God's restorative process: dispersion, leading to spiritual awakening/remembrance, resulting in sustained life even in exile, and culminating in a full restoration to their land. The survival and return are direct consequences of their renewed spiritual alignment with God.

Zechariah 10 9 Bonus section

The "sowing" image also carries a nuance of multiplication and expansion, suggesting that Israel, though scattered, would not diminish but would survive and potentially grow among the nations, carrying the witness of God, even indirectly. This verse underscores that God's plan is not one of simple judgment but of redemptive purpose; He works through hardship to bring about a deeper covenant relationship and a more glorious restoration than if the scattering had not occurred. It reveals God as active in history, directing both judgment and grace to fulfill His overarching covenantal purposes for His people. This promise is echoed in Christian theology, which recognizes Christ as the ultimate shepherd gathering the dispersed, and views the ongoing existence of the Jewish people throughout history as a tangible testimony to this very divine promise of preservation and eventual return.

Zechariah 10 9 Commentary

Zechariah 10:9 is a pivotal prophecy revealing God's multi-faceted purpose in the dispersion of Israel. Far from abandoning His chosen people, God orchestrates their scattering among the nations as a form of discipline and preservation, much like seeds are scattered to propagate and eventually bear fruit. This dispersion serves to deepen their future remembrance of Him, which is not merely a cognitive recollection but a transformative turning back in repentance and faith. Amidst their exile, God assures their survival, guaranteeing the continuity of their families and generations, a testament to His unbreakable covenant promises. This period of diaspora culminates in their ultimate, global return, which is predicated on this spiritual awakening and physical preservation, signaling the fulfillment of His steadfast commitment to restore His flock to their land and to Himself.