Zechariah 12 2

Zechariah 12:2 kjv

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:2 nkjv

"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:2 niv

"I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem.

Zechariah 12:2 esv

"Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah.

Zechariah 12:2 nlt

I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah.

Zechariah 12 verses

Zechariah 12 2 Meaning

Zechariah 12:2 proclaims God's decisive future intervention concerning Jerusalem. The Lord declares He will transform Jerusalem into a potent "cup of staggering," which, when approached by surrounding nations in hostility, will cause their disorientation and ultimate downfall. Significantly, the verse adds a startling detail: Judah will also initially be involved "in the siege against Jerusalem," highlighting internal strife or a deceptive alliance before God's ultimate salvation.

Zechariah 12 2 Context

Zechariah 12:2 initiates a profound prophetic section (chapters 12-14) focusing on Jerusalem's future vindication and restoration. Coming after the return from Babylonian exile and initial temple rebuilding (Zech 1-8), Zechariah shifts perspective from immediate historical concerns to eschatological events. This specific verse sets the stage for a climactic global conflict where Jerusalem becomes the focal point of divine activity. The book primarily encourages the returned exiles to faithfulness, reminding them of God's covenant promises and ultimate plan for His people. Historically, Jerusalem consistently faced threats from surrounding peoples, making this prophecy resonate deeply with the original audience's vulnerabilities, even as it looks to a distant future. The 'oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel' (12:1) underscores the solemn and weighty nature of the revelations to follow.

Zechariah 12 2 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה, hinneh): This interjection serves to emphatically introduce a significant divine declaration or a momentous, impending event. It acts as a divine spotlight on the revelation.
• I am about to make (הִנְנִי עֹשֶׂה, hin'ni 'ośeh): Expresses God's imminent and determined action. "I" refers to Yahweh, the Lord of Hosts, highlighting His active sovereignty and intentional orchestration of future events. This is not passive observation, but divine decree.
• Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, yerūšālāyim): The literal city, but also symbolically represents the people of God, the center of God's dwelling and His covenantal promises. It is the earthly locus of divine-human interaction and future Messianic reign.
• A cup (כּוֹס, kôs): A recurring biblical metaphor for one's destiny, often specifically for suffering, judgment, or divine wrath (Isa 51:17, Jer 25:15).
• Of staggering (תַּרְעֵלָה, tar'ēlāh): Means giddiness, dizziness, reeling, stupor, disorientation. When used with "cup," it denotes the intoxicating, debilitating effect of divine judgment. For the nations, engaging Jerusalem will lead to confusion and weakness, like a drunkard who cannot stand.
• To all the surrounding peoples (לְכָל־הָעַמִּים סָבִיב, lĕḵāl-hā‘ammîm sāḇîḇ): Encompasses all Gentile nations in hostility around Jerusalem. This signifies a universal scope of the end-time conflict, not just local adversaries.
• Judah (יְהוּדָה, yəhûdāh): Refers to the people and territory of Judah, representing the broader Israelite nation, often distinct from the specific city of Jerusalem.
• Also (וְגַם, wəḡam): A critical conjunction here, signifying that Judah is included in the situation described, adding to the severity and complexity.
• Will be in the siege (יִהְיֶה בַמָּצוֹר, yihyeh bammaṣôr): Indicates Judah's participation or presence within the state of being besieged. Maṣor means siege, encirclement, or distress. This future tense verb suggests a certainty of this condition.
• Against Jerusalem (עַל יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, ‘al yerūšālāyim): The preposition 'al clearly signifies opposition or hostility against the target. This clause means Judah will either be aligned with the besieging nations or will itself be involved in besieging Jerusalem, a startling and debated aspect of the prophecy, pointing to deep internal division or tribulation.

Words-group analysis

• "Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering": This phrase declares God's sovereign and active role in shaping Jerusalem's destiny and its interaction with hostile nations. Jerusalem is not merely passive, but through God's action, becomes an instrument of judgment against its attackers, leading them into disoriented ruin.
• "to all the surrounding peoples": Emphasizes the global, collective nature of the forces opposing Jerusalem. It portends an ultimate, universal confrontation where many nations will fall under God's judgment as they come against His chosen city.
• "Judah also will be in the siege against Jerusalem": This is arguably the most surprising and debated part of the verse. It indicates an initial involvement of Judah on the side of those besieging Jerusalem. This could imply a profound national division, spiritual compromise, or an internal crisis that precedes God's ultimate salvation. It intensifies the gravity of Jerusalem's future tribulation, showing even internal strife before divine redemption.

Zechariah 12 2 Bonus section

• The "cup of staggering" imagery, rooted in ancient Near Eastern practices of intoxicating captives before execution, graphically portrays the nations' pre-ordained doom and the incapacitating effect God will have on them.
• Some scholars view "Judah also will be in the siege against Jerusalem" as a representation of all Israel, implying a unified rebellion or state of blindness before national repentance. Others understand it as a literal separation where Judah joins the gentile forces for a time before its own conversion. This highlights the severity and pervasive nature of the conflict.
• This verse provides an important context for the New Testament theme of Jesus as a "stumbling stone" (Isa 8:14, Mt 21:44, 1 Pet 2:8), as Jerusalem becomes an object that causes the ungodly to stumble and fall due to their opposition to God's plans.
• The use of hinneh ("Behold") and the active "I am about to make" emphasize God's absolute control over this unfolding drama, dismissing any notion of chance or merely human agency. He is the prime mover.

Zechariah 12 2 Commentary

Zechariah 12:2 unveils God's future strategy concerning Jerusalem and the nations. The Lord declares He will orchestrate a scenario where Jerusalem itself becomes a divinely charged, intoxicating "cup of staggering" for all surrounding nations. When these nations move against Jerusalem, their aggression will backfire, leading to their own disoriented self-destruction, rather than conquering the city. The prophecy is starkly highlighted by the seemingly paradoxical statement that even Judah will initially participate in this siege "against Jerusalem." This suggests a period of intense internal division or misguided allegiance, where God's people themselves are embroiled in the conflict against His chosen city. This sets the stage for God's ultimate intervention, purification, and the profound repentance described later in the chapter, demonstrating His control over all parties to bring about His eschatological purposes for Israel.