Zechariah 12:4 kjv
In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
Zechariah 12:4 nkjv
In that day," says the LORD, "I will strike every horse with confusion, and its rider with madness; I will open My eyes on the house of Judah, and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.
Zechariah 12:4 niv
On that day I will strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness," declares the LORD. "I will keep a watchful eye over Judah, but I will blind all the horses of the nations.
Zechariah 12:4 esv
On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.
Zechariah 12:4 nlt
"On that day," says the LORD, "I will cause every horse to panic and every rider to lose his nerve. I will watch over the people of Judah, but I will blind all the horses of their enemies.
Zechariah 12 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:28 | The Lord will strike you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind. | Divine judgment includes mental incapacitation. |
| Judg 7:22 | When they blew the three hundred trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow... | God creates internal enemy confusion. |
| 1 Sam 14:20 | Saul and all the men with him rallied... they saw the Philistines... in total confusion, striking each other down. | Divine panic among foes. |
| 2 Kgs 6:18 | And when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, "Please strike this people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness... | God uses blindness as a weapon. |
| Isa 19:14 | The Lord has poured into her a spirit of confusion... they make Egypt stagger in all its deeds, like a drunkard staggers in his vomit. | God bewilders nations. |
| Isa 29:10 | For the Lord has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, the seers. | God inflicts spiritual/mental blindness. |
| Isa 43:17 | ...who brought forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lay down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished... | God utterly destroys enemy cavalry. |
| Jer 32:20 | ...for they are to this day as signs and wonders in Israel and among mankind, by which You made Yourself a name... | God's powerful acts create enduring renown. |
| Ezek 38:15 | And you will come from your place out of the remotest parts of the north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great throng, a mighty army. | Nations gathering with horses against Israel. |
| Joel 3:18 | "And in that day The mountains will drip new wine... and springs of water will flow out of the house of the Lord..." | "In that day" points to eschatological blessings. |
| Zech 14:1 | Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. | "A day is coming for the Lord" theme. |
| Ps 20:7 | Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. | Contrasts human military might with divine power. |
| Ps 33:18 | Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love... | God's eyes watch over His people. |
| Ps 34:15 | The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry. | Divine attentiveness to the faithful. |
| Ps 121:3-4 | He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. | God is a vigilant protector. |
| 2 Chr 16:9 | For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is fully committed to Him. | God actively seeks to strengthen His loyal. |
| Zech 9:8 | Then I will encamp at My house as a guard, so that no one will pass through or return... For now I will watch with My eyes. | God's direct protection and watchfulness. |
| Gal 4:4-5 | But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son... so that He might redeem those who were under the Law... | "Fullness of time" links to divine timing. |
| Rev 19:19-21 | And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse... | Eschatological battle against Christ and His armies. |
| Rev 6:12-14 | ...great earthquake... sun became black... moon like blood... stars fell... and every mountain and island were removed from their places. | Cosmic disruption at the "Day of the Lord." |
| Joel 2:31 | The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. | Cosmic signs before the great "Day of the Lord." |
Zechariah 12 verses
Zechariah 12 4 Meaning
Zechariah 12:4 describes the Lord's divine intervention and judgment upon the nations that gather against Jerusalem in a future "Day of the Lord." In this day, God Himself will take action to disable the military power of the enemy forces, striking their cavalry with panic and their riders with madness and blindness, rendering them confused and ineffective. Simultaneously, He will demonstrate active protection and favor towards Judah and Jerusalem, watching over them with an attentive eye, ensuring their safety and victory against their adversaries. This signifies a profound contrast between divine judgment on the oppressors and divine vigilance for His chosen people.
Zechariah 12 4 Context
Zechariah chapter 12 introduces a critical prophetic vision concerning the city of Jerusalem. It foretells a future time when Jerusalem will become a "cup of staggering" to all surrounding peoples and an "immovable boulder" for all nations (Zech 12:2-3). This suggests an ultimate, decisive confrontation where numerous nations will gather against the city. Zechariah 12:4 is an integral part of the Lord's immediate response and strategy in this eschatological conflict. It immediately follows the declaration that Jerusalem will be protected, emphasizing the Lord's active role as defender. The chapter then shifts to describe the lament of Israel over the One they have pierced (Zech 12:10), indicating a profound spiritual turning point tied to this physical deliverance. Historically, post-exilic Judah faced continuous external threats, which likely resonated with the original audience who longed for divine vindication and protection. This prophecy offers reassurance that God would, in a dramatic, unprecedented way, defeat Jerusalem's enemies.
Zechariah 12 4 Word analysis
In that day: Hebrew: בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא (ba-yom ha-hu). This is a common prophetic idiom used throughout the Old Testament to mark a specific, future period of God's decisive intervention, often associated with judgment and salvation. It points towards the eschatological or end-times.
I will strike: Hebrew: וְהִכֵּיתִי (ve-hikkêti), Hiphil perfect 1cs from the root נָכָה (nakah). This verb signifies a direct, forceful action of God to inflict damage, defeat, or judgment. It indicates the Lord's personal and effective agency in this conflict.
every horse: Hebrew: כָּל־סוּס (kol-sus). Cavalry represented the primary military offensive power in ancient warfare. Striking every horse indicates a complete disabling of the enemy's main military strength, making their advance impossible.
with panic: Hebrew: תִּמָּהוֹן (timmāhon). This noun denotes mental bewilderment, dismay, terror, or confusion. It describes a divinely-induced psychological disarray that cripples the enemy's ability to reason, plan, or fight effectively.
and his rider: Hebrew: וְאֶת־רֹכְבוֹ (ve-'et-rokhevo). Refers to the soldier, the individual controlling the horse. Targeting both the horse and its rider ensures comprehensive incapacitation.
with madness: Hebrew: בְּשִׁגָּעוֹן (b'shiggā'on). This word means frenzy, insanity, or derangement. It implies a complete loss of mental faculties, leading to irrational and self-destructive behavior, further intensifying the psychological breakdown of the enemy.
But over the house of Judah: Hebrew: וְעַל־בֵּית יְהוּדָה (ve-'al-bêyt yehûdāh). This phrase marks a direct contrast to the preceding judgment on the nations. "House of Judah" refers to the people and nation of Judah.
I will open My eyes: Hebrew: אֶפְקַח עֵינַי (efqaḥ 'êynay). An anthropomorphism describing God's active attentiveness, vigilance, and favorable intervention. While enemies are blinded and confused, God's "eyes are open" to watch over, protect, and provide for His people, implying a focused and deliberate care.
and will strike every horse of the peoples: Hebrew: וְכָל־סוּס הָעַמִּים אַכֶּה (ve-khol-sus hā-'ammîm akkēh). This is a repetition of the earlier declaration but specifically applies the judgment to "the peoples" (nations). The re-emphasis on "every horse" and "peoples" highlights the universal and complete nature of God's judgment against all gentile forces attacking Jerusalem.
with blindness: Hebrew: בַּעִוֵּרוֹן (ba-'ivvêron). This noun specifically means literal blindness. This distinct form of divine judgment on the "horses of the peoples" (rather than the riders) serves as a further element of complete disarray, possibly indicating a complete lack of direction for the cavalry itself, preventing any effective movement.
Words-group analysis:
- "I will strike every horse... and his rider with madness": This passage describes God's direct, two-pronged attack on the enemy's military capabilities: physically neutralizing their main transport (horses) and mentally incapacitating their command (riders), leading to utter chaos and internal collapse.
- "but over the house of Judah I will open My eyes": This presents a stark divine contrast. While God's wrath falls on the nations, His divine favor and active protection are clearly shown towards Judah, ensuring their security and welfare amidst the global conflict.
- "and will strike every horse of the peoples with blindness": This reiteration and variation of the initial judgment underlines the comprehensiveness and finality of God's act against all the enemy nations, indicating a targeted disability of their military resources.
Zechariah 12 4 Bonus section
The repeated emphasis on striking "every horse" in Zechariah 12:4, first for the individual enemies' cavalry and then for "every horse of the peoples," reinforces the total and universal nature of this divine judgment. It signifies that no military power, regardless of its might or origin among the nations, will withstand the Lord's intervention. This divine disruption of cavalry parallels other biblical narratives where God has supernaturally intervened in battle by confusing, disabling, or turning enemies against themselves (e.g., Judges 7, 1 Samuel 14). The specific mention of "panic," "madness," and "blindness" also recalls the curses promised in Deuteronomy 28:28, indicating that these are manifestations of covenant judgment for rebellion against God. The prophecy foreshadows a time when humanity's reliance on military might (symbolized by horses and chariots) will be utterly confounded by God's direct hand. This event sets the stage for the climactic spiritual transformation of Israel detailed later in the chapter, demonstrating that divine physical deliverance precedes a profound national repentance and recognition of the Messiah.
Zechariah 12 4 Commentary
Zechariah 12:4 delivers a powerful prophecy illustrating the Lord's sovereign and decisive action in a future eschatological battle. It portrays a divine military intervention where God directly disables the strength of Jerusalem's enemies. By striking the horses with panic and the riders with madness, God ensures the complete disarray of the invading armies. This is not merely a physical defeat but a psychological and spiritual collapse divinely orchestrated. The mental affliction (panic, madness) renders the most potent military units ineffective, transforming a fearsome cavalry into a source of internal chaos. In striking contrast, the Lord declares that He will "open His eyes" over the house of Judah, signifying vigilant protection, divine favor, and active intercession. This dual action underscores God's justice in judgment against those who oppose His people and His unwavering commitment to protect and preserve His covenant community. The "Day of the Lord" marked by this event is one of divine recompense and vindication, where human military might proves utterly powerless against the Lord's decree.