Zechariah 2 1

Zechariah 2:1 kjv

I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

Zechariah 2:1 nkjv

Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand.

Zechariah 2:1 niv

Then I looked up, and there before me was a man with a measuring line in his hand.

Zechariah 2:1 esv

And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand!

Zechariah 2:1 nlt

When I looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.

Zechariah 2 verses

Zechariah 2 1 Meaning

Zechariah 2:1 opens the fourth of Zechariah’s night visions, immediately following a general message of comfort and promises of God’s return to Jerusalem. The prophet recounts seeing a figure, an "a man" in the immediate visual context, equipped with a "measuring line." This specific imagery introduces a central theme of the subsequent verses: the precise and expansive future restoration and security of Jerusalem, signaling a divine intention to establish a city far beyond its contemporary post-exilic dimensions, protected by God Himself rather than by physical walls.

Zechariah 2 1 Context

Zechariah 2:1 marks the commencement of the fourth in a series of eight nocturnal visions granted to the prophet Zechariah during the second year of King Darius's reign (circa 520 BC). This was a crucial period for the returned exiles in Judah, who were struggling to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem and restore their community after seventy years of Babylonian captivity.

Chapter 1 set the stage, emphasizing God's unchanging love and "jealousy" for Jerusalem and Zion, despite their desolation. The preceding visions had reassured the disheartened people that God remembered His covenant and was about to intervene powerfully for His people, bringing comfort, restoring His house, and judging the nations that had afflicted Israel. Zec 1:16-17 specifically promised God's return to Jerusalem with mercies, His house being rebuilt, and cities overflowing with prosperity. Zechariah 2:1 thus logically transitions into a more specific, visionary illustration of this promised restoration, particularly focusing on Jerusalem's future size, population, and security.

The vision of the measuring man immediately precedes the famous promise of Jerusalem being a "city without walls" (Zec 2:4) because of the multitude of people and the Lord Himself being its surrounding wall of fire. This contextual flow moves from divine promise to visionary illustration, building confidence and providing a detailed picture of God's ambitious plan for Jerusalem, going far beyond what the exiles could physically achieve.

Zechariah 2 1 Word analysis

• I lifted up: Va’esah (וָאֶשָּׂא). From the root nasa', "to lift, bear, carry." In the context of "eyes," it implies looking up or observing attentively, signaling the beginning of a new vision. This phrase is a common introductory marker in prophetic visions, seen again later in Zechariah (Zec 5:1, 5:5, 6:1).
• my eyes: ʿênay (עֵינַי). Plural form of "eye," indicating Zechariah's perception. The act of "lifting the eyes" signifies looking beyond the mundane to observe a divinely presented sight.
• again: ʿôd (עוֹד). This word signifies repetition or continuation. It tells us that this vision is part of a sequence, Zechariah's ongoing spiritual experience, underscoring the layered revelation from God to the prophet. It ties this vision closely to the preceding ones, indicating continuity in God's revelation.
• and looked: va’erʾeh (וָאֵרֶא). From the verb ra’ah, "to see, perceive, understand." It describes the act of observing what has been brought into view by the lifting of eyes, a passive yet receptive form of observation.
• and behold: vəhinnēh (וְהִנֵּה). An interjection used to draw immediate attention to what is about to be revealed. It functions like "look!" or "lo!" and introduces a striking or significant element in the vision. It prepares the reader for an important figure or scene.
• a man: ʾîsh (אִישׁ). The Hebrew word generally means "man, male person." In prophetic visions, especially those involving measurement or interpretation, this figure is frequently understood to be an angelic being or a divine messenger in human form (e.g., Dan 10:5, Eze 40:3). His precise identity is less important than his divine assignment.
• with a measuring line: ūmĕnûlat midah (וּמִידַת מִדָּה). This is a crucial phrase.
  • Midah (מִדָּה): "measure, extent, dimension." It denotes a standard of measurement or the result of measuring, implying precision and order.
  • Menûlah (מְנוּלָה): While related to menuvah (a plinth or base), menulah here specifically means "a cord, line, or plummet," often associated with building, surveying, or judging (Is 28:17, 2 Ki 21:13). It represents a tool for architectural or surveying tasks, indicating an intention to mark out boundaries or construct something.
• in his hand: bəyādô (בְּיָדוֹ). The preposition bə (in, with) combined with yad (hand) and the possessive suffix ô (his). This phrase emphasizes active agency, readiness, and immediate purpose. The man is not merely holding the line; he is prepared to use it.

Zechariah 2 1 Bonus section

• The appearance of an angelic "man with a measuring line" links Zechariah's vision to similar prophetic imagery in Ezekiel (Eze 40-48), where a similar figure measures the new temple and its boundaries, signifying precise divine intention for sacred space. It also echoes into the New Testament with the measuring of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:15).
• The immediate sight of the measuring line would have created a sense of hopeful expectation in the original audience regarding the restoration of Jerusalem's physical dimensions. The revelation that follows (Zec 2:4-5) elevates this hope from physical reconstruction to supernatural divine security and boundless growth.
• This vision implicitly corrects any tendency among the returned exiles to rely solely on human efforts for defense (like Nehemiah's wall building later). While walls serve a purpose, Zechariah's prophecy asserts that true security and greatness for God's city stem from His direct, pervasive presence.
• The progression of Zechariah's visions often moves from seemingly small or ambiguous imagery to profound and comprehensive revelations, building understanding piece by piece. The measuring line is a classic example of this unfolding revelation.

Zechariah 2 1 Commentary

Zechariah 2:1 is a visual overture to the dramatic expansion and divine protection promised for Jerusalem. The prophet, still within his sequence of night visions, perceives an angelic figure equipped with a "measuring line." This immediately brings to mind notions of construction, planning, and defining boundaries. Historically, after the exile, Jerusalem was a small, struggling city, much smaller than its pre-exilic glory. The initial human expectation might be that the angel intended to measure the existing modest city walls for repair, or perhaps to define precise new, but limited, boundaries.

However, the vision’s unfolding (especially Zec 2:4-5) dramatically subverts this expectation. The measuring line, rather than implying limitations or physical confinement, prefigures an exponential, immeasurable growth of Jerusalem. It signifies a divine blueprint, not for a walled city, but for a population so vast that traditional walls would be insufficient. Instead of human-built fortifications, God Himself would serve as a "wall of fire" for protection and "the glory within it."

Thus, this verse lays the groundwork for understanding Jerusalem's destiny: not defined by finite human measurements, but by infinite divine provision. It speaks of a precision in God's plan, yet one that leads to boundlessness. This has profound implications for understanding God's ultimate intention for His people and the Church—to flourish unconstrained, guarded by His presence, rather than relying on external structures. The scene powerfully assures that God's future for His people far exceeds any immediate post-exilic limitations or anxieties.