Zechariah 2 13

Zechariah 2:13 kjv

Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.

Zechariah 2:13 nkjv

Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for He is aroused from His holy habitation!"

Zechariah 2:13 niv

Be still before the LORD, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."

Zechariah 2:13 esv

Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

Zechariah 2:13 nlt

Be silent before the LORD, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling."

Zechariah 2 verses

Zechariah 2 13 Meaning

Zechariah 2:13 calls for profound reverence and silent submission from all humanity and creation. It proclaims that the LORD, Yahweh, is about to arise decisively from His holy dwelling place, signaling a momentous divine intervention and the establishment of His sovereign will, rendering all earthly matters subordinate and still before Him.

Zechariah 2 13 Context

Zechariah 2 is part of a series of eight night visions given to the prophet Zechariah during the early post-exilic period, around 520 BC. This era was characterized by the struggles of the returned exiles attempting to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem and restore their nation under Persian rule. Verse 13 serves as the climactic conclusion to the fourth vision, which begins with a man measuring Jerusalem (Zec 2:1-4). This vision initially causes concern (implying limited space) but quickly shifts to a message of glorious expansion and divine protection, declaring that Jerusalem will become a city "without walls" due to its overwhelming population and God's encompassing presence as "a wall of fire around it" (Zec 2:5). The preceding verses also include a passionate call for the remaining exiles in Babylon to "flee" and escape divine judgment on Babylon (Zec 2:6-9), followed by a joyful announcement of God's dwelling "in the midst" of His people and the gathering of many nations to the LORD (Zec 2:10-12). Therefore, Zechariah 2:13 dramatically encapsulates the immense and overwhelming significance of God's commitment to His people and His plans for Jerusalem, signaling that His powerful intervention is so absolute that all of creation must be hushed in profound respect.

Zechariah 2 13 Word analysis

• Be silent (הַס - has): This is an imperative verb, a command for immediate and complete cessation of sound, activity, and even thought. It signifies a solemn, awe-filled quietude that comes from encountering overwhelming majesty or impending divine action. It is not merely a request for quiet, but a forceful injunction against any human disturbance or opposition in the face of God's imminent work.

• O all flesh (כָּל־בָּשָׂר - kol-basar): "Flesh" refers to all living beings, predominantly humanity in its totality, irrespective of nationality, status, or spiritual condition. This phrase highlights the inherent fragility and mortality of humanity compared to the eternal, almighty God. The "all" underscores the universal scope of this command: every single person and all of creation must acknowledge God's absolute sovereignty.

• before the LORD (לִפְנֵי יְהוָה - lifnei YHWH): "Before the LORD" implies presence, direct encounter, or standing in submission to ultimate authority. YHWH (the LORD) is the revealed covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, sovereign, and unchanging character. The silence is demanded specifically in His immediate, active presence, suggesting that all human endeavors or contentions become irrelevant.

• for he is raised up (כִּי נֵעוֹר - ki ne'or): The word "for" (ki) introduces the fundamental reason for the universal silence. "Raised up" (ne'or) indicates an awakening or stirring from rest or perceived inactivity. This is an anthropomorphism portraying God as actively, purposefully, and powerfully stirring Himself to fulfill His intentions. It signifies a decisive, dynamic intervention rather than a passive observation, shaking off any misconception of divine passivity.

• out of his holy habitation (מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשׁוֹ - mimme'on qodsho): This refers to God's sacred dwelling place, whether in the transcendent heavens (His throne, Ps 11:4) or, symbolically, His earthly temple. The word "holy" (qodsho) emphasizes the absolute purity, separateness, and moral perfection of this dwelling. When God "raises up" from such a place, it means His actions are derived from His pure and righteous character, untainted by human sin or weakness, ensuring the justice and certainty of His upcoming deeds.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD": This opening imperative forms a dramatic and comprehensive command for cosmic reverence and submission. It is a universal injunction for all existence to cease its activity, its protests, and its self-assertions in the overwhelming and immanent presence of the living God, acknowledging His ultimate authority.
  • "for he is raised up out of his holy habitation": This clause provides the divine imperative's theological basis. God is not merely present; He is actively, intentionally, and powerfully emerging from His sacred, transcendent dwelling place. His 'raising up' denotes an act of determined and mighty intervention, rooted in His holy and righteous nature, confirming the absolute certainty and unstoppable nature of His divine purpose.

Zechariah 2 13 Bonus section

• The call to silence (Hebrew has) is typically associated with solemn moments of divine manifestation or impending judgment, emphasizing the gravity of the announcement.
• The phrase "all flesh" broadly includes the angelic realm and inanimate creation, suggesting that God's coming forth from His dwelling will have a cosmic impact.
• God "raising up" from His habitation conveys both His decision to intervene and the immense power inherent in that decision. It signifies an awakening from perceived non-action to direct and undeniable engagement with the world.
• The emphasis on "His holy habitation" underlines that God's coming forth is not random or capricious but driven by His intrinsic character of righteousness and holiness, ensuring the justice and integrity of His impending deeds.

Zechariah 2 13 Commentary

Zechariah 2:13 concludes the prophet's vision of Jerusalem's future glory with a profound and startling call to universal stillness. It serves as a majestic declaration of God's absolute sovereignty and the certainty of His promised actions for Jerusalem and beyond. The demand for "all flesh" to be "silent" before the LORD is not merely a call for literal quiet, but for a cessation of all human resistance, anxious speculation, or arrogant defiance. It's an exhortation to deep reverence, acknowledging that no human will, power, or plan can stand when the Almighty God arises. This "raising up" from His "holy habitation" signifies God stirring Himself to decisive action, indicating that His intervention is imminent, purposeful, and holy, rooted in His unchanging character. It implies judgment for the nations that opposed Judah and salvation for His people, fulfilled not by human might but by God's omnipotent hand. This verse urges a humble and fearful recognition of God's active involvement in human affairs, demonstrating that when the Lord prepares to act, all of creation must stand in awe-filled silence and submission. Practically, it encourages believers to quiet their fears, worries, and even their own self-reliance, trusting in God's perfect timing and powerful execution of His plans, knowing that nothing can hinder His purposes once He "raises up."