Zechariah 2 5

Zechariah 2:5 kjv

For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

Zechariah 2:5 nkjv

For I,' says the LORD, 'will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.' "

Zechariah 2:5 niv

And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD, 'and I will be its glory within.'

Zechariah 2:5 esv

And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.'"

Zechariah 2:5 nlt

Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the LORD. And I will be the glory inside the city!'"

Zechariah 2 verses

Zechariah 2 5 Meaning

Zechariah 2:5 declares the LORD's direct, personal promise to the future Jerusalem: He Himself will be its ultimate defense, encompassing it as an impenetrable wall of protective fire. Moreover, He will not merely protect from the outside but will dwell within, His glorious presence serving as its greatest honor and identity. This assures Zion of complete divine security and profound spiritual dignity, surpassing any physical fortifications and confirming God's covenant faithfulness.

Zechariah 2 5 Context

Zechariah 2 is part of Zechariah's night visions, given to the Jewish exiles who had returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. They faced the daunting task of rebuilding the temple and their shattered city amid considerable discouragement and external opposition. The vision in Zechariah 2 begins with a young man with a measuring line, presumably to mark out walls for a rebuilt Jerusalem. Zechariah 2:5 serves as God's divine interjection, countering the need for physical fortifications. It assures the people that Jerusalem's future vastness will preclude traditional walls, and more importantly, its true security and glory will stem solely from God's personal, fiery presence encompassing it, and His indwelling glory at its very heart. This message profoundly challenged any reliance on human effort or physical structures for protection, positioning divine intervention and presence as the ultimate source of their prosperity and safety.

Zechariah 2 5 Word analysis

• For I (אָנֹכִי - Anochi): An emphatic first-person pronoun, emphasizing the speaker as God (the LORD). It signals a direct, personal, and absolute divine promise, highlighting His own initiative and sufficiency.
• declares the LORD (נְאֻם יְהוָה - Ne'um Yahweh): A solemn prophetic formula signifying a direct divine utterance. "Ne'um" (utterance/oracle) indicates the authoritative, unchangeable word from Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God, making the preceding statement an absolute truth and guarantee.
• will be to her (אֶהְיֶה לָּהּ - Eheyeh Lah): "Eheyeh" means "I will be," reflecting God's name "I AM" (Exod 3:14) and His active, enduring presence. "Lah" (to her/for her) designates Jerusalem as the specific recipient, emphasizing God's intimate and purposeful action on its behalf.
• a wall (חוֹמָה - chomah): Usually a literal, physical defensive structure for cities. Here, it is spiritualized; God Himself replaces any physical wall, demonstrating His transcendent protection that surpasses all human fortifications.
• of fire (אֵשׁ - esh): In biblical imagery, fire often symbolizes God's presence (burning bush, pillar of fire), judgment, or purification. Here, the "fire" conveys absolute impenetrability and formidable protection. It is a divine, active, and fervent barrier against all adversaries.
• all around (סָבִיב - saviv): This word stresses the comprehensive and complete nature of God's protection. It signifies an encirclement that leaves no vulnerable points, assuring total divine safeguard on every side.
• and I will be (וַאֲנִי אֶהְיֶה - Va'ani Eheyeh): This repetition of the emphatic "I will be" reinforces the dual nature of God's promise. Having promised external protection, He now promises internal splendor. The re-emphasis on "I" (ani) again highlights God's sole agency.
• the glory (כָּבוֹד - kavod): Refers to weighty presence, honor, dignity, or splendor. Theologically, it denotes the Shekinah – the visible, manifested presence of God. This means God's radiant, tangible reality will dwell within Jerusalem, being its ultimate honor, light, and identity.
• in her midst (בְּתוֹכָהּ - betochah): Signifies an intimate, central, and indwelling presence. God is not only an external guardian but the very core, essence, and heart of His people and their city, providing inner illumination and worth.

Words-group analysis:

• "I... will be to her a wall of fire all around": This powerful declaration replaces any perceived human need for physical fortifications with God's supreme, divine defense. It implies an invulnerable barrier, a holy fire that burns up all who dare to approach with hostile intent, thereby making Jerusalem utterly secure through divine presence.
• "and I will be the glory in her midst": This complements the external protection with internal splendor. God’s indwelling presence becomes the source of Jerusalem's honor, identity, and inner light. This spiritualizes the concept of "glory," moving it beyond earthly riches or political status to a profound spiritual reality centered on God Himself. It conveys God’s active commitment to sanctify and illuminate His people from within.

Zechariah 2 5 Bonus section

The divine name "Yahweh" (the LORD) appears explicitly in this verse, underscoring the personal and covenantal nature of this promise. It’s a guarantee from the unchanging, all-powerful God who always keeps His word. The vision implicitly forms a polemic against reliance on human strength and pride in self-sufficiency, redirecting the focus entirely to God's preeminence and omnipotence. While spoken to historical Jerusalem, its ultimate fulfillment lies in the eschatological reality of the New Jerusalem where believers collectively experience this divine wall of protection and indwelling glory (Rev 21-22). The phrase also finds application in the spiritual reality of believers as temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19), embodying Christ as their hope of glory (Col 1:27) and protected by His all-surrounding Spirit (Rom 8:11).

Zechariah 2 5 Commentary

Zechariah 2:5 provides a profound promise that addresses both Jerusalem's vulnerability and its future significance. In a post-exilic world where security was determined by sturdy walls, God's declaration that He Himself would be Jerusalem's "wall of fire all around" offered an unparalleled assurance. This imagery evokes the pillar of fire that guided and protected Israel in the wilderness (Exod 13:21), symbolizing God's active, fervent, and inescapable defense. No human-built barrier, however tall or strong, could compare to this all-consuming divine protection that encompasses Jerusalem on every side, repelling all hostile forces.

Furthermore, God promises not only external protection but also internal radiance: "I will be the glory in her midst." This signifies that Jerusalem's true splendor, honor, and light would not come from wealth, architectural marvels, or earthly power, but from the manifested, indwelling presence of Yahweh. This harkens back to the Shekinah glory that filled the Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple, but now reimagined as a permanent, internal fixture in an expanded, un-walled city. This promise transcends the physical, painting a picture of a holy city whose very identity is wrapped in divine presence. It highlights that God's plan for His people extends beyond mere survival to a glorious and intimate fellowship, wherein His presence is their highest honor and impenetrable defense. This ultimately foreshadows the New Jerusalem, where the Lamb is the temple and the glory of God is its perpetual light (Rev 21:22-23).

Practical Usage: When faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges or insecurities (like un-walled Jerusalem), this verse teaches us to depend not on our own "walls" (plans, strength, resources) but on God's complete, fiery protection. In seeking identity and purpose, we learn that true "glory" comes not from external accolades or achievements, but from cultivating Christ's indwelling presence and reflecting His character.