Zechariah 2 6

Zechariah 2:6 kjv

Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.

Zechariah 2:6 nkjv

"Up, up! Flee from the land of the north," says the LORD; "for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven," says the LORD.

Zechariah 2:6 niv

"Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north," declares the LORD, "for I have scattered you to the four winds of heaven," declares the LORD.

Zechariah 2:6 esv

Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the LORD. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the LORD.

Zechariah 2:6 nlt

The LORD says, "Come away! Flee from Babylon in the land of the north, for I have scattered you to the four winds.

Zechariah 2 verses

Zechariah 2 6 Meaning

Zechariah 2:6 is a divine imperative calling for the urgent return of the exiles from Babylon, referred to as the "land of the north," back to Judah. It proclaims God's sovereign hand in the scattering of His people "as the four winds of heaven," indicating the widespread nature of their dispersion. This verse signifies that the scattering was not random, but part of God's plan and judgment, and now the call to return is equally an act of His will, part of the promised restoration and the establishment of Jerusalem as a secure dwelling.

Zechariah 2 6 Context

Zechariah 2:6 is part of the second of eight nocturnal visions given to the prophet Zechariah. The immediate preceding verses (Zech 2:1-5) describe a vision of a man with a measuring line sent to measure Jerusalem, symbolizing its future growth and restoration. However, an angelic interpreter declares that Jerusalem will be so populous it cannot be confined by walls; rather, the LORD Himself will be a wall of fire around her and the glory within her. Verse 6 directly follows this declaration of future glory and security, serving as an urgent summons for the remaining exiles to participate in this divine restoration. It directly addresses those still in the "land of the north," which refers to Babylon, where many Jews chose to remain even after Cyrus's decree allowing them to return. This historical context of the post-exilic period, with the temple rebuilding underway but many still outside the land, highlights the urgency of Zechariah's prophetic call.

Zechariah 2 6 Word analysis

• Ho! (הוֹי - Hoy): This is a solemn interjection, often a cry of warning or summons, sometimes indicating distress or woe. Here, it functions as an urgent, attention-grabbing call to action, emphasizing the immediate need for the exiles to depart. It conveys both a divine summons and a potential warning of consequences for those who delay.
• Flee (נּוּסוּ - Nūsu): An imperative verb, commanding flight or escape. It conveys urgency and implies a need to distance oneself from a dangerous or undesirable place. In this context, it is not fleeing from the LORD but fleeing at His command, away from a place of spiritual and physical danger.
• from the land of the north (מֵאֶ֤רֶץ צָפוֹן֙ - mēʾereṣ ṣāfōn): "Land of the North" is a well-established prophetic designation for Babylon and the successive empires that typically invaded Israel from that direction. Though Babylon itself had fallen to Persia, this phrase emphasizes the former place of captivity and potentially any continuing pagan influence or lingering threat from that region. It implies liberation from a former place of oppression.
• declares the LORD (נְאֻם־יְהוָה֙ - nəʾum Yahweh): A formal prophetic declaration indicating divine authorship and authority. It underscores that this urgent command is not from Zechariah or any human, but directly from Yahweh, the sovereign God of Israel, lending absolute weight and necessity to the instruction.
• for I have spread you abroad (כִּ֛י פֵּרַ֥שְׂתִּי אֶתְכֶ֖ם - kî pērasti ʾetkem): The conjunction "for" explains the reason for the command to flee. The verb "spread abroad" (פָּרַשׂ - paras) signifies scattering, distributing, or dispersing. This clause confirms God's active role in the initial dispersion of Israel into exile, making it clear that their suffering and scattering were under His sovereign hand, not mere historical accident. It speaks of divine judgment.
• as the four winds of heaven (כְּאַרְבַּ֥ע רוּחֹות֙ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם - kəʾarbaʿ rūḥōt haššāmayim): This idiom indicates a wide, comprehensive, and complete scattering to all cardinal points, covering the entire earth. It emphasizes the extent of Israel's dispersion by divine decree. The "winds" are often associated with divine power and movement (e.g., God's Spirit), indicating the irresistible nature of this dispersal.

• "Ho! Ho! Flee from the land of the north": This powerful opening highlights the immediacy and critical importance of the message. It's a wake-up call to those comfortably settled in the foreign land, urging them to sever ties and return to their true home. This isn't just an option but an urgent divine directive to escape what God will judge.
• "declares the LORD, for I have spread you abroad": The emphatic assertion of Yahweh's speaking voice emphasizes His ultimate authority and purpose. The reason for their fleeing is rooted in God's past sovereign act of judgment—He was the one who scattered them due to their disobedience. This linkage underscores that their present situation and future destiny are entirely in His hands.
• "as the four winds of heaven, declares the LORD": The repetition of "declares the LORD" bookends the core of the message, reinforcing its divine origin and certainty. The imagery of the "four winds" vividly illustrates the extent and thoroughness of God's dispersion of His people across the world. It sets the stage for a dramatic counter-movement of regathering, as powerfully enacted by God as their scattering.

Zechariah 2 6 Bonus section

The exhortation to "flee from the land of the north" carried practical significance for the initial audience beyond just physical return. It implied leaving behind Babylonian cultural influences, idolatry, and a spirit of ease that might have discouraged some from making the arduous journey to a still-recovering Judah. This also functions as a powerful spiritual analogy for all generations, signaling the need for God's people to separate themselves from "Babylon," understood as the world system, its values, and its spiritual darkness (echoed powerfully in the New Testament with "come out of her, my people" from Rev 18:4). The past divine "scattering" serves as a crucial theological anchor: it was God's judgment that led to their dispersion, not mere chance. Thus, their call to "flee" and "gather" is equally orchestrated by the same sovereign God. The verse encapsulates a movement from divine judgment (scattering) to divine redemption and regathering, predicated on the obedience of God's people to His command to separate. This prefigures the ultimate gathering of God's elect from every corner of the earth in the last days, illustrating a consistent pattern of God's sovereignty over the destiny of His people.

Zechariah 2 6 Commentary

Zechariah 2:6 delivers an urgent divine summons to the post-exilic Jewish community, particularly those still lingering in Babylon, to "flee" and return to the land of Judah. The exclamation "Ho! Ho!" injects a sense of urgency and direct address, signaling that this is not a suggestion but an imperative for their well-being and for the fulfillment of God's plans for Jerusalem. The instruction to flee from the "land of the north," which unequivocally points to Babylon, implies not only a physical departure but also a spiritual separation from a pagan environment. The theological core of the verse lies in God's explicit declaration: "for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of heaven." This confession acknowledges God's sovereign hand in Israel's widespread exile as a judgment for their sin. Therefore, the call to return is equally an act of His sovereign grace and purpose. It represents a divine invitation to participate in the restoration promised to the returning remnant, away from the past judgment and towards the new work God is doing in Jerusalem. It underlines the principle that salvation often involves a separation from that which opposes God's purposes. For example, remaining in "Babylon" out of comfort or fear of the journey would mean missing out on God's protection and blessings in Jerusalem. Similarly, today, believers are often called to "flee" from unholy influences or associations to live in God's revealed will.