Zechariah 2 7

Zechariah 2:7 kjv

Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.

Zechariah 2:7 nkjv

"Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon."

Zechariah 2:7 niv

"Come, Zion! Escape, you who live in Daughter Babylon!"

Zechariah 2:7 esv

Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.

Zechariah 2:7 nlt

Come away, people of Zion, you who are exiled in Babylon!"

Zechariah 2 verses

Zechariah 2 7 Meaning

Zechariah 2:7 is a divine command delivered through the prophet, urgently calling for the remnant of God's people, represented by "Zion," to flee from Babylon. This call signifies not merely a physical departure from their place of exile but a spiritual separation from the ungodly influences and systems of a hostile, pagan world. It highlights God's imminent action concerning both Babylon's destruction and Zion's restoration, emphasizing that true freedom and blessedness for God's people are found in their return to Him and their divinely designated place.

Zechariah 2 7 Context

Zechariah 2:7 falls within the fourth of Zechariah's eight night visions, received around 520 BC, roughly 16 years after the first group of exiles returned to Judah. The book of Zechariah aims to encourage the post-exilic community, especially Zerubbabel and Joshua, in rebuilding the temple and in renewing their covenant commitment to God amidst discouragement and opposition.

This specific verse is a direct exhortation following the vision of a man with a measuring line (Zec 2:1-5). In that preceding vision, Jerusalem is portrayed not as a city confined by walls but as an exceedingly populous future metropolis protected by God's divine presence as a "wall of fire" and the "glory in her midst." This grand vision of a glorious, unhindered Jerusalem makes the call to "escape Babylon" all the more urgent and rational. Those still in Babylon were called to leave their comfort zone in a pagan land and embrace God's promised future in Jerusalem, which was then a struggling, partially rebuilt city, trusting in God's divine protection and prosperity rather than human security or Babylonian influence. Historically, not all Jewish exiles chose to return; many prospered in Babylon. This verse is a clear command to separate from a land and system God was destined to judge, to align with His purposes for His covenant people.

Zechariah 2 7 Word analysis

• Up! (הוֹי, Hoy): This Hebrew interjection serves multiple purposes. While often translated as "Woe!" or "Alas!" denoting lamentation or impending judgment (as in prophetic "woe oracles"), here it is used as an urgent, sharp cry or imperative "Up!" or "Ho!" It functions as a passionate summons to attention and immediate action, conveying great urgency and concern. In this context, it marks a significant shift from the preceding vision of Jerusalem's future glory to an urgent call for God's people to participate in that future by fleeing.
• Zion (צִיּוֹן, Tsiyyon): This term primarily refers to Jerusalem, specifically the mount upon which the Temple stood. Metaphorically, it represents the entire city, the dwelling place of God, and the covenant people of Israel. In the context of the exile, it embodies the spiritual identity and destiny of God's chosen people, distinct from their geographical location in Babylon. The call is directed to the spiritual heart of God's people, urging them to reconnect with their divine identity and purpose.
• Escape! (מִלְּטִי, milləṭî): An imperative verb derived from the root malat (מָלַט), meaning "to escape," "to slip away," "to deliver oneself." It implies a swift, decisive act of self-preservation and liberation from danger. It's an active command for the people to take responsibility for their own deliverance, though divinely empowered. The urgency suggests that remaining is perilous.
• You who dwell with (הַיּוֹשֶׁבֶת אֶת, hayyōšebet ʾeṯ): This participial phrase emphasizes the current state of residence or association. "Dwelling with" suggests not just physical presence but a degree of comfort, integration, or assimilation with "the daughter of Babylon." This implies a risk of spiritual contamination or loss of distinct identity through prolonged exposure and connection to the pagan society. It underlines the potential difficulty in leaving.
• The daughter of Babylon (בַּת־בָּבֶל, bat-Bāḇel): This is a personification of the city of Babylon and, by extension, the entire Babylonian empire and its oppressive, idolatrous system. "Daughter of" is a common biblical idiom for a city or nation (e.g., "daughter of Zion"), indicating its essence or its people. Here, "daughter of Babylon" represents the totality of the oppressive, ungodly culture and its practices, contrasting sharply with Zion (God's holy city). Staying with "the daughter of Babylon" is thus seen as living under the dominion and influence of a hostile spiritual power.

Words-group analysis:

• "Up, Zion! Escape!": This sharp, dual command acts as a spiritual reveille. "Up!" denotes arousal and readiness for action, while "Escape!" emphasizes the urgency and necessity of flight from a perilous situation. The juxtaposition of these terms signifies a moment of spiritual awakening and decisive choice. It underscores that remaining intertwined with Babylon would negate the blessings awaiting Zion.
• "You who dwell with the daughter of Babylon": This phrase paints a picture of entanglement and association. It identifies the target audience as those who have settled, perhaps comfortably, in a place hostile to God's covenant. It suggests a level of assimilation, implying the call to escape is not just physical relocation but a tearing away from the cultural, economic, and spiritual embrace of an idolatrous system. This connection is identified as dangerous, requiring separation for the people's ultimate good. The "daughter of Babylon" serves as a prototype for any worldly power or system that opposes God and his people, against which a call to separation is always relevant.

Zechariah 2 7 Bonus section

The repeated motif of "coming out of Babylon" throughout Scripture, from Zechariah's era to the eschatological pronouncements in Revelation (Rev 18:4), emphasizes that the "daughter of Babylon" extends beyond a singular historical empire. It becomes a persistent metaphor for any earthly system that stands in opposition to God's Kingdom, luring His people into sin, compromise, or spiritual bondage. Thus, Zechariah's urgent command to "escape" serves as a timeless spiritual principle: true fidelity to God often necessitates separation from, and refusal to conform to, worldly values and practices that contradict His divine will. This includes economic, political, and social pressures that might tempt God's people away from His path. The urgency of "Up!" and "Escape!" signals a divine expectation for God's people to actively align themselves with His ultimate plan for redemption and holiness, rather than passively remaining in compromising positions.

Zechariah 2 7 Commentary

Zechariah 2:7 is a vibrant clarion call to action, deeply rooted in the post-exilic context yet profoundly resonant throughout salvation history. The command to "escape" (or "deliver oneself") Zion from "the daughter of Babylon" is a divine imperative born from God's dual purpose: to judge the nations (including Babylon) and to restore His people. It signifies that for God's redemptive plans to unfold fully, the people must actively participate by separating themselves from influences and environments hostile to God. This call is more than geographic; it embodies a spiritual divorce from the ungodly world system, its idolatry, its moral decay, and its oppressive structures.

The verse implicitly asserts that one cannot simultaneously partake in God's promises for a glorious, unhindered Jerusalem while remaining entangled with "Babylon" – a symbol not just of their historical oppressor but of all human systems that deny God and his sovereignty. God had declared His presence would be a "wall of fire" and "glory" for Zion (Zec 2:5). This divine protection necessitates a responsive act of faith and obedience from His people to step out of the shadows of the old order into the light of His future plans. The command challenges the complacency or fear that might have held some exiles in Babylon, prioritizing their earthly comforts over their covenant identity and future with God. This divine urging anticipates God's judgment upon Babylon (Zec 2:8-9), providing the impetus for the exodus. It highlights the importance of spiritual distinction and holy separation as foundational to experiencing God's full blessings and divine protection.