Zechariah 2 8

Zechariah 2:8 kjv

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

Zechariah 2:8 nkjv

For thus says the LORD of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.

Zechariah 2:8 niv

For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you?for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye?

Zechariah 2:8 esv

For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye:

Zechariah 2:8 nlt

After a period of glory, the LORD of Heaven's Armies sent me against the nations who plundered you. For he said, "Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession.

Zechariah 2 verses

Zechariah 2 8 Meaning

Zechariah 2:8 proclaims the LORD of hosts' solemn declaration regarding His deep personal care for His people. It reveals that the divine one speaking ("me") has been sent by the LORD of hosts to judge the nations that plundered Judah. The verse underscores God's intense, protective love for His chosen people, equating any harm inflicted upon them to a direct injury to the most precious and sensitive part of His own being: the apple of His eye.

Zechariah 2 8 Context

Zechariah 2 is part of a series of night visions granted to the prophet, offering hope and promises to the returning Jewish exiles and those rebuilding the temple in post-exilic Jerusalem (around 520-518 BC). This verse falls within or immediately following the third vision (the measuring line), which promises Jerusalem's expansion beyond walls due to its immense population, and God's protective presence as "a wall of fire around it" and "the glory within it" (Zech 2:4-5). Verse 8 specifically shifts from the promise of dwelling to a declaration of imminent judgment on the Gentile nations who had plundered God's people, ensuring Jerusalem's security and vindication. It addresses the anxieties of a vulnerable community living under Persian rule, promising divine intervention against their former oppressors and any future adversaries. The overall chapter speaks of restoration, expansion, divine presence, and global judgment leading to Gentile inclusion, all centered on Zion.

Zechariah 2 8 Word analysis

• For thus says the LORD of hosts:
  • ki koh amar YHVH Tsva'ot: Signifies a powerful, authoritative divine declaration. "LORD of hosts" (YHWH Tsva'ot) is a sovereign title, denoting God's absolute control over all heavenly and earthly armies, highlighting His irresistible power and dominion over nations and cosmic forces. This introduces a truth of absolute certainty.
• 'After glory:
  • acharei khavod: This phrase carries an intentional ambiguity and depth. "Glory" (khavod) refers to God's manifested presence, power, and honor. Interpretations vary:
    1. "After the glory (God's manifested glory and presence among His people)" – meaning after God reveals His glory and restores Zion, then He sends one to judge the nations.
    2. "After glory has sent me" – taking "glory" as the subject, potentially referring to the glorious Angel of the LORD or a divine being synonymous with God's glory, who is then the one "sent."
    3. "After my glory (the One speaking as "me" referring to his own glorious nature or arrival)" – this points to the pre-existent Son or divine messenger as having glory that precedes or accompanies His sending.
  • It points to an event or state involving God's glory that precedes the mission of judgment.
• sent me:
  • shalakhani: "Has sent me" or "sent me." The speaker is the one sent. This creates a fascinating divine distinction: the LORD of hosts sends someone referred to as "me," who is also seemingly divine or functions with divine authority. Many Christian interpretations see this "me" as a reference to the pre-incarnate Christ or the Angel of the LORD, distinct from yet one with the sender, the LORD of hosts. This subtle distinction hints at the plurality within the Godhead in later Christian theology.
• to the nations:
  • el-haggoyim: Refers to the Gentile peoples, specifically those historical empires (like Babylon, Assyria, Egypt) who had oppressed and plundered Israel. It signifies God's jurisdiction and judgment extending over all human political powers.
• who plundered you:
  • hashollim etchem: Explicitly identifies the recipients of judgment: those who robbed, looted, or violently oppressed God's people (Judah). It indicates God's memory of His people's suffering and His justice in holding oppressors accountable.
• for he who touches you:
  • ki hanogea bechem: "For he who touches" (present participle, continuous action or a general truth). The verb naga' implies physical contact, but often with the connotation of causing harm, striking, or infringing. "You" refers directly to God's people, Judah/Jerusalem, establishing a profound, personal connection.
• touches the apple of his eye:
  • nogea beVavat Eino: This is a profound and poignant metaphor.
    • bavat eino (בבת עינו): "apple of his eye" literally means "the little man (or image) of his eye," referring to the pupil of the eye, where a small image of an object is seen when looking closely. It signifies the most sensitive, precious, and indispensable part of the eye.
    • "His eye": Refers to God's eye.
    • Words-group analysis: To harm God's people is not just to harm a nation, but to strike at God Himself, directly impacting His most delicate and cherished possession. It suggests immediate, painful impact and invokes a fierce, reflexive, protective response from God. This phrase conveys profound affection, intense watchfulness, and severe warning against anyone harming those whom God cherishes so intimately.

Zechariah 2 8 Bonus section

The specific grammatical construction in Zechariah 2:8, acharei khavod shalakhani (after glory sent me), is highly debated among scholars. Some read "after the glory He has sent me" (with "glory" modifying "He" or referring to the divine manifestation as a context for sending). However, others see "glory" as the agent sending, a personification of a divine attribute, or more profoundly, as an unusual and ancient Hebrew way of signifying a direct sending of the Glorious One (i.e., God the Father sending the Glorious Son or His divine presence). This subtlety in the Hebrew points to complex divine distinctions that would later be explored more fully in Christian theology concerning the Triune nature of God and the pre-incarnate missions of the second Person of the Godhead. Regardless of the precise interpretation of acharei khavod, the primary point of a divine sender sending a divine emissary with authority to judge the nations for harming God's people remains clear and profound.

Zechariah 2 8 Commentary

Zechariah 2:8 is a powerful declaration of God's unwavering protective love for His people, delivered through a unique divine messenger. The phrase "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'After glory sent me'" introduces a divine emissary, sent by the ultimate Sovereign, with a mission to the plundering nations. This "me" has been interpreted variously as the pre-incarnate Son of God, the Angel of the LORD, or even a prophetic representation, but in each case, the one sent operates with full divine authority and purpose, reinforcing the Lord of Hosts' commitment.

The core message revolves around God's identification with His suffering people. The oppressors, who historically "plundered" Judah, will face retribution not merely because they attacked a nation, but because they touched God's cherished possession. The metaphor "touches the apple of his eye" is ancient and universally understood as striking the most sensitive, vital, and vulnerable part of one's being. This highlights:

1. Profound Affection: Israel (and by extension, the church) is deeply loved by God, viewed as incomparably precious.
2. Immediate Identification: Any harm done to God's people is taken personally by God, as if it were inflicted directly upon Him. This applies both to physical harm and spiritual persecution.
3. Guaranteed Retribution: Because of this intimate identification, God promises a swift, painful, and certain divine reaction against those who inflict such harm. His protective reflex will be triggered.

This verse serves as a tremendous comfort for God's people who may feel vulnerable, assuring them that their God sees their suffering and actively intervenes on their behalf. It is also a grave warning to anyone, past or present, who might oppress those belonging to the Lord, indicating that their actions are a direct affront to the Almighty. Practically, it encourages believers to remember their immense worth in God's eyes and to rely on His active, vigilant protection, while also serving as a reminder to treat all of God's people with utmost care and respect, lest one find themselves striking at God Himself.