Zechariah 8:2 kjv
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
Zechariah 8:2 nkjv
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'I am zealous for Zion with great zeal; With great fervor I am zealous for her.'
Zechariah 8:2 niv
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "I am very jealous for Zion; I am burning with jealousy for her."
Zechariah 8:2 esv
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.
Zechariah 8:2 nlt
"This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: My love for Mount Zion is passionate and strong; I am consumed with passion for Jerusalem!
Zechariah 8 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 20:5 | "You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God..." | God's attribute of jealousy in relation to exclusive worship and idolatry, demanding singular devotion from His covenant people. |
| Exod 34:14 | "for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." | Explicitly names God "Jealous," highlighting His demand for exclusive loyalty from Israel. |
| Deut 4:24 | "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." | Reiterates God's consuming zeal and holy judgment against disloyalty. |
| Deut 6:15 | "...lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth." | Warns of God's fierce anger when provoked by spiritual unfaithfulness. |
| Josh 24:19 | "...for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins." | God's jealousy linked to His holiness and intolerance for sin among His chosen. |
| 1 Ki 19:10 | "I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts..." | Human zeal reflecting God's zealous character. |
| Isa 9:7 | "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end... The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." | God's zeal guaranteeing the establishment and expansion of the Messiah's kingdom. |
| Isa 26:11 | "O Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed..." | God's powerful action stemming from His zeal for His people. |
| Isa 42:13 | "The Lord goes out like a mighty man... he stirs up zeal like a man of war..." | God's zealous readiness to act forcefully against His adversaries. |
| Isa 63:4 | "For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come." | Divine wrath and judgment aligned with a time of redemption for His people. |
| Ezek 5:13 | "Thus shall my anger spend itself... Then they shall know that I am the Lord..." | God's wrath being spent as a demonstration of His divine identity and justice. |
| Ezek 36:5 | "therefore thus says the Lord God: Surely in the fire of my jealousy I have spoken against the rest of the nations..." | God's jealousy extended to hostile nations that despised His land and people. |
| Joel 2:18 | "Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people." | God's jealousy leads to pity and restoration for His land and people after judgment. |
| Nah 1:2 | "The Lord is a jealous God and avenging; the Lord is avenging and wrathful..." | Affirms God's jealous and avenging nature, expressing wrath against His foes. |
| Hab 3:8 | "Was your wrath against the rivers, O Lord? Was your anger against the rivers..." | Rhetorical question emphasizing the power and scope of God's wrath in historical salvation acts. |
| Zeph 3:8 | "...for my decision is to gather nations, to assemble kingdoms, to pour out upon them my indignation, all my burning anger..." | God's future judgment (anger/wrath) upon the nations. |
| Zech 1:14-15 | "...I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am very angry with the nations that are at ease..." | Earlier passage in Zechariah expressing similar sentiment of jealousy and wrath. |
| Zech 2:10-11 | "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and dwell in your midst, declares the Lord." | God's zealous protection is followed by His presence and joy among His people. |
| Zech 8:3 | "Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem..." | The immediate next verse clarifies God's return to reside in Jerusalem, fulfilling His zeal. |
| Ps 132:13-14 | "For the Lord has chosen Zion... This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I desired it." | God's deliberate choice and desire to dwell in Zion eternally. |
| Isa 60:14 | "The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bowing to you... and they shall call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel." | Prophetic vision of Zion's future exaltation and recognition by former enemies, driven by God's purposes. |
| Rev 19:15 | "...and from his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty." | Ultimate display of God's righteous wrath and judgment in the eschatological climax, similar to Zech 8:2's "great wrath." |
Zechariah 8 verses
Zechariah 8 2 Meaning
This verse declares God's fervent and unwavering commitment to Jerusalem, referred to as Zion. It communicates His profound, righteous passion and proprietorial love for His chosen city and people, likened to an intense jealousy. This jealousy is coupled with a "great wrath," signifying His resolute determination to protect Zion from any threat and to judge those who have harmed or would harm her. The repeated declaration underscores the intensity and certainty of God's covenant loyalty and active intervention on behalf of His dwelling place and people.
Zechariah 8 2 Context
Zechariah 8:2 is part of a series of ten oracles, beginning in Zechariah 7, delivered by the prophet Zechariah to the Jewish community that had returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile. These messages were intended to address their concerns, specifically about the continuation of fasting practices and their discouragement regarding the slow progress of the temple rebuilding. This particular verse comes after a period of lamentation over Jerusalem's past destruction and introduces a shift from past judgment to future promise. It sets the tone for chapter 8, which emphasizes the glorious restoration, peace, prosperity, and spiritual blessings awaiting Jerusalem and Judah, stemming directly from God's renewed covenant favor. Historically, the returned exiles faced economic hardship, opposition from surrounding peoples, and their own spiritual lethargy. This declaration by God served as a profound reassurance of His unwavering presence and fierce commitment to complete what He started in Jerusalem.
Zechariah 8 2 Word analysis
- "Thus says" (כֹּה אָמַר, _ko amar_): A classic prophetic formula signifying a direct divine message. It carries the full weight of God's authority and unchangeable truth, emphasizing that the following words are not human conjecture but the absolute declaration of God Himself.
- "the Lord of hosts" (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, _Yahweh Tseva'ot_): A powerful divine title used frequently by post-exilic prophets, especially Zechariah and Haggai. "Yahweh" is the covenant name of God. "Tseva'ot" refers to armies, hosts, or forces, implying God's supreme authority over all creation, heavenly beings, and earthly armies. It emphasizes His power, majesty, and ability to execute His will against any opposition, providing a strong assurance in a time of weakness for His people.
- "I am exceedingly jealous" (קִנֵּאתִי קִנְאָה גְדוֹלָה, _kin'nēti' qin'āh g'dolah_):
- "Jealousy" (קִנְאָה, _qin'āh_): In the biblical context for God, this is not a negative human emotion rooted in insecurity or envy. Instead, it denotes God's intense, zealous, and protective devotion to His covenant relationship, His unique honor, and His chosen people/place. It signifies His absolute right of possession and demand for exclusive worship. Here, it conveys His passionate loyalty and determination to safeguard Zion.
- "Exceedingly" / "great" (גְדוֹלָה, _g'dolah_): An adjective meaning large, mighty, or great. Its use intensifies the "jealousy," conveying an unparalleled degree of divine passion and resolve. The repetition of "great" throughout the verse and chapter highlights the magnitude of God's feeling and subsequent action.
- "for Zion" (לְצִיּוֹן, _l'tzion_): Zion primarily refers to the ancient fortress hill in Jerusalem, later extended to signify the entire city of Jerusalem. Metaphorically, it represents God's chosen dwelling place on earth, His people (Israel, Judah), and in prophetic literature, the spiritual ideal of God's redemptive community and future kingdom. Here, it refers to the restored post-exilic Jerusalem and its inhabitants, who are the focus of God's zealous love and protection.
- "I am jealous for her with great wrath" (וְחֵמָה גְדוֹלָה קִנֵּאתִי לָהּ, _v'chēmāh g'dolah kin'nēti' lah_):
- "with great wrath" (וְחֵמָה גְדוֹלָה, _v'chēmāh g'dolah_):
- "Wrath" (חֵמָה, _chēmāh_): Divine anger or fury. Unlike human wrath, God's wrath is always righteous, just, and purposeful. Here, it indicates His strong indignation and determination to punish those who have harmed or will harm Zion/His people, acting as an active force against her enemies and those who oppose His divine plans.
- "great" (גְדוֹלָה, _g'dolah_): Again, emphasizes the intensity and seriousness of this divine attribute, ensuring the exiles that God's justice will be powerfully administered.
- "I am jealous for her" (קִנֵּאתִי לָהּ, _kin'nēti' lah_): The repetition of the verb "I am jealous" underscores the strength and certainty of God's resolve. The use of the personal pronoun "her" (לָהּ) reaffirms that Zion is the specific object of this powerful divine passion.
- "with great wrath" (וְחֵמָה גְדוֹלָה, _v'chēmāh g'dolah_):
- Words-Group Analysis:
- "Thus says the Lord of hosts": Establishes divine authorship and supreme authority for the following profound declaration, ensuring its ultimate reliability and power.
- "I am exceedingly jealous for Zion; I am jealous for her": The powerful literary device of repetition emphasizes the depth, exclusivity, and enduring nature of God's love and protective commitment toward His covenant city and people. It is not just casual care but an intense, passionate bond.
- "great jealousy... great wrath": The coupling of "great jealousy" with "great wrath" indicates two sides of God's passionate devotion. His jealousy signifies His protective love for His own, while His wrath signifies His righteous indignation and readiness to act in judgment against anything that threatens or abuses His beloved. Both qualities are intensified by "great," highlighting their unyielding nature.
Zechariah 8 2 Bonus section
The concept of God's jealousy for His people or land often appears in contexts of their suffering or exile. This righteous jealousy moves Him to righteous action: first, to discipline His people for unfaithfulness, and then, crucially, to deliver them from oppressors and restore them due to His enduring love and commitment to His covenant. It's an expression of divine loyalty that promises both protection and punitive action. This powerful statement in Zechariah also points forward to the ultimate and eternal dwelling of God among His people in the New Jerusalem (Rev 21-22), where His zeal fully manifests in perfect communion, having utterly purged all opposition. The "great wrath" ensures that all obstacles to this ultimate restoration and glorious dwelling will be decisively removed.
Zechariah 8 2 Commentary
Zechariah 8:2 profoundly reveals the nature of the God of Israel as fiercely committed to His covenant people and His holy dwelling place, Zion. His "jealousy" is not a human flaw, but a divine perfection: a holy, possessive zeal demonstrating His unswerving fidelity to His covenant. This fierce love compels Him to protect His own with an unparalleled intensity. Coupled with "great wrath," this verse promises that divine judgment will surely befall those who have afflicted Zion or hindered God's purposes for His people. It served as a vital encouragement to the returned exiles, reminding them that despite their weakness and the opposition they faced, the powerful Lord of Hosts was passionately engaged on their behalf, ready to deliver vengeance on their oppressors and secure their promised future of blessing and restoration.