Zechariah 9 11

Zechariah 9:11 kjv

As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

Zechariah 9:11 nkjv

"As for you also, Because of the blood of your covenant, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

Zechariah 9:11 niv

As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.

Zechariah 9:11 esv

As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

Zechariah 9:11 nlt

Because of the covenant I made with you,
sealed with blood,
I will free your prisoners
from death in a waterless dungeon.

Zechariah 9 verses

Zechariah 9 11 Meaning

Zechariah 9:11 declares God's solemn promise to release His people, described as prisoners, from a desolate state of captivity, specifically "the waterless pit." This divine act of liberation is explicitly founded "because of the blood of my covenant." It signifies that God's faithful adherence to His established covenants, particularly those ratified by sacrificial blood, is the unshakeable basis for the future redemption and restoration of His chosen ones from whatever spiritual or physical bondage they may endure.

Zechariah 9 11 Context

Zechariah 9 is part of the second major section of the book, focusing on the future and Messianic prophecies. Chapter 9 itself begins with prophecies of divine judgment against surrounding Gentile nations (Tyre, Sidon, Philistia) which culminates in the safeguarding and blessing of Judah and Jerusalem. This sets the stage for the arrival of Zion's humble yet triumphant King (Zech 9:9-10), a distinctly Messianic prophecy. Verse 11 directly follows this declaration of the coming king and the establishment of His kingdom of peace, pivoting to how this salvation will directly benefit God's covenant people. The immediate historical context is post-exilic Judah, a period of rebuilding and spiritual revival, yet under Persian imperial rule. The verse offers a hope of a more profound liberation than simply physical return from Babylon, promising freedom from an ultimate pit of despair based on God's enduring covenant faithfulness.

Zechariah 9 11 Word analysis

• As for you also (גַּם־אַ֣תְּ / gam-at):
  • gam: "also," "even." Indicates a continuity or additional emphasis, pointing to Zion/God's people as the direct recipients of this divine action, in contrast or addition to the previous prophecies concerning the nations and the coming king. It singles out Jerusalem/Judah specifically.
  • at: "you" (feminine singular). Refers to the collective entity of God's people, often personified as Zion or Jerusalem.
• because of the blood (בְּדַם / bidam):
  • bi-: "in" or "through" or "because of." Denotes the basis or means.
  • dam: "blood." A profound and recurring theological term in the Bible. It signifies life (Lev 17:11) and, crucially, purification, atonement, and covenant ratification. In the Old Covenant, sacrificial blood sealed agreements (Exod 24:8). Its presence here directly ties the promised liberation to a foundational, binding agreement initiated by God.
• of my covenant (בְּרִיתִי / beriti):
  • berit: "covenant." A solemn, binding agreement established by God. This refers to God's existing and faithful relationship with His people, specifically implying His promises to Abraham, Moses, and David. It points to a divine commitment.
  • -i: my (possessive suffix). Emphasizes that it is God's own initiative and property, stressing its divine origin and inviolability.
• I will set your prisoners free (שִׁלַּ֣חְתִּי אֲסִירַיִךְ / shilakhti asirayikh):
  • shilakhti: "I have sent/set free" (perfect tense). Expresses a divine decree as good as done, emphasizing certainty and divine initiative.
  • asirayikh: "your prisoners." Plural of asir, meaning "captive," "bound one," or "prisoner." These are those held in bondage, whether literally (from exile or oppression) or metaphorically (from sin, spiritual death, or despair). The possessive your refers back to Zion.
• from the waterless pit (מִבּ֥וֹר אֵֽין־מַ֖יִם / mibor ein-mayim):
  • mi-: "from." Indicates the origin of the release.
  • bor: "pit," "cistern," "dungeon." In biblical literature, a bor is often a desolate, dangerous, or death-like place (Gen 37:24; Jer 38:6). It can symbolize a grave, Sheol (the realm of the dead), or a state of extreme hopelessness, desolation, and near-death.
  • ein-mayim: "no water," "waterless." Emphasizes the barrenness, hopelessness, and lack of life within the pit. Water signifies life, refreshment, and purification. Its absence indicates spiritual drought, abandonment, or total deprivation.

Words-group analysis:

• "because of the blood of my covenant": This phrase forms the bedrock of God's action. It ties the liberation not to human merit or effort, but to God's gracious, pre-established agreement ratified by sacred blood. This foundation foreshadows the New Covenant established through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, whose blood perfectly fulfills the requirements of a sin-atoning covenant.
• "your prisoners from the waterless pit": This powerful imagery highlights the depth of the bondage and the dire situation from which God's people are to be rescued. "Your prisoners" points to Israel/Zion being held captive. The "waterless pit" symbolizes not just physical confinement but a condition of utter despair, spiritual death, and profound hopelessness. It speaks to any situation where life, freedom, or divine presence seems completely absent.
• "I will set... free": This is a declaration of divine authority and active intervention. It is God Himself who undertakes the work of liberation, making it a guaranteed and powerful release that no human power could accomplish.

Zechariah 9 11 Bonus section

The "waterless pit" is not only a symbol of physical prison or exile but strongly evokes the biblical concept of Sheol or the grave, emphasizing the radical nature of God's liberation which can deliver from the very brink of death and despair. This speaks to spiritual revival and the restoration of life where there was none. The divine "I will set free" underscores God's personal initiative and omnipotent power to rescue. The imagery here is echoed in other biblical passages about resurrection and spiritual renewal, making this verse a powerful testament to the complete scope of God's redemptive plan for His chosen ones.

Zechariah 9 11 Commentary

Zechariah 9:11 serves as a profound promise of divine liberation, deeply rooted in God's covenant faithfulness. It portrays God's people in a state of desperate captivity, symbolically represented by "the waterless pit," a place of despair, emptiness, and spiritual desolation akin to a grave. The pivotal truth revealed here is that the basis for their release is "the blood of my covenant." This references the enduring and binding agreements God made with Israel, ratified by blood sacrifices. Ultimately, this points forward to the New Covenant established by the shedding of Jesus Christ's blood (Hebrews 9:14), which provides the ultimate ground for freedom from sin's bondage and spiritual death (Colossians 1:13). The promise of being "set free" is a unilateral act of God, a direct outflow of His unyielding commitment to His people, ensuring their ultimate restoration and joy in the kingdom of their humble, righteous King. This verse highlights the profound connection between God's ancient promises and His final work of salvation through the Messiah.