Zechariah 9 4

Zechariah 9:4 kjv

Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

Zechariah 9:4 nkjv

Behold, the Lord will cast her out; He will destroy her power in the sea, And she will be devoured by fire.

Zechariah 9:4 niv

But the Lord will take away her possessions and destroy her power on the sea, and she will be consumed by fire.

Zechariah 9:4 esv

But behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her power on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire.

Zechariah 9:4 nlt

But now the Lord will strip away Tyre's possessions
and hurl its fortifications into the sea,
and it will be burned to the ground.

Zechariah 9 verses

Zechariah 9 4 Meaning

Zechariah 9:4 pronounces God's severe judgment upon the city of Tyre, a prominent Phoenician stronghold. The verse states that the Lord Himself will bring about her impoverishment, casting her vast wealth into the sea, and culminating in her complete destruction by fire. This prophesied downfall is a testament to God's sovereignty over powerful human empires and His decisive judgment against pride and material self-sufficiency.

Zechariah 9 4 Context

Zechariah 9 begins a new section of the book (chapters 9-14) often called the "Book of Burden" or "Second Burden," which shifts focus from the rebuilding of the Temple to future messianic and eschatological events, interspersed with prophecies concerning the nations. Zechariah 9:1-8 specifically details God's judgment on various surrounding nations (Hadrach, Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, Sidon, Philistia) before describing the coming of Zion's King (Zech 9:9-10). Tyre, being a renowned Phoenician maritime power known for its immense wealth, trade, and seemingly impregnable island fortress, represented the epitome of human pride and self-sufficiency. This prophecy highlights God's justice against those who oppose His people and rely on their own strength, contrasting with the salvation promised to Zion. Historically, Zechariah's prophecy against Tyre found remarkable fulfillment during the siege by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, who literally cast the debris of the mainland city into the sea to build a causeway to the island fortress, ultimately sacking and burning the city.

Zechariah 9 4 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): This Hebrew particle is an emphatic interjection, often translated as "Lo!" or "Look!" It serves to draw the reader's attention to an important or surprising announcement, signaling the certainty and solemnity of the divine decree about to be given.
• the Lord (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai): This title for God emphasizes His mastership, sovereignty, and authority. The use of Adonai here, rather than Yahweh (the covenant name), stresses God's absolute power as Ruler over all nations, underscoring that Tyre's destruction is not mere political chance but a divine judgment from the Supreme Sovereign.
• will impoverish her (יוֹרִשֶׁנָּה - yorishennah): Derived from the root יָרַשׁ (yarash), meaning "to dispossess," "to take possession of," or "to impoverish." In this context, it signifies the act of depriving Tyre of all her possessions, reducing her to destitution, and dispossessing her of her former grandeur. This implies a complete reversal of her previous prosperous state.
• and strike down (וְהִכָּה - vehikkah): From the root הָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike," "to smite," "to beat," or "to destroy." This word denotes a violent and decisive blow, indicating the forceful nature of God's action against Tyre, resulting in severe devastation.
• her wealth (בְּחֵילָהּ - b’cheilah): The Hebrew word חֵיל (cheil) can mean "wealth," "strength," "army," or "rampart." In the context of a wealthy trading city like Tyre, it primarily refers to her accumulated riches, her abundant resources, and her strong fortifications. The judgment targets the very sources of her pride and security.
• into the sea (הַיָּמָּה - hayyamah): This phrase describes the literal destination of Tyre's wealth and even portions of her structure. For a maritime city that gained its riches from the sea, having her wealth and substance cast into the sea is a profound poetic and literal judgment. It signifies irreversible loss and burial of her economic power, as if it never existed.
• and she will be devoured by fire (וְהִיא תּאֻכַּל בָּאֵשׁ - v’hi tookkal ba’esh):
  • devoured (תּאֻכַּל - tookkal): From the verb אָכַל (‘akal), meaning "to eat" or "to consume." The passive voice emphasizes that the destruction will be complete and inflicted upon her. Fire consumes entirely, leaving nothing intact.
  • by fire (בָּאֵשׁ - ba’esh): Fire is a common biblical metaphor for divine judgment, purification, and complete destruction. It signifies the final and overwhelming obliteration of the city, leaving ruins and desolation.

Words-group analysis:

• "Behold, the Lord will impoverish her": This opening pronouncement immediately places the action firmly within God's sovereign plan. It emphasizes that Tyre's downfall is not a random event but a deliberate act of divine judgment, targeting her prosperity and self-reliance.
• "and strike down her wealth into the sea": This phrase powerfully describes the obliteration of Tyre's economic foundation and identity. As a commercial powerhouse whose very existence depended on maritime trade, casting her "wealth" (cheil – potentially also hinting at her "fortifications" and "power") into the sea represents the ultimate undoing of all that defined and secured her, reducing her status to nothingness. This imagery particularly resonated with the historical account of Alexander the Great's siege.
• "and she will be devoured by fire": This final devastating blow signifies the absolute and complete ruin of Tyre. Fire leaves nothing salvageable, implying not just impoverishment but utter annihilation. It conveys the totality and irrevocability of God's judgment against the city and everything it symbolized.

Zechariah 9 4 Bonus section

The remarkable accuracy of Zechariah 9:4 is often highlighted as a demonstration of the prophetic inspiration of Scripture. Historically, the fulfillment of this prophecy by Alexander the Great in 332 BC is particularly striking. Unlike previous sieges by Nebuchadnezzar, which failed to completely destroy island Tyre, Alexander conquered the mainland city, then famously used its rubble to build a causeway (a mole or bridge) out to the island. He literally pushed the stones, timbers, and earth of the old city into the sea to construct this bridge, effectively "striking down her wealth into the sea." After a grueling seven-month siege, the island city was captured, sacked, and ultimately burned, fulfilling the "devoured by fire" aspect. This specific and precise historical fulfillment stands as strong evidence of God's foreknowledge and His active hand in the affairs of nations, demonstrating that His prophetic word never fails to come to pass.

Zechariah 9 4 Commentary

Zechariah 9:4 encapsulates a divine verdict against human arrogance and misplaced trust in material security. Tyre, with its immense wealth, impenetrable defenses, and strategic maritime dominance, epitomized human achievement and self-sufficiency, becoming a symbol of a world system that elevates itself against God. The prophecy emphasizes that God, as Adonai, the supreme Master, will actively dispossess Tyre of its riches and reduce it to utter poverty. The striking down of her wealth "into the sea" is a particularly poignant judgment, as the sea was the source of her prosperity. This act signifies an irreversible undoing, a complete annihilation of her economic power and glory. The final image of being "devoured by fire" underscores the absolute nature of God's consuming judgment, leaving nothing behind but desolation. This verse serves as a potent reminder that all human strength, pride, and material possessions are ultimately fragile and subordinate to God's sovereign will and righteous judgment.