Zechariah 9 6

Zechariah 9:6 kjv

And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

Zechariah 9:6 nkjv

"A mixed race shall settle in Ashdod, And I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.

Zechariah 9:6 niv

A mongrel people will occupy Ashdod, and I will put an end to the pride of the Philistines.

Zechariah 9:6 esv

a mixed people shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of Philistia.

Zechariah 9:6 nlt

Foreigners will occupy the city of Ashdod.
I will destroy the pride of the Philistines.

Zechariah 9 verses

Zechariah 9 6 Meaning

Zechariah 9:6 prophesies divine judgment upon Ashdod, a prominent Philistine city. It declares that a "mongrel people" or an alien population, devoid of distinct national identity and purity, shall dwell within it. This pronouncement signifies the complete downfall and humiliation of Ashdod, along with the cutting off of the Philistines' inherent pride, military might, and the arrogant self-assurance that characterized them as a powerful adversary to Israel.

Zechariah 9 6 Context

Zechariah chapter 9 marks the beginning of the second major oracle in the book (chapters 9-14), focusing on future divine judgment and salvation. Verses 1-8 specifically prophesy judgment against several of Israel's historical enemies in the surrounding nations—Syria, Phoenicia, and prominently, the Philistine cities of Hadrach, Damascus, Hamath, Tyre, Sidon, Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron, and Ashdod. This particular verse (9:6) pronounces the fate of Ashdod, setting the stage for the broader declaration of God's victory and the subsequent, surprising turn toward a partial incorporation of remnants of these nations into a relationship with God (as seen in Zechariah 9:7). Historically, these nations had oppressed Israel, and this oracle announces their humbling and subjugation under God's ultimate sovereignty.

Zechariah 9 6 Word analysis

• A mongrel people:
  • Hebrew: מַמְזֵר (mamzer).
  • Meaning: Literally, an illegitimate child, a bastard. Figuratively, as used here, it signifies a mixed, impure, or alien population.
  • Significance: This word carries a strong connotation of impurity, lack of distinct identity, and social degradation. When applied to Ashdod, it does not mean every individual is literally a "bastard" but points to the breakdown of their distinct national, cultural, and religious identity. Their pride and former integrity would be shattered, replaced by a diverse, non-native populace without the historical purity or strength associated with Philistine identity. It's a symbolic destruction of their 'lineage' or heritage. This likely refers to the mixing and cultural erosion resulting from foreign conquests (e.g., Persian, Greek) which would dilute Philistine distinctiveness.
• shall dwell in Ashdod:
  • Ashdod: One of the five major Philistine cities, known for its temple of Dagon (1 Sam 5:1-7) and a long history of conflict with Israel (e.g., Uzziah broke down its walls, 2 Chr 26:6).
  • Significance: The phrase indicates a permanent settlement and subjugation of this significant city. No longer would it be a bastion of Philistine power; instead, it would be inhabited by this impure or foreign group, highlighting its complete humiliation and loss of native control.
• and I will cut off:
  • Hebrew: וְהִכְרַתִּי (vehikhratti) - from the root כרת (karat).
  • Meaning: To cut off, destroy, eradicate, put an end to. Often used in covenant contexts for excommunication or judgment, but here applied to gentile nations.
  • Significance: This is a divine declaration ("I will cut off"), emphasizing God's direct agency and decisive judgment. It's not a mere historical event but an act initiated by the Almighty to remove a fundamental aspect of their being. It points to a definitive end to Philistine dominance and boastfulness.
• the pride:
  • Hebrew: גְּאֹ֥ו‎ן (ga'on).
  • Meaning: Pride, arrogance, majesty, splendor, excellence. It can denote a legitimate source of national pride or, as often in prophecy, human haughtiness and self-sufficiency opposed to God.
  • Significance: In the context of Philistia, "pride" likely encompasses their military strength, their pagan worship (e.g., of Dagon, symbolizing their false sense of security), their independent political status, and their defiant attitude towards God and His people. God aims to dismantle the very core of their national confidence and their sources of self-glory.
• of Philistia:
  • Philistia: The ancient territory of the Philistines, Israel's perennial adversaries on the southwestern coast.
  • Significance: The judgment against Ashdod is symbolic and representative of the judgment against the entire Philistine land and people. The "pride of Philistia" suggests a corporate national identity characterized by arrogance, which God determines to destroy.

Zechariah 9 6 Bonus section

The prophetic fulfillment of Zechariah 9:6, while spiritual in its core message of divine judgment on pride, finds historical echoes in the conquests of Alexander the Great. Following Zechariah's time, Alexander subjugated the Philistine cities, leading to a period of Hellenization where their distinct identity was increasingly diluted, and their populations likely became more mixed with Greek and other cultures. This aligns with the "mongrel people" prophecy, signifying the loss of pure Philistine identity. This verse also implicitly polemicizes against the pagan gods of the Philistines (like Dagon, whose house was in Ashdod, 1 Sam 5), by demonstrating that the source of Philistine pride—which might have been attributed to their deities—was utterly impotent against the power of the LORD, who alone can humble the proud. The verse sets the stage for a broader Messianic expectation where hostile Gentile powers are subjected, ultimately leading some remnants to convert (Zechariah 9:7), demonstrating the dual nature of God's dealing with the nations: judgment and redemptive inclusion.

Zechariah 9 6 Commentary

Zechariah 9:6 serves as a powerful declaration of God's sovereignty over the nations, even over those that have long defied His people. It announces the definitive collapse of Philistine power, embodied in the humiliation of Ashdod. The dwelling of a "mongrel people" (mamzer) signifies not only demographic change but a profound loss of national integrity and identity, reflecting a divinely orchestrated disintegration of their social and perhaps religious fabric. God's act of "cutting off the pride" directly targets their national boast—be it their military might, their gods, or their self-reliant spirit. This divine intervention establishes God's absolute authority and foreshadows His ultimate reordering of the world, making clear that human pride, especially that which stands in opposition to God, will invariably be brought low. This judgment is also a prerequisite for the transformative work hinted at in the subsequent verse where remnants are brought into a relationship with God.