The big picture
Zechariah 12 opens in verse 1 with “The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD , which stretcheth forth…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David…”, and closes in verse 14 with “All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.” Repeated or prominent terms include apart, Jerusalem, house, LORD, family. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Zechariah · King James Version · 14Zechariah 12:1-7
1–7: The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD , which…
Zechariah 12:1–7 opens with “The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD , which stretcheth forth the…” and reaches “The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Zechariah 12 develops its own movement around apart, Jerusalem, house, LORD, family, with particular weight carried by Jerusalem, Judah, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD , which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Zechariah 12:1-7
King James Version1The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD , which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
2Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
3And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
4In that day, saith the LORD , I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
5And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.
6In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
7The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
Zechariah 12:8-14
8–14: In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he…
Zechariah 12:8–14 opens with “In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them…” and reaches “All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Zechariah 12 develops its own movement around apart, Jerusalem, house, LORD, family, with particular weight carried by apart, family, house.
Context that brings the passage to life
“In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Zechariah 12:8-14
King James Version8In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
9And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
10And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
11In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
12And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
13The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
14All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Zechariah 12:1 begins with “The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD , which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the…”
Where the chapter turns
Zechariah 12:7 forms a natural hinge: “The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify…”
The final note
Zechariah 12:14 leaves the reader with “All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words apart, Jerusalem, house, LORD, family, Judah help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who is meant to benefit from Abram's call?
All families of the earth, according to verse 3. Election carries an outward purpose.
How does the Egypt episode complicate a hero story?
Abram acts from fear, while Pharaoh recognizes and challenges the wrong done.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.