Zechariah 12:2

The Coming Deliverance of Jerusalem · Zechariah 12:1–9
Read Zechariah 12

Translations

Modern
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.
Traditional
Behold, 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.
Literal
“Behold, I am setting Jerusalem as a cup of drunkenness for all the peoples round about. Even against Judah it will be in the siege and against Jerusalem.
Latin
Ecce ego ponam Jerusalem superliminare crapulæ omnibus populis in circuitu: sed et Juda erit in obsidione contra Jerusalem.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.

Notes

cup of drunkeness: The cup of alcoholic drink is a metaphor for God’s judgment (Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15; Habakkuk 2:16; Matthew 26:39, 42; Revelation 14:10; 16:1). Jerusalem would play a key role in God’s judgment on nearby nations.

The theme of Jerusalem versus the nations connects the four messages in Zechariah's second oracle. The nations gather against Jerusalem at both the start (Zechariah 12:1–9) and the end (14:1–15) of the oracle. The repeated phrase on that day points to the future day of the Lord.

This oracle shows both judgment and blessing for Jerusalem. The main focus is the cleansing of the people of Israel (Zechariah 13:1), ending with God's universal kingdom (14:16–21). These future visions encouraged the Judeans of Zechariah's time to stay faithful despite feeling unimportant and helpless.

Theme notes and profiles

Apocalyptic Literature

Events

People

Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Cup David Zechariah, Book of

Topics

Jerusalem: Prophecies Respecting: To be a Terror to Her Enemies Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of Blessing and Restoration