Zechariah 12:3

Translations

Modern

On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.

Traditional

And 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.

Literal

And it will come to pass in that day, that I will set Jerusalem as a stone of burden for all the peoples; all loading it will be severely cut. They will gather against it—all the nations of the earth.

Latin

Et erit: in die illa ponam Jerusalem lapidem oneris cunctis populis: omnes qui levabunt eam concisione lacerabuntur, et colligentur adversus eam omnia regna terræ.

Original

Hebrew

English

On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.

Notes

Zechariah 12:3

Jerusalem will be like a heavy stone that no one can move. Anyone who tries to conquer or control the city will be injured by it. This is because the Lord founded Jerusalem and loves it more than any other city in Israel (Psalm 87:1–2).

In the book of Zechariah, stone imagery is often connected to the temple. These stones point to God’s work of building, restoring, and protecting his holy place (Zechariah 3:9; 4:7; 10:4).

Zechariah 12:1–14:21

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

Prophecies of Zechariahc. 520 BC

Related verses

Matthew 21:44
He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
Zechariah 14:2–4
For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.
Daniel 2:34–35
As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them.
Luke 20:18
Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
Ezekiel 38:1–23
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Zechariah 13:1
“On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the people of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.
Zechariah 14:6
On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost.
Isaiah 66:14–16
When you see, you will rejoice, and you will flourish like grass; then the hand of the LORD will be revealed to His servants, but His wrath will be shown to His enemies.
Zechariah 12:11
On that day the wailing in Jerusalem will be as great as the wailing of Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo.
Zechariah 12:4
On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and every rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah, but I will strike with blindness all the horses of the nations.
Joel 3:8–16
I will sell your sons and daughters into the hands of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans—to a distant nation.” Indeed, the LORD has spoken.
Haggai 2:22
I will overturn royal thrones and destroy the power of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overturn chariots and their riders; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.

Places

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

Glossary

David Zechariah, Book of

Topics

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

Zechariah 12:3

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Translations

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