Zechariah 9:3

Translations

Modern

Tyre has built herself a fortress; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets.

Traditional

And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

Literal

And Tyre has built a tower for herself, and she has heaped up silver like the dust and gold like the mud of the streets.

Latin

Et ædificavit Tyrus munitionem suam, et coacervavit argentum quasi humum, et aurum ut lutum platearum.

Original

Hebrew

English

Tyre has built herself a fortress; she has heaped up silver like dust, and gold like the dirt of the streets.

Notes

Zechariah 9:3–4

The term fortress (Hebrew matsor) is a play on words with the name of the city of Tyre (Hebrew tsor). This famous island fortress (Isaiah 23:4; Ezekiel 26:5) was captured and destroyed by Alexander the Great in 332 BC.

Zechariah 9:1–8

This message reassured the Judeans that they should not fear their three main neighbors:

Syria (Aram),
the Phoenicians (Tyre and Sidon), and
the Philistines.

These neighbors were rivals of Judah and often tried to gain commercial and territorial advantages. God said their efforts would fail.

Theme notes and profiles

Apocalyptic Literature

Events

Prophecies of Zechariahc. 520 BC

Related verses

Joshua 19:29
The border then turned back toward Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah, and came out at the Sea in the region of Achzib,
Job 27:16
Though he heaps up silver like dust and piles up a wardrobe like clay,
Ezekiel 28:4–5
By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries.
Ezekiel 27:33
When your wares went out to sea, you satisfied many nations. You enriched the kings of the earth with your abundant wealth and merchandise.
Isaiah 23:8
Who planned this against Tyre, the bestower of crowns, whose traders are princes, whose merchants are renowned on the earth?
2 Samuel 24:7
They went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to the Negev of Judah, to Beersheba.
1 Kings 10:27
The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills.
Job 22:24
…and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,

Places

Tyre: A major Phoenician port city, known for its trade

Glossary

Gaza Zechariah, Book of

Topics

The Philistines: Prophecies Respecting: Dismay at Ruin of Tyre Tyre: Celebrated For: Its Wealth Tyre: City of Riches of Tyre: Prophecies Respecting: Its Second Destruction by the Macedonians Tyre: Strongly Fortified

Zechariah 9:3

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