Keraia
Zechariah 9

Zechariah 9:7

The Burden against Israel’s Enemies · Zechariah 9:1–8
Read Zechariah 9

Translations

Modern
I will remove the blood from their mouths and the abominations from between their teeth. Then they too will become a remnant for our God; they will become like a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.
Traditional
And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.
Literal
And I will turn away the blood from his mouth, and the abominations from between his teeth; and the one who remains, even he is unto our God, and he will be like a clan in Judah, and Ekron like a Jebusite.
Latin
Et auferam sanguinem ejus de ore ejus, et abominationes ejus de medio dentium ejus: et relinquetur etiam ipse Deo nostro, et erit quasi dux in Juda, et Accaron quasi Jebusæus.

Original

Hebrew
English
I will remove the blood from their mouths and the abominations from between their teeth. Then they too will become a remnant for our God; they will become like a clan in Judah, and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.

Notes

Zechariah 9:7

  • blood: The Philistines ate meat with blood, which was considered ceremonially unclean (see Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17; Acts 15:20).

  • Abominations refer to eating unclean foods (see Leviticus 11:2–23).

  • they too will become a remnant for our God: This predicts Philip’s work in the Philistine coastal cities (see Acts 8:40).

  • The Jebusites were a Canaanite group (see Genesis 10:16; 1 Chronicles 1:14) living near Jerusalem. The city of Jebus (Jerusalem) was attacked and burned during the time of the judges (see Judges 1:8). David later recaptured it and made it his capital (see 2 Samuel 5:6–10). The Jebusites joined the Israelites through intermarriage during David’s reign (see 2 Samuel 5:13).

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

People

Jebusites: Canaanite tribe inhabiting Jerusalem before David's conquest Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Places

Ekron: One of the five major Philistine city-states

Glossary

Ekron, Ekronites Gaza Zechariah, Book of

Topics

Idolatry: Other Customs of Libations of Blood Philistines: Prophecies Against