Zechariah 1:21

Authorized King James Version

Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
לֵאמֹ֗ר
H559
And he spake
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
מָ֛ה
H4100
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
#3
אֵ֥לֶּה
H428
these or those
#4
וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ
H935
I What come
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#5
לַֽעֲשׂ֑וֹת
H6213
these to do
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
#6
לֵאמֹ֗ר
H559
And he spake
to say (used with great latitude)
#7
לֵאמֹ֗ר
H559
And he spake
to say (used with great latitude)
#8
אֵ֣לֶּה
H428
these or those
#9
קֶ֛רֶן
H7161
These are the horns
a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance. an elephant's tooth (i.e., ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a moun
#10
אֲשֶׁר
H834
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#11
לְזָרוֹתָֽהּ׃
H2219
to scatter
to toss about; by implication, to diffuse, winnow
#12
אֶת
H853
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#13
יְהוּדָ֖ה
H3063
Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
#14
כְּפִי
H6310
so that
the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos
#15
אִישׁ֙
H376
no man
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
#16
לֹא
H3808
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#17
הַנֹּשְׂאִ֥ים
H5375
did lift up
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
#18
רֹאשׁ֔וֹ
H7218
his head
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
#19
וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ
H935
I What come
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#20
אֵ֙לֶּה֙
H428
these or those
#21
לְהַחֲרִ֣יד
H2729
to fray
to shudder with terror; hence, to fear; also to hasten (with anxiety)
#22
אֹתָ֔ם
H853
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#23
לְיַדּ֞וֹת
H3034
them to cast out
physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the ha
#24
אֶת
H853
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#25
קֶ֛רֶן
H7161
These are the horns
a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance. an elephant's tooth (i.e., ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a moun
#26
הַגּוֹיִ֗ם
H1471
of the Gentiles
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
#27
הַנֹּשְׂאִ֥ים
H5375
did lift up
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
#28
קֶ֛רֶן
H7161
These are the horns
a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance. an elephant's tooth (i.e., ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a moun
#29
אֶל
H413
near, with or among; often in general, to
#30
אֶ֥רֶץ
H776
over the land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#31
יְהוּדָ֖ה
H3063
Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
#32
לְזָרוֹתָֽהּ׃
H2219
to scatter
to toss about; by implication, to diffuse, winnow

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Zechariah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection