Zechariah 10:11

Authorized King James Version

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And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.

Original Language Analysis

וְעָבַ֨ר And he shall pass through H5674
וְעָבַ֨ר And he shall pass through
Strong's: H5674
Word #: 1 of 16
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
בַיָּם֙ in the sea H3220
בַיָּם֙ in the sea
Strong's: H3220
Word #: 2 of 16
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
צָרָ֗ה with affliction H6869
צָרָ֗ה with affliction
Strong's: H6869
Word #: 3 of 16
transitively, a female rival
וְהִכָּ֤ה and shall smite H5221
וְהִכָּ֤ה and shall smite
Strong's: H5221
Word #: 4 of 16
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
בַיָּם֙ in the sea H3220
בַיָּם֙ in the sea
Strong's: H3220
Word #: 5 of 16
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
גַּלִּ֔ים the waves H1530
גַּלִּ֔ים the waves
Strong's: H1530
Word #: 6 of 16
something rolled, i.e., a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of water (plural waves)
וְהֹבִ֕ישׁוּ shall dry up H3001
וְהֹבִ֕ישׁוּ shall dry up
Strong's: H3001
Word #: 7 of 16
to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither (as herbage)
כֹּ֖ל H3605
כֹּ֖ל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 8 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מְצוּל֣וֹת and all the deeps H4688
מְצוּל֣וֹת and all the deeps
Strong's: H4688
Word #: 9 of 16
a deep place (of water or mud)
יְאֹ֑ר of the river H2975
יְאֹ֑ר of the river
Strong's: H2975
Word #: 10 of 16
a channel, e.g., a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the nile, as the one river of egypt, including its collateral trenches; also the tigris, as the m
וְהוּרַד֙ shall be brought down H3381
וְהוּרַד֙ shall be brought down
Strong's: H3381
Word #: 11 of 16
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
גְּא֣וֹן and the pride H1347
גְּא֣וֹן and the pride
Strong's: H1347
Word #: 12 of 16
the same as h1346
אַשּׁ֔וּר of Assyria H804
אַשּׁ֔וּר of Assyria
Strong's: H804
Word #: 13 of 16
ashshur, the second son of shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e., assyria), its region and its empire
וְשֵׁ֥בֶט and the sceptre H7626
וְשֵׁ֥בֶט and the sceptre
Strong's: H7626
Word #: 14 of 16
a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
מִצְרַ֖יִם of Egypt H4714
מִצְרַ֖יִם of Egypt
Strong's: H4714
Word #: 15 of 16
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt
יָסֽוּר׃ shall depart away H5493
יָסֽוּר׃ shall depart away
Strong's: H5493
Word #: 16 of 16
to turn off (literally or figuratively)

Analysis & Commentary

And he shall pass through the sea with affliction (וְעָבַר בַּיָּם צָרָה)—new Exodus typology, recalling Israel's Red Sea crossing (Exodus 14). Tsarah (affliction/trouble) acknowledges that return involves hardship, not effortless deliverance. And shall smite the waves in the sea—God strikes the waters as He did at the Red Sea, demonstrating continued sovereign power over chaos/obstacles.

And all the deeps of the river shall dry up (וְהֹבִישׁוּ כָּל־מְצוּלוֹת יְאֹר)—yᵉ'or typically means Nile, connecting to Exodus liberation from Egypt. And the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart—both oppressor nations will lose power. This is political prophecy: empires that enslaved Israel will fall. Historically fulfilled through Persian defeat of both Egypt and Mesopotamian powers; eschatologically points to all anti-God kingdoms falling before Messiah's return.

Historical Context

Persian conquest (539 BC) effectively ended Assyrian (already fallen to Babylon, 612 BC) and Egyptian imperial power, allowing Jewish return. This verse interprets geopolitics theologically: God orchestrates empire-collapse to facilitate His people's restoration. It foreshadows Christ's victory over all spiritual 'principalities and powers' (Colossians 2:15).

Questions for Reflection