Zechariah 10:9

Authorized King James Version

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And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.

Original Language Analysis

וְאֶזְרָעֵם֙ And I will sow H2232
וְאֶזְרָעֵם֙ And I will sow
Strong's: H2232
Word #: 1 of 8
to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify
בָּֽעַמִּ֔ים them among the people H5971
בָּֽעַמִּ֔ים them among the people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 2 of 8
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
וּבַמֶּרְחַקִּ֖ים me in far countries H4801
וּבַמֶּרְחַקִּ֖ים me in far countries
Strong's: H4801
Word #: 3 of 8
remoteness, i.e., (concretely) a distant place; often (adverbially) from afar
יִזְכְּר֑וּנִי and they shall remember H2142
יִזְכְּר֑וּנִי and they shall remember
Strong's: H2142
Word #: 4 of 8
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
וְחָי֥וּ and they shall live H2421
וְחָי֥וּ and they shall live
Strong's: H2421
Word #: 5 of 8
to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive
אֶת H854
אֶת
Strong's: H854
Word #: 6 of 8
properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally, with, by, at, among, etc
בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם with their children H1121
בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם with their children
Strong's: H1121
Word #: 7 of 8
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וָשָֽׁבוּ׃ and turn again H7725
וָשָֽׁבוּ׃ and turn again
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 8 of 8
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

Cross References

Ezekiel 6:9And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.Isaiah 65:9And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.Isaiah 65:23They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.Jeremiah 31:27Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.Nehemiah 1:9But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.Hosea 2:23And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.Micah 5:7And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.Esther 8:17And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.Jeremiah 51:50Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.

Analysis & Commentary

And I will sow them among the people (וְאֶזְרָעֵם בָּעַמִּים)—zara (to sow/scatter seed) transforms diaspora from curse to mission. Rather than regathering immediately, God strategically 'plants' His people among nations as seed producing harvest. And they shall remember me in far countries (וּזְכָרֻנִי בַּמֶּרְחַקִּים)—zachar (remember) is covenantal: maintaining relationship and identity despite distance.

And they shall live with their children, and turn again (וְחָיוּ אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם וָשָׁבוּ)—chayah (live) and shuv (return) both physically and spiritually. The diaspora will survive, reproduce, and eventually return—preserving generational covenant faithfulness. This anticipates Jewish preservation through 2,000 years of dispersion and modern Israel's establishment (1948). It also describes the church's mission: scattered as seed throughout the world, bearing fruit, ultimately returning/gathered at Christ's coming.

Historical Context

While some Jews returned from Babylonian exile (538 BC onward), most remained scattered. This prophecy explains that dispersion serves God's purposes: preserving and multiplying His people while spreading knowledge of Yahweh among nations. Jewish diaspora communities became the platform for gospel spread in the first century (Acts 13-28).

Questions for Reflection