Zechariah 9:10

Authorized King James Version

And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְנִכְרְתָה֙
H3772
And I will cut off
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
#2
רֶ֣כֶב
H7393
the chariot
a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e., the upper millstone
#3
מֵאֶפְרַ֗יִם
H669
from Ephraim
ephrajim, a son of joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
#4
וְסוּס֙
H5483
and the horse
a horse (as leaping)
#5
מִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
H3389
from Jerusalem
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
#6
וְנִכְרְתָה֙
H3772
And I will cut off
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
#7
קֶ֣שֶׁת
H7198
bow
a bow, for shooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris
#8
מִלְחָמָ֔ה
H4421
and the battle
a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
#9
וְדִבֶּ֥ר
H1696
and he shall speak
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
#10
שָׁל֖וֹם
H7965
peace
safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace
#11
לַגּוֹיִ֑ם
H1471
unto the heathen
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
#12
וּמָשְׁלוֹ֙
H4915
and his dominion
empire
#13
יָ֔ם
H3220
even to sea
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
#14
עַד
H5704
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#15
יָ֔ם
H3220
even to sea
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
#16
וּמִנָּהָ֖ר
H5104
and from the river
a stream (including the sea; expectation the nile, euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity
#17
עַד
H5704
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#18
אַפְסֵי
H657
even to the ends
cessation, i.e., an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or f
#19
אָֽרֶץ׃
H776
of the earth
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

Analysis

The kingdom of God theme here intersects with the progressive revelation of God's rule from creation to consummation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of development from creation mandate through Davidic kingdom to eschatological fulfillment. The phrase emphasizing peace contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's reign from creation through the millennial kingdom.

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 kingdom of God 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 peace in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection