Jerusalem Under Siege
Zechariah 12
The Lord declares that Jerusalem will become an immovable stone and a source of confusion to all the nations that gather against it in siege, while he defends its inhabitants and strengthens the house of David. He promises to pour out on Jerusalem a spirit of grace and compassion, so that the people look to him and mourn deeply, family by family, as one grieves for a beloved firstborn son.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTHE burden of the word of the Lord against Israel. The Lord Who stretcheth out the heaven and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him, saith:
BrentonThe burden of the word of the Lord for Israel; saith the Lord, that stretches out the sky, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.
GreekΛῆμμα λόγου Κυρίου ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰσραήλ· λέγει Κύριος, ἐκτείνων οὐρανὸν, καὶ θεμελιῶν γῆν, καὶ πλάσσων πνεῦμα ἀνθρώπου ἐν αὐτῷ,
KJVThe burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
JPSThe burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The saying of the LORD, who stretched forth the heavens, And laid the foundation of the earth, And formed the spirit of man within him:
2
ThomsonBehold I will make Jerusalem like a porch shaken by all the peoples round about. And in Judea there shall be a siege against Jerusalem,
BrentonBehold, I will make Jerusalem as trembling door-posts to all the nations round about, and in Judea there shall be a siege against Jerusalem.
Greekἰδοὺ ἐγὼ τίθημι τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ ὡς πρόθυρα σαλευόμενα πᾶσι τοῖς λαοῖς κύκλῳ, καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ἔσται περιοχὴ ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVBehold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
JPSBehold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of staggering Unto all the peoples round about, And upon Judah also shall it fall to be in the siege against Jerusalem.
3
Thomsonand in that day I will make Jerusalem a stone to be trampled by all the nations: every one who trampleth her will make her his mocking stock.
BrentonAnd it shall come to pass in that day that I will make Jerusalem a trodden stone to all the nations: every one that tramples on it shall utterly mock at it, and all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ θήσομαι τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ λίθον καταπατούμενον πᾶσι τοῖς ἔθνεσι· πᾶς ὁ καταπατῶν αὐτὴν ἐμπαίζων ἐμπαίξεται, καὶ ἐπισυναχθήσονται ἐπʼ αὐτὴν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς.
KJVAnd in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
JPSAnd it shall come to pass in that day, That I will make Jerusalem a stone of burden for all the peoples; All that burden themselves with it shall be sore wounded; And all the nations of the earth shall be gathered together against it.
4
Thomson[Yet] when all the nations of the earth shall be gathered against her, in that day, saith the Lord Almighty, I will smite every horse with astonishment and his rider with madness. But upon the house of Juda I will open Mine eyes. When I smite all the horses of the nations with blindness,
BrentonIn that day, saith the Lord Almighty, I will smite every horse with amazement, and his rider with madness: but I will open mine eyes upon the house of Juda, and I will smite all the horses of the nations with blindness.
GreekἘν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, πατάξω πάντα ἵππον ἐν ἐκστάσει, καὶ τὸν ἀναβάτην αὐτοῦ ἐν παραφρονήσει, ἐπὶ δὲ τὸν οἶκον Ἰούδα διανοίξω τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου, καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἵππους τῶν λαῶν πατάξω ἐν ἀποτυφλώσει.
KJVIn that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
JPSIn that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with bewilderment, And his rider with madness; And I will open Mine eyes upon the house of Judah, And will smite every horse of the peoples with blindness.
5
Thomsonthen will Juda’s captains of thousands say in their hearts, We shall find those for us who inhabit Jerusalem by the Lord Almighty their God.
BrentonAnd the captains of thousands of Juda shall say in their hearts, We shall find for ourselves the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the Lord Almighty their God.
GreekΚαὶ ἐροῦσιν οἱ χιλίαρχοι Ἰούδα ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις αὐτῶν, εὑρήσομεν ἑαυτοῖς τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἐν Κυρίῳ παντοκράτορι Θεῷ αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.
JPSAnd the chiefs of Judah shall say in their heart: ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem are my strength Through the LORD of hosts their God.’
6
ThomsonIn that day I will make Juda’s captains of thousands like a firebrand among wood, and like a flaming torch among stubble. And they shall devour on the right and on the left all the peoples around. And Jerusalem shall again dwell by herself in Jerusalem.
BrentonIn that day I will make the captains of thousands of Juda as a firebrand among wood, and as a torch of fire in stubble; and they shall devour on the right hand and on the left all the nations round about: and Jerusalem shall dwell again by herself, even in Jerusalem.
GreekἘν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ θήσομαι τοὺς χιλιάρχους Ἰούδα ὡς δαλὸν πυρὸς ἐν ξύλοις, καὶ ὡς λαμπάδα πυρὸς ἐν καλάμῃ, καὶ καταφάγονται ἐκ δεξιῶν, καὶ ἐξ εὐωνύμων πάντας τοὺς λαοὺς κυκλόθεν, καὶ κατοικήσει Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἔτι καθʼ ἑαυτὴν ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVIn that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
JPSIn that day will I make the chiefs of Judah Like a pan of fire among the wood, And like a torch of fire among sheaves; And they shall devour all the peoples round about, On the right hand and on the left; And Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
7
ThomsonAnd the Lord will save the dwellings of Juda as at the beginning.
BrentonAnd the Lord shall save the tabernacles of Juda as at the beginning, that the boast of the house of David, and the pride of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, may not magnify themselves against Juda.
GreekΚαὶ σώσει Κύριος τὰ σκηνώματα Ἰούδα, καθὼς ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς, ὅπως μὴ μεγαλύνηται καύχημα οἴκου Δαυὶδ, καὶ ἔπαρσις τῶν κατοικούντων Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἐπὶ τὸν Ἰούδα.
KJVThe LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
JPSThe LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, That the glory of the house of David And the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem be not magnified above Judah.
8
ThomsonThat the boasting of the house of David may not be magnified, nor the elevation of the inhabitants of Jerusalem depend upon Juda, The Lord will indeed, in that day, spread a shield over the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the weak among them shall in that day be like David, and the house of David like the house of God—like an angel of the Lord before them.
BrentonAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and the weak one among them in that day shall be as David, and the house of David as the house of God, as the angel of the Lord before them.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ὑπερασπιεῖ Κύριος ὑπὲρ τῶν κατοικούντων Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἔσται ὁ ἀσθενῶν ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὡς Δαυὶδ, ὁ δὲ οἶκος Δαυὶδ ὡς οἶκος Θεοῦ, ὡς ἄγγελος Κυρίου ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν.
KJVIn that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
JPSIn that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; And he that stumbleth among them at that day shall be as David; And the house of David shall be as a godlike being, As the angel of the LORD before them.
9
ThomsonAnd it shall come to pass, in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
BrentonAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, ζητήσω ἐξᾷραι πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τὰ ἐρχόμενα ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVAnd it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
JPSAnd it shall come to pass in that day, That I will seek to destroy all the nations That come against Jerusalem.
10
ThomsonAnd when I pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and compassion, then will they look to Me whom they jeered; and they will mourn over Me with a mourning as for a beloved, and be afflicted with sorrow as for a first-born [son].
BrentonAnd I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and compassion: and they shall look upon me, because they have mocked me, and they shall make lamentation for him, as for a beloved friend, and they shall grieve intensely, as for a first-born son.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκχεῶ ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον Δαυὶδ, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Ἱερουσαλὴμ πνεῦμα χάριτος καὶ οἰκτιρμοῦ· καὶ ἐπιβλέψονται πρὸς μὲ, ἀνθʼ ὧν κατωρχήσαντο· καὶ κόψονται ἐπʼ αὐτὸν κοπετὸν, ὡς ἐπʼ ἀγαπητῷ, καὶ ὀδυνηθήσονται ὀδύνην, ὡς ἐπὶ τῷ πρωτοτόκῳ.
KJVAnd I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
JPSAnd I will pour upon the house of David, And upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, The spirit of grace and of supplication; And they shall look unto Me because athey have thrust him through; And they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, And shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.
11
ThomsonIn that day the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of a pomegranate grove cut down in the plain.
BrentonIn that day the lamentation in Jerusalem shall be very great, as the mourning for the pomegranate grove cut down in the plain.
GreekἘν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ μεγαλυνθήσεται ὁ κοπετὸς ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ὡς κοπετὸς ῥοῶνος ἐν πεδίῳ ἐκκοπτομένου.
KJVIn that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
JPSIn that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, As the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
12
ThomsonAnd the land will mourn in separate families, the family of the house of David by itself and their women by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself and their women by themselves;
BrentonAnd the land shall lament in separate families, the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves;
GreekΚαὶ κόψεται ἡ γῆ κατὰ φυλὰς φυλάς· φυλὴ οἴκου Δαυὶδ καθʼ ἑαυτὴν, καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν καθʼ ἑαυτάς· φυλὴ οἴκου Νάθαν καθʼ ἑαυτὴν, καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν καθʼ ἑαυτάς·
KJVAnd the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
JPSAnd the land shall mourn, every family apart: The family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; The family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
13
Thomsonthe family of the house of Levi by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Symeon by itself and their women by themselves;
Brentonthe family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of Symeon by itself, and their wives by themselves;
Greekφυλὴ οἴκου Λευὶ καθʼ ἑαυτὴν, καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν καθʼ ἑαυτάς· φυλὴ τοῦ Συμεὼν καθʼ ἑαυτὴν, καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν καθʼ ἑαυτάς.
KJVThe family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
JPSThe family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; The family of the Shimeites apart, and their wives apart;
14
Thomsonall the remaining families, every family by itself and their women by themselves.
Brentonall the families that are left, each family by itself, and their wives by themselves.
GreekΠᾶσαι αἱ ὑπολελειμμέναι φυλαὶ, φυλὴ καθʼ ἑαυτὴν, καὶ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν καθʼ ἑαυτάς.
KJVAll the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
JPSAll the families that remain, Every family apart, and their wives apart.