Zechariah 2:7

Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest [with] the daughter of Babylon.

Deliver {H4422} thyself, O {H1945} Zion {H6726}, that dwellest {H3427} with the daughter {H1323} of Babylon {H894}.

"Move, Tziyon! You who are living with the daughter of Bavel, escape!"

โ€œGet up, O Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the Daughter of Babylon!โ€

Ho Zion, escape, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.

Commentary

Context

Zechariah 2:7 is part of a series of visions given to the prophet Zechariah during the post-exilic period, roughly 520-518 BC. At this time, a remnant of Jewish exiles had returned from Babylonian captivity to Judah, but many still remained in Babylon, having established lives there over the decades. This verse specifically follows a vision of God's protective presence around Jerusalem (Zechariah 2:5) and a command for exiles to flee Babylon.

Key Themes

  • Divine Call to Separation: The verse issues an urgent, direct command: "Deliver thyself, O Zion." This is a divine imperative for God's people, represented by "Zion" (Jerusalem and its inhabitants), to separate themselves from "the daughter of Babylon." While Babylon was a literal place of exile, it also symbolizes any oppressive worldly system or spiritual influence that holds God's people captive or hinders their full devotion.
  • Urgency of Escape: The phrase "Deliver thyself" (Hebrew: mallแต‰แนญi, meaning "escape," "flee," "rescue yourself") conveys a sense of immediate necessity. It implies that remaining in Babylon, even if comfortable, is dangerous and contrary to God's will for His people. This call resonates with similar commands in other prophetic books for God's people to "go forth from Babylon" and "flee out of the midst of Babylon."
  • Restoration of Zion: This command is intrinsically linked to God's larger plan for the restoration and glorification of Jerusalem. For Zion to be fully restored and for God to dwell in her midst, His people must return and rebuild, both physically and spiritually.

Linguistic Insights

The term "daughter of Babylon" (Hebrew: bat-bฤแธ‡el) is a common poetic personification of the city or empire of Babylon in the Old Testament. It often carries connotations of its power, wickedness, and eventual downfall. In later prophecy, particularly in the Book of Revelation, the term "Babylon" takes on a more profound spiritual meaning, representing a global system opposed to God, from which God's people are called to "come out of her, my people."

Practical Application

For believers today, Zechariah 2:7 serves as a timeless spiritual principle. It calls us to examine our lives for any "Babylonian" influences โ€“ worldly systems, values, or habits that may subtly or overtly hinder our spiritual growth, compromise our faith, or distract us from God's purposes. The verse underscores the importance of:

  • Spiritual Separation: Actively separating ourselves from ungodly influences and choosing to align with God's kingdom and His values.
  • Responding to God's Call: Being responsive to God's commands for deliverance and freedom, even when it requires leaving behind comfort or familiarity.
  • Prioritizing God's Dwelling: Recognizing that our true home and allegiance are with God's people and His presence, not with the transient allure of the world.
This verse encourages us to actively seek spiritual freedom and to fully participate in God's ongoing work of building His spiritual "Zion."

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 48:20

    Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it [even] to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

  • Acts 2:40

    And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

  • Isaiah 52:11

    Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean [thing]; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

  • Genesis 19:17

    And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

  • Jeremiah 51:6

    Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this [is] the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.

  • Revelation 18:4

    And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

  • Numbers 16:34

    And all Israel that [were] round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up [also].