Zechariah 2:8

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

For thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}; After {H310} the glory {H3519} hath he sent {H7971} me unto the nations {H1471} which spoiled {H7997} you: for he that toucheth {H5060} you toucheth {H5060} the apple {H892} of his eye {H5869}.

For ADONAI-Tzva'ot has sent me on a glorious mission to the nations that plundered you, and this is what he says: "Anyone who injures you injures the very pupil of my eye.

For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “After His Glory has sent Me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye—

For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: After glory hath he sent me unto the nations which plundered you; for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.

Zechariah 2:8 is a powerful declaration of God's fierce protective love for His people and His unwavering commitment to judge those who harm them. This verse serves as a profound comfort to the returning exiles in Zechariah's time and remains a timeless assurance for believers today.

Context

The prophet Zechariah ministered to the Jewish community in Jerusalem during the post-exilic period, around 520-518 BC, alongside Haggai. His prophecies primarily focus on encouraging the rebuilding of the temple and the city, promising future glory and the coming of the Messiah. Zechariah 2 is part of a series of night visions given to the prophet, emphasizing God's plan for Jerusalem's restoration and expansion, and His intent to protect His people. Prior verses in this chapter speak of Jerusalem's future prosperity and God being a wall of fire around her, with His glory in her midst. Verse 8 reinforces this divine commitment, clarifying that God himself is sending His messenger (often understood as the Angel of the LORD or even the pre-incarnate Christ) to execute judgment on the nations that oppressed Israel.

Key Themes

  • Divine Protection and Care: The most striking image in this verse is God's profound care for His people, likening them to the "apple of His eye." This conveys immense preciousness and vulnerability under God's vigilant watch. God is intensely sensitive to any harm inflicted upon them.
  • Divine Justice and Retribution: God promises to send judgment upon "the nations which spoiled you." This highlights God's righteous anger against those who mistreat His chosen people and His commitment to bring justice for the wrongs committed against them.
  • God's Sovereignty and Presence: The title "LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) underscores God's supreme authority and power over all heavenly and earthly armies, indicating His capacity to fulfill His promises of both protection and judgment. His active involvement in the affairs of nations and His people is central.
  • Israel's Special Status: This verse reaffirms God's unique covenant relationship with Israel, designating them as His beloved and highly valued possession.

Linguistic Insights

  • "LORD of hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth): This divine title frequently used in prophetic books like Zechariah emphasizes God's omnipotence and His command over all celestial and earthly armies. It assures the reader that the God making these promises has the power to fulfill them.
  • "the apple of his eye" (Hebrew: ishon ayin): This vivid idiom literally refers to the pupil of the eye, the most delicate and vital part. To touch it causes extreme pain and immediate reaction. The phrase signifies something supremely precious, guarded with the utmost care, and instantly defended. This same imagery is found in Deuteronomy 32:10 and Psalm 17:8, underscoring its deep biblical roots in expressing God's intimate and protective love.

Related Scriptures

The concept of God's protection for His people is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. Beyond the direct parallels in Deuteronomy 32:10 and Psalm 17:8, we see God's commitment to judge those who harm His own in passages like Isaiah 14:26 and Jeremiah 50:11. For believers today, the New Testament extends this principle, showing that those who are in Christ are spiritual descendants of Abraham and recipients of God's special care, being a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

Practical Application

For the modern believer, Zechariah 2:8 offers immense encouragement and a clear warning:

  • Assurance of God's Protection: This verse reminds us that if we belong to God, we are incredibly precious to Him. He watches over us with vigilant care and will defend us from harm. This should instill deep trust and peace, even amidst adversity.
  • Understanding Our Value: Knowing that we are the "apple of His eye" elevates our self-worth and reminds us of our unique position in God's heart. This understanding can counter feelings of insignificance or despair.
  • A Call to Respect Others: If God so fiercely protects His own, it serves as a powerful reminder to treat others, especially fellow believers, with respect and kindness, recognizing that to harm them is to touch something deeply precious to God.
  • Confidence in God's Justice: While we are called to love our enemies, this verse assures us that God is ultimately a God of justice who will right all wrongs and hold oppressors accountable in His timing.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 17:8

    ¶ Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

  • Deuteronomy 32:10

    He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

  • John 15:21

    But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

  • John 15:23

    He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

  • John 14:26

    But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

  • 2 Thessalonians 1:6

    Seeing [it is] a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

  • Psalms 105:13

    When they went from one nation to another, from [one] kingdom to another people;

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