Zechariah 9:3

KJV

And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Tyrus {H6865} did build {H1129} herself a strong hold {H4692}, and heaped up {H6651} silver {H3701} as the dust {H6083}, and fine gold {H2742} as the mire {H2916} of the streets {H2351}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Tzor built herself a fortified tower, heaping up silver as if it were dust and fine gold as if it were mud in the streets.

Berean Standard Bible

Tyre has built herself a fortress;she has heaped up silver like dust,and gold like the dirt of the streets.

American Standard Version

And Tyre did build herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Zechariah 9:3 presents a vivid portrayal of the ancient Phoenician city of Tyrus (Tyre), emphasizing its formidable fortifications and staggering accumulation of wealth. This verse serves as a crucial prelude to the prophetic pronouncements of divine judgment against Tyre, establishing the city's self-reliant pride and perceived invincibility, which ultimately prove futile against the sovereign will of God. It underscores a timeless biblical theme: the inherent futility of placing ultimate trust in earthly power and material possessions.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Zechariah 9 initiates a new section of prophecy, often designated as the "Burden of the Word of the Lord" (Zechariah 9-14). This specific oracle (Zechariah 9:1-8) outlines God's impending judgment against various surrounding nations, including Damascus, Hamath, Sidon, and the Philistine cities, before focusing intently on Tyre. Verse 3, with its detailed description of Tyre's immense strength and wealth, immediately precedes the declaration of its downfall in [Zechariah 9:4](/zechariah/9-4 "Zechariah 9:4 - Prophecy Against Tyre"). This deliberate juxtaposition serves to highlight the suddenness and inevitability of divine judgment, even against seemingly impregnable human powers, magnifying the omnipotence of God who can humble such a mighty entity.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Tyre was a dominant Phoenician city-state, a major maritime power located on the eastern Mediterranean coast, renowned for its extensive trade network. Its immense wealth was derived from industries such as the production of highly prized purple dye, shipbuilding, and its pivotal role in international commerce. The city was strategically significant, comprised of an older mainland settlement and a highly fortified island city, making it notoriously difficult to conquer. The "strong hold" (Hebrew: *mâtsôwr*) referenced in the verse points to these impressive defenses, which had famously withstood prolonged sieges by powerful empires like Assyria and Babylon. The hyperbolic description of silver and gold as "dust" and "mire" reflects an almost unimaginable level of prosperity, indicating that these precious metals were so abundant they were treated with the casualness of common dirt, signifying both their unparalleled opulence and their perceived self-sufficiency.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Zechariah and the broader prophetic literature. It highlights the theme of **Divine Sovereignty** over human empires, demonstrating that no human construct, however fortified or wealthy, can withstand God's ultimate decree. It also underscores the danger of **Pride and Self-Reliance**, as Tyre's immense prosperity and defenses fostered a sense of invincibility, a common precursor to divine judgment in biblical narratives (e.g., [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before a Fall")). Furthermore, the vivid description of Tyre's wealth serves as a **Foreshadowing of Judgment**, setting the stage for its prophesied downfall in [Zechariah 9:4](/zechariah/9-4 "Zechariah 9:4 - Prophecy Against Tyre") and echoing similar prophecies against Tyre found in other prophetic books, such as [Ezekiel 26](/ezekiel/26 "Ezekiel 26 - Prophecy Against Tyre") and [Isaiah 23](/isaiah/23 "Isaiah 23 - Prophecy Against Tyre").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Strong Hold (Hebrew, _mâtsôwr'_):** From a root meaning "to hem in," this term refers to something that besieges or, more commonly, a fastness or fortress. It denotes a place of great strength, a bulwark, or a tower, emphasizing the impregnable nature of Tyre's defenses. The word encapsulates the city's perceived invincibility and its reliance on physical barriers for security.
* **Heaped Up (Hebrew, _tsâbar'_):** A primitive root meaning "to aggregate" or "to gather together." This word vividly portrays the massive accumulation of wealth by Tyre, suggesting not merely possession but an overwhelming abundance, piled high without limit. It conveys a sense of excessive acquisition and material obsession.
* **Fine Gold (Hebrew, _chărûwts'_):** Derived from a root meaning "incised" or "mined," this term specifically refers to gold obtained through mining, often implying its purity or quality. The comparison of this valuable metal to "mire of the streets" highlights the extraordinary volume of Tyre's wealth, so vast that even its most precious commodity was treated with disdainful casualness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold":** This clause immediately establishes Tyre's self-reliance and its investment in physical security. The "strong hold" (mâtsôwr) speaks to its formidable fortifications, particularly its island location and massive walls, which had historically repelled powerful invaders. It highlights the city's confidence in its own architectural and military prowess as its primary defense.
* **"and heaped up silver as the dust":** This phrase employs striking hyperbole to describe the sheer volume of Tyre's wealth. Silver, a valuable commodity, is compared to common dust, suggesting an almost limitless supply that was gathered in such quantities it lost its perceived value, becoming as ubiquitous and disregarded as dirt. This underscores Tyre's immense commercial success and material prosperity.
* **"and fine gold as the mire of the streets":** Continuing the hyperbolic imagery, this clause further amplifies the description of Tyre's opulence. "Fine gold" (chărûwts), a highly prized and pure form of the metal, is likened to "mire" or mud found in the streets. This comparison not only emphasizes the extraordinary abundance of gold but also implies a casualness or even contempt for its value, indicating a society so saturated with riches that even its most precious assets were treated as common refuse.

#### Literary Devices
The verse masterfully employs **Hyperbole** to convey the extraordinary wealth of Tyre, comparing silver to "dust" and fine gold to "mire of the streets." This exaggeration is not meant to be taken literally but powerfully emphasizes the city's vast accumulation of riches, suggesting an almost inconceivable abundance. This hyperbole creates vivid **Imagery**, allowing the reader to visualize streets literally overflowing with precious metals, treated with the same disregard as common dirt. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Contrast** between Tyre's perceived invincibility and the impending divine judgment. The description of its strength and wealth sets up the dramatic irony that such human achievements are ultimately powerless against God's sovereign will, a stark contrast that will be immediately evident in the subsequent verse.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Zechariah 9:3 serves as a profound theological statement on the deceptive nature of worldly security and the ultimate sovereignty of God. Tyre's immense wealth and impregnable defenses represent the pinnacle of human achievement and self-reliance, yet the prophetic word declares their impending futility. This passage reminds us that true security does not reside in material possessions, military might, or human ingenuity, but solely in the divine. It challenges the human tendency to place ultimate trust in created things rather than the Creator, highlighting that all earthly power and riches are transient and subject to God's overarching plan. The downfall of Tyre, despite its apparent strength, underscores the biblical principle that pride and self-sufficiency inevitably lead to a fall, while humility and dependence on God are the true foundations of lasting well-being.
* [Proverbs 11:4](/proverbs/11-4 "Proverbs 11:4 - Riches Do Not Profit in the Day of Wrath")
* [Luke 12:15-21](/luke/12-15-21 "Luke 12:15-21 - The Parable of the Rich Fool")
* [Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19-21 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay Up Treasures in Heaven")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Zechariah 9:3 offers a timeless and piercing challenge to contemporary believers, urging us to critically examine the objects of our trust and the sources of our security. In a world that often equates success with material accumulation and power, Tyre's story serves as a stark reminder that even the most formidable human constructs and vast fortunes are ultimately fleeting and vulnerable to the sovereign hand of God. This verse calls us to cultivate a posture of humility and dependence, recognizing that our true and lasting security is found not in what we possess or what we build, but in our relationship with the Lord. It compels us to consider whether our hearts are truly set on eternal values or if we, like Tyre, are "heaping up" earthly treasures that will inevitably perish. The passage encourages us to re-evaluate our priorities, ensuring that our resources, talents, and efforts are directed towards honoring God and advancing His kingdom, rather than building personal empires that offer only an illusion of lasting safety.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where do I primarily seek my security and significance in life? Is it in my finances, career, relationships, or God?**
* **In what ways might I be "heaping up" earthly treasures, and how does this compare to laying up "treasures in heaven"?**
* **How does the transient nature of Tyre's wealth and power challenge my own anxieties about financial stability or personal achievement?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a greater sense of dependence on God and less reliance on worldly resources?**

### FAQ
**What was the ultimate fate of Tyre, and how does it relate to this prophecy?**

Answer: The prophecy against Tyre, including Zechariah 9:3-4, found its historical fulfillment most notably in the siege and destruction by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. Despite its "strong hold" as an island city, Alexander famously built a causeway from the mainland using the rubble of the old city, eventually conquering and devastating Tyre. This event is often seen as a direct fulfillment of not only Zechariah's prophecy but also the more extensive and detailed prophecies against Tyre in [Ezekiel 26](/ezekiel/26 "Ezekiel 26 - Prophecy Against Tyre") and [Isaiah 23](/isaiah/23 "Isaiah 23 - Prophecy Against Tyre"). Tyre's fall serves as a powerful historical testament to the accuracy of biblical prophecy and the futility of human strength against divine decree.

**Does this verse condemn wealth itself?**

Answer: Zechariah 9:3 does not inherently condemn wealth but rather the **reliance on wealth** as a source of ultimate security and the **pride** that often accompanies its accumulation. The issue is not the possession of silver and gold, but Tyre's attitude towards it—treating it as common "dust" and "mire," indicative of an idolatrous trust in material abundance over God. The Bible consistently warns against the love of money ([1 Timothy 6:10](/1_timothy/6-10 "1 Timothy 6:10 - The Love of Money")) and the deceitfulness of riches ([Matthew 13:22](/matthew/13-22 "Matthew 13:22 - The Parable of the Sower")), while also acknowledging that wealth can be used for good. The core message here is about misplaced trust and the spiritual arrogance that can arise from perceived self-sufficiency.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Zechariah 9:3, in its depiction of Tyre's misplaced trust in earthly wealth and fortifications, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament's reorientation of values and the ultimate source of security. Jesus consistently taught against accumulating earthly treasures ([Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19-21 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay Up Treasures in Heaven")) and warned of the deceitfulness of riches ([Mark 4:19](/mark/4-19 "Mark 4:19 - The Parable of the Sower Explained")), contrasting them with the enduring value of the Kingdom of God and spiritual wealth. The "strong hold" that Tyre built for itself is ultimately revealed as fragile compared to the unshakable kingdom established by Christ ([Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - An Unshakable Kingdom")). Furthermore, the pride and self-reliance of Tyre, which led to its downfall, stand in stark contrast to the humility and self-sacrifice of Christ, who, though rich, became poor for our sake ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Example of Humility")). In Christ, believers find true and eternal security, not in perishing silver or gold, but in redemption through His precious blood ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redemption Through Christ's Blood")). He is the ultimate "strong tower" to which the righteous run and are safe ([Proverbs 18:10](/proverbs/18-10 "Proverbs 18:10 - The Name of the Lord is a Strong Tower")), fulfilling the promise of a security that no earthly power or wealth can provide or destroy.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 28:4

With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

Ezekiel 28:5

By thy great wisdom [and] by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:

Ezekiel 27:33

When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.

Job 27:16

Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

2 Samuel 24:7

And came to the strong hold of Tyre, and to all the cities of the Hivites, and of the Canaanites: and they went out to the south of Judah, [even] to Beersheba.

Joshua 19:29

And [then] the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:

Job 22:24

Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the [gold] of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.