Zechariah 2:11
And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
Study Note
Study Note
'And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me' — Zechariah's eschatological vision of Gentile incorporation into the covenant people prefigures the universal mission of the New Testament. The speaker's identity — one sent by YHWH who is himself divine ('the LORD of hosts has sent me') — has generated christological readings in the early church, seeing in this 'messenger' a pre-incarnate theophany. The promise 'they shall be my people' extends the covenant formula of Exodus 6:7 beyond ethnic Israel to 'many nations,' anticipating Revelation 21:3's eschatological fulfillment. The verse belongs to Zechariah's night vision series (chapters 1–6), each addressing the demoralized post-exilic community with eschatological hope grounded in the divine commitment to dwell among a restored people.
Other Translations
And many nations shall join themselves to Jehovah in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
And joined have been many nations unto Jehovah in that day, And they have been to Me for a people, And I have dwelt in thy midst, And thou hast known that Jehovah of Hosts hath sent me unto thee.
And a number of nations will be joined to the Lord in that day, and will become my people; and I will be living among you, and you will see that the Lord of armies has sent me to you.
Cross References
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the nations …
A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.
His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be …
And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established …
O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.