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
And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, …
All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they …
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of …
And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with …
Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard …
Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom …
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of …
Thus saith the Lord, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall …
He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait …