Zechariah Chapter 2
A City Without Walls
A. Call to Return to the Promised Land
1. (Zechariah 2:1–5) The man with the measuring line and the protection promised
“Then I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, and said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein. For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.” (Zechariah 2:1–5, KJV)
Zechariah beheld a man with a measuring line, a symbolic act representing divine order and the preparation for restoration. This “man” was likely an angelic being, perhaps even the Angel of the LORD, taking human form for the purpose of this revelation. Angels do not become men in essence, but they can appear as men to carry out God’s purposes. The act of measuring indicates that God’s plan for Jerusalem is precise and intentional. When Zechariah asked where the man was going, he was told that Jerusalem was to be measured to determine its dimensions—its width and length—showing that God intended to enlarge and restore it for the people He would soon gather.
At that time, Jerusalem’s population was small, its walls broken, and its people scattered. Measuring a nearly desolate city for expansion would have seemed absurd, but God was demonstrating His divine foresight. He saw what His people could not see—that His plan was far greater than their present condition. It was as though a man entered an empty cathedral to ensure it was large enough for the crowds that faith, not sight, told him would one day fill it.
The LORD declared that “Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls,” emphasizing both the city’s expansion and God’s divine protection. In ancient times, walls represented security, yet God declared that He Himself would be “a wall of fire round about” and “the glory in the midst of her.” The fire speaks of divine presence, protection, and holiness. No human wall could compare to the defense that God provides.
This prophecy found partial fulfillment during the post-exilic period, as Jerusalem was restored under leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah, though even then, the LORD’s true protection was spiritual, not merely architectural. Its complete fulfillment awaits the Messianic Kingdom when Jesus Christ reigns from Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace. In that day, the city will need no physical walls because the LORD Himself will be its defense and His glory will dwell in its midst. Even now, Jerusalem is a city without walls in the literal sense, as modern warfare renders such barriers obsolete, yet this too foreshadows the greater reality of divine protection that only God can provide.
2. (Zechariah 2:6–7) Exiles exhorted to return
“Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the Lord. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.” (Zechariah 2:6–7, KJV)
Here the LORD calls His people to leave the land of their captivity and return to the Promised Land. “Flee from the land of the north” refers to Babylon, which lay to the east geographically, but invaders and travelers approached from the north due to desert terrain. Though Cyrus had decreed the return decades earlier, most of the Jewish exiles remained in Babylon, comfortable in their prosperity and unwilling to face the difficulties of rebuilding Jerusalem. God’s command through Zechariah was not merely geographical but spiritual—a call to separate from the world’s system and return to the covenant land of blessing.
The phrase “I have spread you abroad as the four winds of heaven” conveys both judgment and providence. God Himself scattered His people to the nations, but the same God who scattered would regather them. His sovereignty is evident—He controls both dispersion and restoration.
“Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon” reinforces the call to depart from Babylon. Throughout Scripture, Babylon symbolizes rebellion, pride, and worldliness. It represents not only the literal empire but also the spiritual system opposed to God. Thus, Zechariah’s command is both literal—calling the exiles home—and prophetic, foreshadowing the end-time command in Revelation 18:4–5: “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. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”
Those who choose to remain in Babylon—whether in Zechariah’s day or in the future apostate world system—align themselves with its judgment. Those who heed the call to return to the land of promise align themselves with God’s redemptive plan.
B. Reasons for Rejoicing
1. (Zechariah 2:8–9) God promises to protect His precious people
“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, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me.” (Zechariah 2:8–9, KJV)
In this remarkable declaration, the LORD of hosts proclaims His zeal for His people and His intent to judge the nations that plundered them. “After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you” refers to the LORD sending His divine representative—ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah—to manifest His glory through the deliverance and vindication of Israel. The phrase “after the glory” signifies that God’s actions toward the nations are not arbitrary acts of vengeance, but demonstrations of His righteousness and His commitment to the glory of His name among all peoples.
The statement “for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye” expresses profound affection and protection. The “apple of the eye” refers to the pupil, the most sensitive and guarded part of the body. This imagery illustrates that any harm directed toward God’s people is considered a direct assault upon God Himself. Spurgeon observed, “He esteems them as much as men value their eyesight, and is as careful to protect them from injury, as men are to protect the apple of their eye. The pupil of the eye is the tenderest part of the tenderest organ, and very fitly sets forth the inexpressible tenderness of God’s love.” The phrase captures not only divine compassion but also covenantal loyalty. Israel, though chastened for sin, remains under the jealous care of her Redeemer.
God continues, “For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants.” This signifies divine retribution against the oppressors of Israel. The same nations that enslaved and plundered God’s people will themselves become plunder for those they once oppressed. This dramatic reversal emphasizes that God’s justice is both sure and sovereign. It foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment during the millennial reign of Christ when the enemies of Israel will be subdued and the nation exalted among the kingdoms of the earth. The LORD’s shaking of His hand symbolizes effortless authority; He need only move His hand to bring the nations to ruin. Such power requires no armies or extended battles, for the mere gesture of God’s will is sufficient to overturn the proud and vindicate His chosen.
When this deliverance occurs, Zechariah says, “ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me.” This points to the Messiah as the divine messenger and manifestation of Jehovah’s power. His triumph over the nations will confirm His identity and demonstrate the faithfulness of the LORD’s word.
2. (Zechariah 2:10–13) The promise of the presence of the LORD
“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. 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. And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.” (Zechariah 2:10–13, KJV)
The command, “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion,” calls God’s people to active celebration in anticipation of His promises. The joy is not rooted in present circumstances, for the people were still weak and vulnerable, but in faith toward what God declared He would do. True faith worships in advance of visible fulfillment. Zion is commanded to sing not because of what she presently sees, but because of what God has spoken.
“For, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.” This is a profound promise of divine indwelling. In the immediate sense, it pointed to God’s favor returning to Jerusalem as the city was rebuilt. In the ultimate sense, it refers to the incarnation of Christ—when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us—and looks forward to His millennial reign when His physical presence will again be in Jerusalem. The Lord’s dwelling among His people marks both intimacy and sanctity; He is Emmanuel, “God with us.”
The next phrase, “And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people,” reveals God’s missionary heart. Israel’s calling was never intended to terminate upon itself. God chose Israel as the vessel through which His blessing would flow to all nations, fulfilling His covenant promise to Abraham that “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” The millennial kingdom will see the full realization of this promise when nations worldwide will turn to the LORD, acknowledging His sovereignty and joining themselves to His covenant people.
“And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.” This verse affirms God’s perpetual claim upon the land and His faithfulness to the Abrahamic covenant. The phrase “holy land” appears only here in the Bible and designates the territory itself as sacred. The holiness of the land derives not merely from its geography but from its dedication to God’s redemptive purposes. The LORD will again choose Jerusalem as His dwelling place, confirming His everlasting covenant with His people.
Finally, the passage concludes with a solemn command: “Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.” The call for silence underscores the majesty and awe of God’s presence. When the LORD arises to act, all human boasting, resistance, and noise must cease. It is a moment of reverence and submission, acknowledging that the sovereign God of heaven has intervened in the affairs of men.
