The Measuring of Jerusalem
Zechariah 2
Zacharias sees four horns that scattered Judah and Israel, and four craftsmen sent to cast them down, followed by a vision of a man going out to measure the city of Jerusalem. The Lord promises to be a wall of fire around Jerusalem and to dwell in her midst, calling his people to flee Babylon and return, so that many nations may join themselves to him.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonThen I lifted up mine eyes and looked, and lo, four horns!
BrentonAnd I lifted up mine eyes and looked, and behold four horns.
GreekΚαὶ ᾖρα τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου, καὶ ἴδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ τέσσαρα κέρατα.
KJVThen lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
JPSAnd I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
2
ThomsonAnd I said to the angel who was talking with me, [My] lord, what are these? And he said to me, These are the horns which have scattered Juda and Israel and Jerusalem.
BrentonAnd I said to the angel that spoke with me, What are these things, my lord? And he said to me, These are the horns that have scattered Juda, and Israel, and Jerusalem.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπα πρὸς τὸν ἄγγελον τὸν λαλοῦντα ἐν ἐμοὶ, τί ἐστι ταῦτα κύριε; καὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, ταῦτα τὰ κέρατα τὰ διασκορπίσαντα τὸν Ἰούδαν, καὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVAnd I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
JPSAnd I said unto the angel that spoke with me: ‘What are these?’ And he said unto me: ‘These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.’
3
ThomsonThen the Lord shewed me four carpenters.
BrentonAnd the Lord shewed me four artificers.
GreekΚαὶ ἔδειξέ μοι Κύριος τέσσαρας τέκτονας.
KJVAnd the LORD shewed me four carpenters.
JPSAnd the LORD showed me four craftsmen.
4
ThomsonAnd I said, What are these going to do? And He said, Those four horns which scattered Juda and Israel are broken, and not one of them hath raised a head; now these are come to sharpen for themselves those four horns; namely, the nations which lifted up a horn against the land of the Lord to scatter it.
BrentonAnd I said, What are these coming to do? And he said, These are the horns that scattered Juda, and they broke Israel in pieces, and none of them lifted up his head: and these are come forth to sharpen them for their hands, even the four horns, the nations that lifted up the horn against the land of the Lord to scatter it.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπα, τί οὗτοι ἔρχονται ποιῆσαι; καὶ εἶπε ταῦτα τὰ κέρατα τὰ διασκορπίσαντα τὸν Ἰούδα καὶ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ κατέαξαν, καὶ οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν ᾖρε κεφαλήν· καὶ ἐξήλθοσαν οὗτοι τοῦ ὀξῦναι αὐτὰ εἰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν, τὰ τέσσαρα κέρατα, τὰ ἔθνη τὰ ἐπαιρόμενα κέρας ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν Κυρίου, τοῦ διασκορπίσαι αὐτήν.
KJVThen said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
JPSThen said I: ‘What come these to do?’ And he spoke, saying: ‘These—the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head—these then are come to frighten them, to cast down the horns of the nations, which lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it.’
5
ThomsonTHEN I lifted up mine eyes and looked, and lo! a man with a measuring line in his hand!
BrentonAnd I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a man, and in his hand a measuring line.
GreekΚαὶ ᾖρα τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς μου, καὶ ἴδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀνὴρ, καὶ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ σχοινίον γεωμετρικόν.
KJVI lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
JPSAnd I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
6
Thomsonand I said to him, Whither art thou going? And he said to me, To measure Jerusalem to see how broad it is, and what is its length.
BrentonAnd I said to him, Whither goest thou? And he said to me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth of it, and what is the length of it.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπα πρὸς αὐτόν, ποῦ σὺ πορεύῃ; καὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, διαμετρῆσαι τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, τοῦ ἰδεῖν πηλίκον τὸ πλάτος αὐτῆς ἐστι, καὶ πηλίκον τὸ μῆκος.
KJVThen 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.
JPSThen 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.’
7
ThomsonNow behold the angel who had been talking with me had stopped—and another angel came out to meet him
BrentonAnd, behold, the angel that spoke with me stood by, and another angel went forth to meet him,
GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ ἄγγελος ὁ λαλῶν ἐν ἐμοὶ εἱστήκει, καὶ ἄγγελος ἕτερος ἐξεπορεύετο εἰς συνάντησιν αὐτῷ,
KJVAnd, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
JPSAnd, behold, the angel that spoke with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
8
Thomsonand spoke to him saying, Run and speak to that young man and say, Jerusalem shall be crowded with inhabitants by reason of the multitude of men and cattle therein.
Brentonand spoke to him, saying, Run and speak to that young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be fully inhabited by reason of the abundance of men and cattle in the midst of her.
Greekκαὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν, λέγων, δράμε, καὶ λάλησον πρὸς τὸν νεανίαν ἐκεῖνον, λέγων, Κατακάρπως κατοικηθήσεται Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἀπὸ πλήθους ἀνθρώπων καὶ κτηνῶν ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς·
KJVAnd 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:
JPSand said unto him: ‘Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein.
9
ThomsonAnd I will be to her, saith the Lord, a wall of fire around; and I will be a glory in the midst of her.
BrentonAnd I will be to her, saith the Lord, a wall of fire round about, and I will be for a glory in the midst of her.
Greekκαὶ ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτῇ, λέγει Κύριος, τεῖχος πυρὸς κυκλόθεν, καὶ εἰς δόξαν ἔσομαι ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς.
KJVFor I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
JPSFor I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and I will be the glory in the midst of her.
10
ThomsonO flee! flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord, for from the four winds of heaven I will gather you, saith the Lord.
BrentonHo, ho, flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I will gather you from the four winds of heaven, saith the Lord,
GreekὪ ὢ φεύγετε ἀπὸ γῆς Βοῤῥᾶ, λέγει Κύριος· διότι ἐκ τῶν τεσσάρων ἀνέμων τοῦ οὐρανοῦ συνάξω ὑμᾶς, λέγει Κύριος,
KJVHo, 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.
JPSHo, ho, flee then 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.
11
ThomsonTo Sion make your escape, ye who inhabit the daughter of Babylon!
Brentoneven to Sion: deliver yourselves, ye that dwell with the daughter of Babylon.
Greekεἰς Σιὼν, ἀνασώζεσθε οἱ κατοικοῦντες θυγατέρα Βαβυλῶνος.
KJVDeliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
JPSHo, Zion, escape, thou that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.’
12
ThomsonFor thus saith the Lord Almighty. He behind glory hath sent me against the nations which plundered you: for he who toucheth you, is like one touching the apple of His eye.
BrentonFor thus saith the Lord Almighty; After the glory has he sent me to the nations that spoiled you: for he that touches you is as one that touches the apple of his eye.
GreekΔιότι τάδε λέγει Κύριος παντοκράτωρ, ὀπίσω δόξης ἀπέσταλκέ με ἐπὶ τὰ ἔθνη τὰ σκυλεύσαντα ὑμᾶς, διότι ὁ ἁπτόμενος ὑμῶν ὡς ὁ ἁπτόμενος τῆς κόρης τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ αὐτοῦ.
KJVFor 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.
JPSFor thus saith the LORD of hosts who sent me after glory unto the nations which spoiled you: ‘Surely, he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
13
ThomsonFor behold I am bringing my hand upon them; and they shall be spoils for them who were their vassals: and you shall know that the Lord Almighty hath sent me.
BrentonFor, behold, I bring my hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to them that serve them: and ye shall know that the Lord Almighty has sent me.
GreekΔιότι ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐπιφέρω τὴν χεῖρά μου ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἔσονται σκῦλα τοῖς δουλεύουσιν αὐτοῖς, καὶ γνώσεσθε ὅτι Κύριος παντοκράτωρ ἀπέσταλκέ με.
KJVFor, 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.
JPSFor, behold, I will shake My hand over them, and they shall be a spoil to those that served them’; and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
14
ThomsonRejoice and be glad, O daughter of Sion! for lo! I am coming; and I will dwell amidst thee, saith the Lord;
BrentonRejoice and be glad, O daughter of Sion: for, behold, I come, and will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.
GreekΤέρπου καὶ εὐφραίνου θύγατερ Σιὼν, διότι ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἔρχομαι, καὶ κατασκηνώσω ἐν μέσῳ σου, λέγει Κύριος.
KJVSing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
JPS’Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
15
Thomsonand many nations will flee to the Lord in that day, and be His people and dwell in the midst of thee; and thou shalt know that the Lord Almighty hath sent me to thee.
BrentonAnd many nations shall flee for refuge to the Lord in that day, and they shall be for a people to him, and they shall dwell in the midst of thee: and thou shalt know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to thee.
GreekΚαὶ καταφεύξονται ἔθνη πολλὰ ἐπὶ τὸν Κύριον ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ ἔσονται αὐτῷ εἰς λαὸν, καὶ κατασκηνώσουσιν ἐν μέσῳ σου, καὶ ἐπιγνώσῃ ὅτι Κύριος παντοκράτωρ ἐξαπέσταλκέ με πρὸς σέ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd many nations shall join themselves 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.
16
ThomsonAnd the Lord will settle Juda in His portion, in the holy land; and will again make choice of Jerusalem.
BrentonAnd the Lord shall inherit Juda his portion in the holy land, and he will yet choose Jerusalem.
GreekΚαὶ κατακληρονομήσει Κύριος τὸν Ἰούδαν τὴν μερίδα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν ἁγίαν· καὶ αἱρετιεῖ ἔτι τὴν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVAnd the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
JPSAnd the LORD shall inherit Judah as His portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
17
ThomsonLet all flesh be struck with awe, at the presence of the Lord, for He is risen up from His holy clouds.
BrentonLet all flesh fear before the Lord: for he has risen up from his holy clouds.
GreekΕὐλαβείσθω πᾶσα σὰρξ ἀπὸ προσώπου Κυρίου, ὅτι ἐξεγήγερται ἐκ νεφελῶν ἁγίων αὐτοῦ.
KJVBe silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
JPSBe silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for He is aroused out of His holy habitation.