Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Zechariah
Chapter 9: Behold, Thy King Cometh Unto Thee
The second half of Zechariah opens with a sweeping 'burden' of judgment on the nations around Israel, and God's promise to encamp about His house so 'no oppressor shall pass through them any more.' Then, in one of the most beloved Messianic prophecies in Scripture, the tone lifts into joy: 'Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion... behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass.' The King comes not on a war-horse but on a donkey, in humility, and 'he shall speak peace unto the heathen,' His dominion reaching 'to the ends of the earth.' Jesus fulfilled this word exactly on Palm Sunday. And the chapter grounds the release of the captives in a phrase full of gospel, 'by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit,' calling the 'prisoners of hope' to turn to their stronghold.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Zechariah chapter 9, the judgment on the nations and the coming of the lowly King. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Hebrew words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. This chapter contains the prophecy of the King on the donkey, fulfilled by Jesus at His triumphal entry. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Judgment on the Nations
God humbling the proud cities around Israel.
Lowly, Riding on an Ass
The Messiah coming in humility and peace.
The Blood of Thy Covenant
Prisoners freed by covenant blood.
Prisoners of Hope
Captives called to their stronghold.
No Oppressor Shall Pass Through (Zechariah 9:1-8)
A burden of judgment falls on the proud cities around Israel, Damascus, Tyre, Sidon, and the Philistines, humbling their wealth and pride, while God promises to encamp about His own house so that no oppressor passes through His people again.
I Will Encamp About Mine House
"The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD. And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise. And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets. Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited. And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines. And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. And I will encamp about mine house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes."
Hebrew Study
"Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust... Behold, the Lord will cast her out." Tyre was the great merchant city, "very wise," fabulously rich, walled and seemingly impregnable, "silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets." Yet God says He "will cast her out" and she will be "devoured with fire." (Alexander the Great destroyed Tyre in 332 BC, remarkably fulfilling this.) The lesson is timeless: no wealth or wisdom or wall can stand against God. "Riches profit not in the day of wrath" (Proverbs 11:4); "except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain" (Psalm 127:1). The proud, self-secure powers of this world are dust before the Lord who judges them.
"I will encamp about mine house... and no oppressor shall pass through them any more." Amid the judgment of the nations, God turns to protect His own: "I will encamp about mine house." He surrounds His people like an army camped around a treasure, so that "no oppressor shall pass through them any more." The reason is tender: "for now have I seen with mine eyes", God has taken notice of His people's affliction and will guard them. This is the same protecting presence promised in chapter 2 as "a wall of fire," and it is the believer's security still: "the angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them" (Psalm 34:7). God Himself stands guard over His people.
Explanation
The chapter opens with "the burden of the word of the LORD", a weighty oracle of judgment sweeping down through the lands north of Israel and along the coast. "Damascus," "Hamath," proud "Tyrus" and "Zidon," and the Philistine cities, "Ashkelon... Gaza... Ekron... Ashdod", all come under God's hand. Tyre's fabulous wealth cannot save her; her pride and the Philistines' pride are "cut off." Yet even here grace appears: a remnant of the conquered will "be for our God," absorbed into His people like the Jebusites were absorbed into Israel.
Then God turns to His own house: "I will encamp about mine house... and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes." While the proud nations fall, God stations Himself as a guard around His people. The chapter thus sets the stage: the God who humbles the arrogant powers of the world is the God who protects His own and is about to send them their King.
Gospel Focus
The judgment on Tyre and the Philistines reminds us that no earthly power, however rich or wise or fortified, can stand against God. Tyre heaped up "silver as the dust," and it was "devoured with fire"; the mightiest and wealthiest fall before the Lord. This is both a warning against trusting in wealth and strength, and a comfort when arrogant powers seem to rule the world. Their pride is on borrowed time; "God resisteth the proud." Do not envy or fear the proud powers of this age; the God who judged Tyre judges still.
And rest in the promise, "I will encamp about mine house... no oppressor shall pass through them any more." God stands guard over His people. The same presence that camps around us is our security in every threat, "the angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him." And notice the reason: "for now have I seen with mine eyes." God is not blind to our affliction; He sees, and seeing, He acts to defend. Whatever oppressor looms over you, the Lord Himself encamps around His house. Take refuge inside His camp, and no enemy passes Him.
He Is Just, and Having Salvation; Lowly (Zechariah 9:9-17)
Zion is called to rejoice as her King comes, righteous and bringing salvation, humble and riding on a donkey, to speak peace to the nations and rule to the ends of the earth; and by the blood of the covenant God frees His prisoners of hope.
By the Blood of Thy Covenant I Have Sent Forth Thy Prisoners
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee; When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man. And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south. The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar. And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land. For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids."
Hebrew Study
"thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass." This is one of the great Messianic prophecies, fulfilled to the letter when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday: "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass" (Matthew 21:4-5; John 12:14-15). Every word is precious. He is "thy King", the true Messiah-King. He is "just" (righteous), "having salvation" (He brings deliverance, and the word is yasha, the root of Jesus's name). And He is "lowly", humble, coming not on a war-horse in conquest but on a donkey in peace. The King of glory came in meekness, "he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death" (Philippians 2:8). His weapons are cut off, "the battle bow shall be cut off," for "he shall speak peace unto the heathen," and His dominion reaches "to the ends of the earth." A humble King who conquers by peace and rules the world, this is Jesus.
"by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit." The release of the captives is grounded in covenant blood. Israel's deliverance from exile rested on God's covenant, sealed with sacrificial blood (Exodus 24:8). But the words reach further, to the new covenant sealed in the blood of Christ. At the Last Supper Jesus took the cup and said, "This is my blood of the new testament" (Matthew 26:28, echoing this very phrase), and by that blood He sets prisoners free "out of the pit wherein is no water", the dry pit of sin and death. Those held captive are called "prisoners of hope," captives who still have hope because of the covenant blood. This is the gospel: by the blood of Jesus, the covenant blood, sinners imprisoned in the waterless pit of sin are set free.
Explanation
The prophecy soars into joy: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion... behold, thy King cometh unto thee." The King is described in a cluster of glories: "just" (righteous), "having salvation" (bringing deliverance), and "lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." He comes in humility, on a donkey of peace, not a war-horse. And His reign is peace: the weapons of war, "the chariot," "the horse," "the battle bow", are cut off, "he shall speak peace unto the heathen," and "his dominion shall be from sea even to sea... to the ends of the earth." Jesus fulfilled this exactly on Palm Sunday.
Then God addresses the captives: "by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water." Covenant blood frees the imprisoned. He calls them "prisoners of hope" and urges, "Turn you to the strong hold," promising to "render double" for their sorrows. The rest of the chapter pictures God's people victorious under His protection, "the LORD of hosts shall defend them", saved "as the flock of his people," precious "as the stones of a crown." It ends in wondering praise: "how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!" The humble King brings not only peace but overflowing goodness to His people.
Gospel Focus
"Behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass" is the gospel of the King, and Jesus fulfilled it before the eyes of Jerusalem. Marvel at the kind of King He is. He is "just", perfectly righteous; He is "having salvation", He does not merely demand but brings deliverance, His very name meaning "the LORD saves"; and He is "lowly", the King of glory riding a donkey, coming in meekness, not to crush but to save. He conquers not by the sword but by "peace," and His kingdom spreads "to the ends of the earth" not by armies but by the gospel. This is the King worth rejoicing over, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion." Have you welcomed Him? Do not look for a King of worldly pomp and force; the true King came lowly to save you.
And treasure the ground of your freedom: "by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water." We were "prisoners" in the waterless pit, the dry, deadly captivity of sin, with no way out by our own strength. But covenant blood set us free, the blood of Jesus, who said, "This is my blood of the new testament." His blood is the price and the power of our release. And we who are freed are called "prisoners of hope", once captive, but never hopeless, because of the covenant. If you are still in the pit, hear the King's call: "Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope." By the blood of Christ the door is open. Come out of the pit to the King who is just, saving, and lowly, and rejoice.
Chapter 9 in Review
Zechariah 9 moves from the judgment of the nations to the coming of the King. God humbles proud Tyre, Sidon, and the Philistines, "silver as the dust" cannot save them, while He encamps about His own house so "no oppressor shall pass through them any more." Then the great prophecy: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion... behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass." He comes in humility to speak peace and reign "to the ends of the earth." And by "the blood of thy covenant" God frees His "prisoners of hope" from "the pit wherein is no water," ending in praise, "how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!"
For the Apostolic reader this chapter is radiant with Christ. It shows the God who humbles the proud powers of the world and guards His people. It gives the prophecy Jesus fulfilled on Palm Sunday, "behold, thy King cometh unto thee... lowly, and riding upon an ass," revealing a King who is righteous, saving, and humble, who conquers by peace and rules the earth by His gospel. And it grounds the freedom of captives in "the blood of thy covenant," the very phrase Jesus took up at the Last Supper, "this is my blood of the new testament," by which He frees sinners from the waterless pit of sin and death. Welcome the lowly King, rejoice in Him, and if you are a "prisoner of hope," turn to the stronghold, for by covenant blood the door is open.
- No wealth, wisdom, or wall can stand against God; proud Tyre was "devoured with fire" (9:3-4; Proverbs 11:4).
- God encamps about His people so "no oppressor shall pass through" (9:8; Psalm 34:7).
- The King comes "just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass," fulfilled on Palm Sunday (9:9; Matthew 21:4-5).
- He conquers by peace and rules "to the ends of the earth" (9:10; Philippians 2:8).
- "By the blood of thy covenant" prisoners are freed, fulfilled in Christ's blood (9:11; Matthew 26:28).
- The freed are "prisoners of hope," called to turn to their stronghold (9:12).
Questions for Reflection
- Do you fear or envy the proud powers of this world, or trust the God who judges them?
- Have you welcomed the King who comes "lowly," or do you look for a King of worldly power?
- Do you know your freedom rests on "the blood of thy covenant," the blood of Christ?
- If you are a "prisoner of hope," will you turn today to the stronghold?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Key terms: "burden" (a weighty prophetic oracle, verse 1); yasha ("having salvation," the root of the name Jesus, verse 9). The fall of Tyre: Ezekiel 26-28; Isaiah 23; and the vanity of riches, Proverbs 11:4; Psalm 49:6-9; 127:1. God encamping about His people: Psalm 34:7; 125:2; Zechariah 2:5; Isaiah 4:5. The King on the donkey, fulfilled at the triumphal entry: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-16; and His humble reign of peace, Isaiah 9:6-7; Micah 5:2-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Psalm 72:8; Ephesians 2:17. "The blood of the covenant": Exodus 24:8; Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Hebrews 9:15-22; 10:29; 13:20; and freedom from the pit, Isaiah 42:7; 61:1; Psalm 40:2; 107:10-16; Luke 4:18; Colossians 1:13-14. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- Judgment on the proud nations and God's defense of His house: Zechariah 9:1-8; Proverbs 11:4; Psalm 34:7.
- The lowly King and the prisoners freed by covenant blood: Zechariah 9:9-17; Matthew 21:4-5; 26:28.