but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have added to the calamity.’
Parallel translations
- WEB I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little displeased, but they added to the calamity.”
- KJV And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
- NKJV I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, And they helped—but with evil intent.”
- NASB But I am very angry with the nations who are carefree; for while I was only a little angry, they furthered the disaster.”
- NLT But I am very angry with the other nations that are now enjoying peace and security. I was only a little angry with my people, but the nations inflicted harm on them far beyond my intentions.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God is very angry with the complacent nations who overstepped in afflicting His people. He used them as instruments but they went too far.
Overview
God had been 'a little displeased' with Judah and used the nations to discipline her, but those nations added cruelty beyond His intent. Their ease and arrogance now draw His anger. This shows that God holds even the instruments of His judgment accountable, assuring the oppressed that He sees and will right every wrong.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 22
- Jer 51:24Before your very eyes I will repay Babylon and all the dwellers of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion,” declares the LORD.
- Ezek 25:12–17This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt,
- Isa 54:8In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.
- Isa 47:6–9I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke.
- Zech 1:2“The LORD was very angry with your fathers.
- Obad 1:10–16Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, you will be covered with shame and cut off forever.
- Ps 83:2–5See how Your enemies rage, how Your foes have reared their heads.
- Zech 1:11And the riders answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and tranquil.”
- Jer 48:11–13Moab has been at ease from youth, settled like wine on its dregs; he has not been poured from vessel to vessel or gone into exile. So his flavor has remained the same, and his aroma is unchanged.
- Ps 69:26For they persecute the one You struck and recount the pain of those You wounded.
- Isa 10:5–7Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath.
- Ps 123:4We have endured much scorn from the arrogant, much contempt from the proud.
- Amos 6:1Woe to those at ease in Zion and those secure on Mount Samaria, the distinguished ones of the foremost nation, to whom the house of Israel comes.
- Heb 12:6–7For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”
- Ezek 29:6–7Then all the people of Egypt will know that I am the LORD. For you were only a staff of reeds to the house of Israel.
- Ezek 36:4–5therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities, which have become a spoil and a mockery to the rest of the nations around you.
- Amos 1:3–13This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they threshed Gilead with sledges of iron.
- Ps 137:7Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!”
- Ezek 26:2“Son of man, because Tyre has said of Jerusalem, ‘Aha! The gate to the nations is broken; it has swung open to me; now that she lies in ruins I will be filled,’
- Ezek 25:3–9Tell the Ammonites to hear the word of the Lord GOD, for this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you exclaimed, “Aha!” when My sanctuary was profaned, when the land of Israel was laid waste, and when the house of Judah went into exile,
- Jer 51:34–35“Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me. He has set me aside like an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he filled his belly with my delicacies and vomited me out.
- Rev 18:7–8As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’
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Christ at the center
The Branch who is both priest and king, the shepherd struck and the flock scattered, the king coming humble on a donkey, the one they pierced, the fountain opened for sin — Zechariah is dense with Christ.
How Zechariah 1:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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