I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, And they helped—but with evil intent.”
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.
- BSB 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.’
- 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 51:24“I will render to Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight,” says Yahweh.
- Ezek 25:12–17Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because Edom has dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended, and revenged himself on them;
- Isa 54:8In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says Yahweh your Redeemer.
- Isa 47:6–9I was angry with my people. I profaned my inheritance, and gave them into your hand. You showed them no mercy. You laid a very heavy yoke on the aged.
- Zech 1:2“Yahweh was very displeased with your fathers.
- Obad 1:10–16For the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame will cover you, and you will be cut off forever.
- Ps 83:2–5For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads.
- Zech 1:11They reported to Yahweh’s angel who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, “We have walked back and forth through the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and in peace.”
- Jer 48:11–13“Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed.
- Ps 69:26For they persecute him whom you have wounded. They tell of the sorrow of those whom you have hurt.
- Isa 10:5–7Alas Assyrian, the rod of my anger, the staff in whose hand is my indignation!
- Ps 123:4Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.
- Amos 6:1Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who are secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel come!
- Heb 12:6–7For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.”
- Ezek 29:6–7All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am Yahweh, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
- Ezek 36:4–5therefore, you mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the cities that are forsaken, which are become a prey and derision to the residue of the nations that are all around;
- Amos 1:3–13Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron;
- Ps 137:7Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!”
- Ezek 26:2Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken: the gate of the peoples; she is turned to me; I shall be replenished, now that she is laid waste:
- Ezek 25:3–9and tell the children of Ammon, Hear the word of the Lord Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Because you said, Aha, against my sanctuary, when it was profaned; and against the land of Israel, when it was made desolate; and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity:
- Jer 51:34–35“Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me. He has crushed me. He has made me an empty vessel. He has, like a monster, swallowed me up. He has filled his mouth with my delicacies. He has cast me out.
- Rev 18:7–8However much she glorified herself, and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, ‘I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.’
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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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