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.
Parallel translations
- WEB For I,’ says Yahweh, ‘will be to her a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory in the middle of her.
- BSB For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’”
- ESV And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”
- NKJV For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”
- NASB But I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire to her on all sides, and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”
- NLT Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 Himself promises to be a wall of fire around the city and the glory within it. His presence is both protection and splendor.
Overview
Without literal walls, Jerusalem's true defense is God Himself, a wall of fire encircling her and His glory dwelling inside. This is the heart of the vision: God's presence is the people's security and honor. It points to Christ, Immanuel, God with us, whose presence guards and glorifies His people now and forever.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Isa 4:5And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
- Ps 3:3But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
- Zech 9:8And 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.
- Isa 60:18–19Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
- Rev 21:23And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
- Isa 12:6Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
- Ps 46:7–11The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Isa 26:1–2In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
- Isa 33:21But there the glorious LORD will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams; wherein shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant ship pass thereby.
- Rev 21:10–11And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,
- Hag 2:7–9And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Ps 48:3God is known in her palaces for a refuge.
- Ps 48:12Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.
- Luke 2:32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
- Rev 22:3–5And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 2:5 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.