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Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’”
Zechariah 2:5 · New Living Translation
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.
  • KJV 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.
  • BSB For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’”
  • 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.’ ”

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 4:5Yahweh will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion, and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy.
  • Ps 3:3But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
  • Zech 9:8I will encamp around my house against the army, that no one pass through or return; and no oppressor will pass through them any more: for now I have seen with my eyes.
  • Isa 60:18–19Violence shall no more be heard in your land, nor desolation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.
  • Rev 21:23The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
  • Isa 12:6Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion; for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!”
  • Ps 46:7–11Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
  • Isa 26:1–2In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.
  • Isa 33:21But there Yahweh will be with us in majesty, a place of wide rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars will go, neither will any gallant ship pass by there.
  • Rev 21:10–11He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
  • Hag 2:7–9and I will shake all nations. The precious things of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Yahweh of Armies.
  • Ps 48:3God has shown himself in her citadels as a refuge.
  • Ps 48:12Walk about Zion, and go around her. Number its towers.
  • Luke 2:32a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”
  • Rev 22:3–5There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Zechariah videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Zechariah 2:5YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ZechariahMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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.