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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh their God will save them in that day as the flock of his people; for they are like the jewels of a crown, lifted on high over his land.
- BSB On that day the LORD their God will save them as the flock of His people; for like jewels in a crown they will sparkle over His land.
- NKJV The Lord their God will save them in that day, As the flock of His people. For they shall be like the jewels of a crown, Lifted like a banner over His land—
- NASB And the Lord their God will save them on that day As the flock of His people; For they are like the precious stones of a crown, Sparkling on His land.
- NLT On that day the Lord their God will rescue his people, just as a shepherd rescues his sheep. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.
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
In that day God will save His people like a shepherd's flock, treating them as precious jewels in a crown. They are God's treasured, carefully kept possession.
Overview
The Lord is portrayed as the Shepherd who saves and the King who prizes His people as sparkling jewels lifted high. These twin images of tender care and high value reveal God's affection for His own (cf. Malachi 3:17). The shepherd theme points to Christ, the Good Shepherd who lays down His life to save the flock (John 10:11).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Isa 62:3Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
- John 10:27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
- Ezek 34:31And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD.
- Hag 2:23In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.
- Luke 12:32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
- Ezek 34:22–26Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.
- Ps 100:3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
- Isa 60:14The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
- 1 Pet 5:2–4Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
- Isa 40:10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
- Isa 60:3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
- Jer 31:11For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
- Zech 8:23Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
- Zeph 3:20At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
- Isa 11:10–12And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
- Mic 7:14Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
- Jer 23:3And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
- Mic 5:4And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
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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 9:16 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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