Zechariah 12:4

On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and every rider with madness. I will keep a watchful eye on the house of Judah, but I will strike with blindness all the horses of the nations.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses the house of Judah on a specific future day when all nations gather against Jerusalem. This declaration occurs immediately after God describes making the city an immovable burden for its attackers.

The words — אַכֶּ֤ה ('a.Keh) translates literally as "I will strike," and בַּ/תִּמָּה֔וֹן (ba./ti.ma.Hon) means "with bewilderment" or panic. These terms specify the exact mechanism of divine intervention that disables both the mounts and the riders of opposing forces.

The thread — The motif of God inflicting madness and blindness appears in Deuteronomy 28:28, while Zechariah 12:3 and Zechariah 12:6 frame this event within a broader sequence of Judah's protection and the defeat of gathered nations.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that opposing military power is subject to divine disablement and that Judah's security rests solely on Yahweh's direct intervention.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 28:28 The LORD will afflict you with madness, blindness, and confusion of mind,
Zechariah 12:3 On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.
Zechariah 12:6 On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, like a flaming torch among the sheaves; they will consume all the peoples around them on the right and on the left, while the people of Jerusalem remain secure there.
Acts 17:30 Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
1 Kings 8:29 May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place.
2 Kings 6:14 the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They went there by night and surrounded the city.
2 Kings 6:18 As the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Please strike these people with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.
2 Chronicles 6:20 May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your Name, so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place.
2 Chronicles 6:40 Now, my God, may Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place.
2 Chronicles 7:15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.