Bible Strands
Zechariah 9:10
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Yahweh speaks to Judah and Jerusalem, immediately following the proclamation of His humble king's arrival and preceding the promise of prisoner release.
The words — וְ/הִכְרַתִּי־ (ve./hikh.ra.ti-) and וְ/נִכְרְתָה֙ (ve./nikh.re.Tah) both derive from the root H3772, meaning "to cut off," applied here to military equipment and the bow of war.
The thread — This dismantling of martial power echoes Hosea 1:7, where Yahweh saves Judah without bow or sword, and anticipates the universal dominion described in Psalm 72:7.
Why it lands — The text declares the removal of Ephraim's chariotry and Jerusalem's horses to establish a peace that extends from sea to sea, demanding recognition that divine rule replaces human warfare.
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
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.
Cross-references
- Hosea 1:7 Yet I will have compassion on the house of Judah, and I will save them—not by bow or sword or war, not by horses and cavalry, but by the LORD their God.”
- Hosea 2:18 On that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air and the creatures that crawl on the ground. And I will abolish bow and sword and battle in the land, and will make them lie down in safety.
- Psalms 72:7 May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.
- 2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
- Colossians 1:20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
- Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”
- Psalms 2:8 Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
- Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 49:6 He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
- Isaiah 57:18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,