Zechariah 2:11

My Notes

What Does Zechariah 2:11 Mean?

Zechariah prophesies a stunning expansion of God's people: and many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.

Many nations shall be joined to the LORD — the scope moves beyond Israel. Many nations (goyim rabbim) — not one Gentile proselyte here and there but many nations. The nations are joined (lavah — attached, bound to) the LORD — entering covenant relationship with the God of Israel.

In that day — the prophetic day of the LORD, the eschatological moment when God's purposes come to fulfillment. The joining of the nations is part of the climactic divine plan.

And shall be my people — the covenant formula (I will be their God, they shall be my people) is extended to the nations. The identity that belonged exclusively to Israel — my people — is now applied to the Gentiles who join themselves to the LORD. The exclusivity of the covenant is opened without being dissolved.

I will dwell in the midst of thee — God's presence among his people. The dwelling (shakan — the root of Shekinah) is God's manifest, localized presence. The nations who join the LORD receive his dwelling presence — the same presence that filled the tabernacle and the temple.

Thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee — the phrase identifies the speaker as one sent by the LORD of hosts. The sent one is distinct from the LORD of hosts yet sent by him — a passage that Christian theology reads as the pre-incarnate Son sent by the Father. The fulfillment becomes clear in Christ: God dwelling among his people, the nations joining the covenant, and the sent one being recognized as the LORD's messenger.

The verse anticipates the full inclusion of the Gentiles that Paul would later articulate in Ephesians 2-3.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What does 'many nations shall be joined to the LORD' reveal about God's original intent for the scope of his people?
• 2.How does the covenant formula 'shall be my people' — once exclusive to Israel — being applied to the nations change your understanding of belonging?
• 3.Who is the 'sent one' in this passage — and how does the New Testament identify him?
• 4.How does knowing this prophecy includes you — as part of the 'many nations' — affect the way you read the Old Testament?

Devotional

Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. Many nations. Not just Israel. The doors of the covenant swing open and nations — plural, many — pour in. The God of Israel becomes the God of the nations. The people of God expand beyond any ethnic or geographic boundary. My people — the most intimate covenant language — applied to the whole world.

I will dwell in the midst of thee. God's presence — his actual, manifest, dwelling presence — in the midst of his expanded people. Not a distant God watching from heaven. A dwelling God — present, near, among. The same presence that filled the tabernacle, that hovered over the ark, that filled Solomon's temple — dwelling in the midst of a people drawn from many nations.

Thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. The sent one. Someone distinct from the LORD of hosts, yet sent by him. Someone whose coming makes the nations become God's people. Someone whose dwelling among people fulfills the prophecy. The early church recognized this sent one as Jesus — God dwelling among us, the nations streaming in, the covenant expanding to the ends of the earth.

This verse is about you. If you are not ethnically Jewish — if you come from the 'many nations' rather than from Israel — this prophecy is your invitation letter. The joining that Zechariah saw is your story. The covenant that was once exclusive now includes you. You are part of the many nations. You are among the 'my people.' And the God who sent his Son dwells in your midst.

The promise is fulfilled. The nations have been joined. And the sent one has come.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture