translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: ZEC

label: NET translator note

text: Heb “the latter rain.” This expression refers to the last concentration of heavy rainfall in the spring of the year in Palestine, about March or April. Metaphorically and eschatologically (as here) the “latter rain” speaks of God’s outpouring of blessing in the end times (cf. Hos 6:3 ; Joel 2:21-25 ).


text: The Hebrew word תְּרָפִים ( tÿrafim , “teraphim”) refers to small images used as means of divination and in other occult practices (cf. Gen 31:19, 34-35 ; 1 Sam 19:13, 16 ; Hos 3:4 ). A number of English versions transliterate the Hebrew term (cf. ASV, NAB, NASB, NRSV) or simply use the generic term “idols” (so KJV, NIV, TEV).


text: This is not the usual word to describe a king of Israel or Judah (such as מֶלֶךְ , melekh , or נָשִׂיא , nasi ’), but נוֹגֵשׂ , noges , “dictator” (cf. KJV “oppressor”). The author is asserting by this choice of wording that in the messianic age God’s rule will be by force.


text: Heb “and the riders on horses will be put to shame,” figurative for the defeat of mounted troops. The word “enemy” in the translation is supplied from context.


text: Heb “the house.”


text: Or “the kingdom of Israel”; Heb “the house of Joseph.” sn Joseph is mentioned here instead of the usual Israel (but see 2 Sam 19:20 ; Ps 78:67; 80:1; 81:5 ; Ezek 37:16 ; Amos 5:6, 15; 6:6 ) because of the exodus motif that follows in vv. 8-11 .


label: NET textual note

text: The anomalous MT reading וְחוֹשְׁבוֹתִים ( vÿkhoshÿvotim ) should probably be וַהֲשִׁי בוֹתִם ( vahashi votim ), the Hiphil perfect consecutive of שׁוּב ( shuv ), “return” (cf. Jer 12:15 ).


text: Or “sow” (so KJV, ASV). The imagery is taken from the sowing of seed by hand.


text: Heb “he,” in which case the referent is the Lord . This reading is followed by KJV, ASV, NAB (which renders it as first person), and NASB. The LXX reads “they,” referring to the Israelites themselves, a reading followed by many modern English versions (e.g., NIV, NRSV, TEV, NLT).


text: Heb “scepter,” referring by metonymy to the dominating rule of Egypt (cf. NLT).


text: Heb “I will strengthen them in the Lord .” Because of the perceived problem of the Lord saying he will strengthen the people “in the Lord ,” both BHK and BHS suggest emending גִּבַּרְתִּים ( gibbartim , “I will strengthen them”) to גְּבֻרָתָם ( gevuratam , “their strength”). This is unnecessary, however, for the Lord frequently refers to himself in that manner (see Zech 2:11 ).


text: The LXX and Syriac presuppose יִתְהַלָּלוּ ( yithallalu , “they will glory”) for יִתְהַלְּכוּ ( yithallÿkhu , “they will walk about”). Since walking about is a common idiom in Zechariah (cf. 1:10, 11; 6:7 [3x]) to speak of dominion, and dominion is a major theme of the present passage, there is no reason to reject the MT reading, which is followed by most modern English versions.