The Meaning of Zechariah 12:7 Explained

Zechariah 12:7

KJV: The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.

YLT: And saved hath Jehovah the tents of Judah first, So that become not great against Judah Doth the beauty of the house of David, And the beauty of the inhabitant of Jerusalem.

Darby: And Jehovah shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem be not magnified over Judah.

ASV: Jehovah also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem be not magnified above Judah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  also shall save  the tents  of Judah  first,  that the glory  of the house  of David  and the glory  of the inhabitants  of Jerusalem  do not magnify  [themselves] against Judah. 

What does Zechariah 12:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yahweh would defend the outlying areas of Judah first so the people from David"s line and the residents of Jerusalem would not conclude that they were more important in God"s sight (cf. Jeremiah 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 1:29; 1 Corinthians 12:22-26; 1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17). All the Jews would see that it was the Lord who was responsible for their deliverance. This would evidently end their fighting among themselves (cf. Zechariah 11:6).

Context Summary

Zechariah 12:1-14 - Jerusalem's Day Of Mourning
This vision refers to a time yet future, when the Jews shall have returned to their own land, but still in unbelief; and will be assailed by their foes, though in vain, Zechariah 12:2-3; Zechariah 12:6. The Lord will defend them, Zechariah 12:7-8. Then the nation will mourn. Their repentance will be universal, from the highest to the lowest; lonely, and on account of the sufferings they inflicted on Jesus. The Agent of this mourning will be the Holy Spirit; and it will eventuate in the full forgiveness of sin through the blood of atonement and an entire cleansing from idols. [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 12

1  Jerusalem a cup of trembling to herself,
3  and a burdensome stone to her adversaries
6  The victorious restoring of Judah
10  The repentance of Jerusalem

What do the individual words in Zechariah 12:7 mean?

And will save Yahweh - the tents of Judah first so that not shall become greater the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem than that of Judah
וְהוֹשִׁ֧יעַ יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־ אָהֳלֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה לְמַ֨עַן לֹֽא־ תִגְדַּ֜ל תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת בֵּית־ דָּוִ֗יד וְתִפְאֶ֛רֶת יֹשֵׁ֥ב יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם עַל־ יְהוּדָֽה

וְהוֹשִׁ֧יעַ  And  will  save 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אָהֳלֵ֥י  the  tents 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֹהֶל  
Sense: tent.
יְהוּדָ֖ה  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
בָּרִֽאשֹׁנָ֑ה  first 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
לְמַ֨עַן  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
תִגְדַּ֜ל  shall  become  greater 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: גָּדַל  
Sense: to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things.
תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת  the  glory 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: תִּפְאֶרֶת  
Sense: beauty, splendour, glory.
בֵּית־  of  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
דָּוִ֗יד  of  David 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
וְתִפְאֶ֛רֶת  and  the  glory 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: תִּפְאֶרֶת  
Sense: beauty, splendour, glory.
יֹשֵׁ֥ב  of  the  inhabitants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם  of  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
עַל־  than  that 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
יְהוּדָֽה  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.