The Meaning of Zechariah 2:1 Explained

Zechariah 2:1

KJV: I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

YLT: And I lift up mine eyes, and look, and lo, a man, and in his hand a measuring line.

Darby: And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

ASV: And I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I lifted up  mine eyes  again, and looked,  and behold a man  with a measuring  line  in his hand. 

What does Zechariah 2:1 Mean?

Study Notes

again
As in Zechariah 1:8-11 , the "man" of Zechariah 2:11 is "the angel that talked with me" of Zechariah 1:3 . The measuring-line (or reed) is used by Ezekiel Ezekiel 40:3 ; Ezekiel 40:5 as a symbol of preparation for rebuilding the city and temple in the kingdom-age. Here also it has that meaning, as the context ( Zechariah 2:4-13 ) shows. The subject of the vision is the restoration of nation and city. In no sense has this prophecy been fulfilled. The order is:
(1) The Lord in glory in Jerusalem, Zechariah 2:5 (cf. Matthew 24:29 ; Matthew 24:30 )
(2) the restoration of Israel, Zechariah 2:6 ;
(3) the judgment of Jehovah upon the nations, Zechariah 2:8 , "after the glory" Matthew 25:31 ; Matthew 25:32
(4) the full blessing of the earth in the kingdom, Zechariah 2:10-13 , See "Kingdom (O.T.)" Genesis 1:26 . "Israel,"; Genesis 12:2 ; Romans 11:26 .
angel
( See Scofield Hebrews 1:4 ).
David
Kingdom in Old Testament, Summary:
I. Dominion over the earth before the call of Abraham
(1) Dominion over creation was given to the first man and woman ( Genesis 1:26 ); ( Genesis 1:28 ). Through the fall this dominion was lost, Satan becoming "prince of this world"; ( Matthew 4:8-10 ); ( John 14:30 ).
(2) After the flood, the principle of human government was established under the covenant with Noah
( See Scofield Genesis 9:1 ).
Biblically this is still the charter of all Gentile government.
II. The Theocracy in Israel. The call of Abraham involved, with much else, the creation of a distinctive people through whom great purposes of God toward the race might be worked out.
(see "Israel" ( Genesis 12:1-3 ); ( Romans 11:26 ).
Among these purposes is the establishment of a universal kingdom. The order of the development of Divine rule in Israel is:
(1) The mediatorship of Moses ( Exodus 3:1-10 ); ( Exodus 19:9 ); ( Exodus 24:12 ).
(2) The leadership of Joshua ( Joshua 1:1-5 ).
(3) The institution of Judges ( Judges 2:16-18 ).
(4) The popular rejection of the Theocracy, and choice of a king -- Saul, ( 1 Samuel 8:1-7 ); ( 1 Samuel 9:12-17 ).
III. The Davidic kingdom
(1) The divine choice of David ( 1 Samuel 16:1-13 ).
(2) The giving of the Davidic Covenant ( 2 Samuel 7:8-16 ); ( Psalms 89:3 ); ( Psalms 89:4 ); ( Psalms 89:20 ); ( Psalms 89:21 ); ( Psalms 89:28-37 ).
(3) The exposition of the David Covenant by the prophets ( Jeremiah 31:38-407 ); ( Isaiah 1:26 ); ( Zechariah 12:6-8 ).
See margin reference, "Kingdom" and references.
( See Scofield Psalms 22:1-10 )
The kingdom as described by the prophets is:
a) Davidic, to be established under an heir of David, who is to be born of a virgin, therefore truly man, but also "Immanuel," "the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace" ( Isaiah 7:13 ); ( Isaiah 7:14 ); ( Isaiah 9:6 ); ( Isaiah 9:7 ); ( Psalms 89:30-339 ); ( Jeremiah 23:5 ); ( Ezekiel 34:23 ); ( Ezekiel 37:24 ); ( Hosea 3:4 ); ( Hosea 3:5 ).
b) A kingdom heavenly in origin, principle, and authority ( Daniel 2:34 ); ( Daniel 2:35 ); ( Daniel 2:44 ); ( Daniel 2:45 ) but set up on the earth, with Jerusalem as the capital; ( Isaiah 2:2-4 ); ( Isaiah 4:3 ); ( Isaiah 4:5 ); ( Isaiah 24:23 ); ( Isaiah 33:20 ); ( Isaiah 62:1-7 ); ( Jeremiah 23:5 ); ( 1711692950_21 ); ( Joel 3:1 ); ( Joel 3:16 ); ( Joel 3:17 ).
c) The kingdom is to be established first over regathered, restored, and converted Israel, and then to become universal ( Psalms 2:6-8 ); ( Psalms 22:1-31 ); ( Isaiah 1:25 ); ( Isaiah 1:2 ); ( Isaiah 1:3 ); ( Isaiah 11:1 ); ( Isaiah 11:10-16 ); ( Isaiah 11:12 ); ( Jeremiah 23:5-8 ); ( Jeremiah 30:7-11 ); ( Ezekiel 20:33-40 ); ( Ezekiel 37:21-25 ); ( Zechariah 9:10 ); ( Zechariah 14:16-19 ).
d) The moral characteristics of the kingdom are to be righteousness and peace. The meek, not the proud, will inherit the earth; longevity will be greatly increased; the knowledge of the Lord will be universal; beast ferocity will be removed; absolute equity will be enforced; and outbreaking sin visited with instant judgment; while the enormous majority of earth's inhabitants will be saved ( Isaiah 11:4 ); ( Isaiah 11:6-9 ); ( Isaiah 65:20 ); ( Psalms 2:9 ); ( Isaiah 26:9 ); ( Zechariah 14:16-21 ). The New Testament ( Revelation 20:1-5 ); adds a detail of immense significance -- the removal of Satan from the scene. It is impossible to conceive to what heights of spiritual, intellectual, and physical perfection humanity will attain in this, its coming age of righteousness and peace. ( Isaiah 11:4-9 ); ( Psalms 72:1-10 ).
e) The kingdom is to be established by power, not persuasion, and is to follow divine judgment upon the Gentile world-powers ( Psalms 2:4-9 ); ( Isaiah 9:7 ); ( Daniel 2:35 ); ( Daniel 2:44 ); ( Daniel 2:45 ); ( Daniel 7:26 ); ( Daniel 7:27 ); ( Zechariah 14:1-19 ) ( See Scofield Zechariah 6:11 ).
f) The restoration of Israel and the establishment of the kingdom are connected with an advent of the Lord, yet future ( Deuteronomy 30:3-5 ); ( Psalms 2:1-9 ); ( Zechariah 14:4 ).
g) The chastisement reserved for disobedience in the house of David ( 2 Samuel 7:14 ); ( 1711692950_73 ) fell in the captivities and world-wide dispersion, since which time, though a remnant returned under prince Zerubbabel, Jerusalem has been under the overlordship of Gentile. But the Davidic Covenant has not been abrogated ( Psalms 89:33-37 ) but is yet to be fulfilled. ( Acts 15:14-17 ).
angel
( See Scofield Hebrews 1:4 ).

Context Summary

Zechariah 2:1-13 - The Redemption Of Jerusalem
The work of Temple-building had ceased for fifteen years and the new resolve to arise and build might meet with a similar fate. But the four horns met with four carpenters. For Babylon the carpenter was Cyrus; for Persia, Alexander the Great; for Greece, the Roman; for Rome, the Gaul. No weapon that is formed to thwart God's purposes can prosper. The young man with the measuring line embodied the new spirit animating the returned exiles. But God was intending to give more prosperity and increase than could be contained in walls. [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 2

1  God, in the care of Jerusalem, sends to measure it
6  The redemption of Zion
10  The promise of God's presence

What do the individual words in Zechariah 2:1 mean?

And I raised my eyes and looked and behold a man and in his hand with a line measuring
וָאֶשָּׂ֥א עֵינַ֛י וָאֵ֖רֶא וְהִנֵּה־ אִ֑ישׁ וּבְיָד֖וֹ חֶ֥בֶל מִדָּֽה

וָאֶשָּׂ֥א  And  I  raised 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
עֵינַ֛י  my  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וָאֵ֖רֶא  and  looked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
וְהִנֵּה־  and  behold 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
אִ֑ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וּבְיָד֖וֹ  and  in  his  hand 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
חֶ֥בֶל  with  a  line 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֶבֶל 
Sense: a cord, rope, territory, band, company.
מִדָּֽה  measuring 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִדָּה 
Sense: measure, measurement, stature, size, garment.