The Meaning of Zechariah 9:12 Explained

Zechariah 9:12

KJV: Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

YLT: Turn back to a fenced place, Ye prisoners of the hope, Even to-day a second announcer I restore to thee.

Darby: Turn again to the stronghold, prisoners of hope! even to-day do I declare I will render double unto thee.

ASV: Turn you to the stronghold, ye prisoners of hope: even to-day do I declare that I will render double unto thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Turn  you to the strong hold,  ye prisoners  of hope:  even to day  do I declare  [that] I will render  double  unto thee; 

What does Zechariah 9:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord called these former Israelite prisoners of the nations who were now free to return to their Stronghold, namely, Himself (cf. Psalm 18:2; Psalm 31:3; Psalm 71:3; Psalm 91:2; Psalm 144:2; Jeremiah 16:19; Nahum 1:7). He Himself promised to restore to them double of what He had allowed their enemy to take from them (cf. Job 42:10). A double restoration of joy pictures a complete restoration (by metonymy; cf. Job 42:12-13; Isaiah 40:2; Isaiah 51:19; Isaiah 61:7).

Context Summary

Zechariah 9:9-17 - A Lowly Deliverer Brings Peace
Jesus must be King first, then Savior. He is lowly; His steed is not the richly caparisoned warhorse, but the humble ass; He needs no weapon to overthrow His foes, because as Priest He speaks peace. The peasantry had taken shelter in the rock hewn mountain cisterns; but they might cherish hope, because they had been redeemed by the blood of the covenant, and God would see to it that that redemption was made effective. Before the advent of the King, the prison-doors would open, and at His word the imprisoned should go forth. How great are His goodness and beauty!
In Zechariah 10:1-12 we have a reference to the successful stand made by Judas Maccabaeus and his brethren against Antiochus. They were to tread them down as the mire of the streets; Joseph and Judah would be reunited and after their far-spread sowing over the world, the scattered tribes would ultimately return as bees to the call of the bee-farmer. [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 9

1  God defends his church
9  Zion is exhorted to rejoice for the coming of Christ, and his peaceable kingdom
12  God's promises of victory and defense

What do the individual words in Zechariah 9:12 mean?

and Return to the stronghold You prisoners of hope Even today I declare double [That] I will restore to you
שׁ֚וּבוּ לְבִצָּר֔וֹן אֲסִירֵ֖י הַתִּקְוָ֑ה גַּם־ הַיּ֕וֹם מַגִּ֥יד מִשְׁנֶ֖ה אָשִׁ֥יב לָֽךְ

שׁ֚וּבוּ  and  Return 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
לְבִצָּר֔וֹן  to  the  stronghold 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בִּצָּרֹון 
Sense: stronghold.
אֲסִירֵ֖י  You  prisoners 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אָסִיר  
Sense: prisoner, captive, bondman.
הַתִּקְוָ֑ה  of  hope 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תִּקְוָה 
Sense: cord.
גַּם־  Even 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
הַיּ֕וֹם  today 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
מַגִּ֥יד  I  declare 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
מִשְׁנֶ֖ה  double 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁנֶה  
Sense: double, copy, second, repetition.
אָשִׁ֥יב  [That]  I  will  restore 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
לָֽךְ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular