Zecheriah: Coming Events and Astronomical Signs

Zechariah 2:1b
Zechariah 2, Page 2

Re-evaluation Translation
(
Repeating) 2:1  [Those who remember Yehuveh] again look upward, and see, and observe [men with extreme anguish encompassing them].

Bible, KJV Translation
(
Repeating) 2:1  I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.

Yehuveh’s Fourth Sign in the Heavens: Commentary on Zechariah 2:1-13 (20 November 2008):

Significant Words and Comments:

Significant Words: 2:1 (20 November 2008):  Lifted up [nasa', H5375] is discussed in notes on Zechariah 1:18. However, nasa' is not present in this verse. Rather, the word 'essa, [not in Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, but closely related to entries H0800: esh-shaw, “fire,” and H0784: aysh, a primary word, “fire, burning, flaming, hot,”] is used in both the Tanakh, the Hebrew Scriptures, and the Interlinear Bible.
       
Eyes [`ayin, H5869] is discussed in notes on Zechariah 1:18.
        The word rendered
looked, here, is 'era [H0690], meaning “lion,” rather than the primary root ra'ar [H7200], meaning “to see or to look,” as discussed in notes on Zechariah 1:8. Together, 'essa `ayin 'era reads “fiery eye lion,” an astronomical identification with a location in the constellation Leo.
       
Behold [H2009] is discussed in notes on Zechariah 1:8.
       
Man [H0376] is an individual or a group of men, as discussed in notes on Zechariah 1:8. As discussed there, the indication is that those who remember Yehuveh [Zechariah] observe that what is communicating with men, rather than seeing a man doing something. But as they are looking up, they observe planetary movement which they know to have a specific meaning, an understanding which has been taken from us, but which Yehuveh is even now restoring.
       
Measuring is from middah [H4060], meaning “extension, that is, height or breadth; any measure, including its standard; hence a portion, as measured, or a vestment; specifically, tribute (as measured).” Middah is from the primary root verb madad [H4058], properly meaning “to stretch; by implication, to measure (as if by stretching a line); figuratively, to be extended.” Middah is used only here in Zechariah.
       
Line is from chebel [H2256], meaning “a rope (as twisted), especially a measuring line; by implication, a measured property, as a district or an inheritance; or a noose; figuratively, a company (as people bound together); also a throe (intense painful struggle, especially of parturition); also, ruin.” Chebel is from the primary root verb chabal [H2254], meaning “to wind tightly (as a rope), to bind; specifically, by a pledge; figuratively, to pervert, destroy; also, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition).” Chebel is used only three times in Zechariah [2:1; 11:7, 14], but sixty-one times in Torah. Of these sixty-one times, half refer to cords and bindings, a quarter to measured geography, and a quarter to sorrows and ruin. It leaves this translation suspect. Middah chebel could as easily be translated extended sorrow as measuring line. Proverbs 5:22, Psalms 16:6, and Psalms 18:4 demonstrate the extreme diversity in the use of this word: “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords [chebel, H2256] of his sins.” “The lines [chebel, H2256] are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.” “The sorrows [chebel, H2256] of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.”
       
Hand is from yad [H3027], meaning “a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from H3709, the closed one).” Yad is used to describe possessing something, as having money in hand; of taking hold of something, as embracing a new truth; and of grasping something, as understanding a concept. Yad is used seventeen times in Zechariah [2:1, 9; 4:9 (twice), 10, 12; 8:4, 9, 13; 11:6 (thrice); 13:6, 7; 14:13 (thrice)].


Gael Bataman
Originally Written:               20 November 2008
Latest Update:                     20 November 2008


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