Zechariah 12:2 "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.

Bible > Zechariah > Chapter 12 > Verse 2

◄ Zechariah 12:2 ►

New International Version
“I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that sends all the surrounding peoples reeling. Judah will be besieged as well as Jerusalem.

New Living Translation
I will make Jerusalem like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger when they send their armies to besiege Jerusalem and Judah.

English Standard Version
“Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah.

Berean Standard Bible
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.

King James Bible
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

New King James Version
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.

New American Standard Bible
“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.

NASB 1995
“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.

NASB 1977
“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.

Legacy Standard Bible
“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples all around. Now the one in siege against Jerusalem will also be against Judah.

Amplified Bible
“Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling (staggering) to all the surrounding peoples; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.

Christian Standard Bible
“Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering for the peoples who surround the city. The siege against Jerusalem will also involve Judah.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup that causes staggering for the peoples who surround the city. The siege against Jerusalem will also involve Judah.

American Standard Version
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling unto all the peoples round about, and upon Judah also shall it be in the siege against Jerusalem.

Contemporary English Version
I have decided that Jerusalem will become a bowl of wine that makes the neighboring nations drunk. And when Jerusalem is attacked, Judah will also be attacked.

English Revised Version
behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling unto all the peoples round about, and upon Judah also shall it be in the siege against Jerusalem.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I'm going to make Jerusalem like a cup [of wine] that makes all the surrounding people stagger. They will attack Judah along with Jerusalem.

Good News Translation
"I will make Jerusalem like a cup of wine; the nations around her will drink and stagger like drunks. And when they besiege Jerusalem, the cities of the rest of Judah will also be besieged.

International Standard Version
Look, I am making Jerusalem an unstable cup toward all of its surrounding armies when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.

Majority Standard Bible
?Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem.

NET Bible
"I am about to make Jerusalem a cup that brings dizziness to all the surrounding nations; indeed, Judah will also be included when Jerusalem is besieged.

New Heart English Bible
"Look, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples, and on Judah also will it be in the siege against Jerusalem.

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the people around, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

World English Bible
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling to all the surrounding peoples, and it will also be on Judah in the siege against Jerusalem.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
“Behold, I am making Jerusalem a cup of reeling "" To all the surrounding peoples, "" And it is also against Judah, "" In the siege against Jerusalem.

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, I am making Jerusalem a cup of reeling To all the peoples round about, And also against Judah it is, In the siege against Jerusalem.

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold, I set Jerusalem a dish of reeling to all peoples round about, and against Judah shall he be in the straitness against Jerusalem.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold I will make Jerusalem a lintel of surfeiting to all the people round about: and Juda also shall be in the siege against Jerusalem.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold, I will set Jerusalem as a lintel of the effects of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, yet even Judah will be in the blockade against Jerusalem.

New American Bible
See, I will make Jerusalem a cup of reeling for all peoples round about. Judah will be besieged, even Jerusalem.

New Revised Standard Version
See, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of reeling for all the surrounding peoples; it will be against Judah also in the siege against Jerusalem.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a fearful place to all the people round about her, also there shall be a siege both against Judah together with Jerusalem.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold, I make Jerusalem the gate of quaking for all the nations that are around her, also upon Yehuda there shall be suffering with Jerusalem

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of staggering Unto all the peoples round about, And upon Judah also shall it fall to be in the siege against Jerusalem.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Behold, I will make Jerusalem as trembling door-posts to all the nations round about, and in Judea there shall be a siege against Jerusalem.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jerusalem will be Attacked
1This is the burden of the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Thus declares the LORD, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth, who forms the spirit of man within him: 2“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples. Judah will be besieged, as well as Jerusalem. 3On that day, when all the nations of the earth gather against her, I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who would heave it away will be severely injured.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 51:17
Awake, awake! Rise up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of His fury; you who have drained the goblet to the dregs—the cup that makes men stagger.

Jeremiah 25:15-17
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it. / And they will drink and stagger and go out of their minds, because of the sword that I will send among them.” / So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand and made all the nations drink from it, each one to whom the LORD had sent me,

Jeremiah 51:7
Babylon was a gold cup in the hand of the LORD, making the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad.

Isaiah 29:9-10
Stop and be astonished; blind yourselves and be sightless; be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not from strong drink. / For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.

Ezekiel 23:32-34
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You will drink your sister’s cup, a cup deep and wide. It will bring scorn and derision, for it holds so much. / You will be filled with drunkenness and grief, with a cup of devastation and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria. / You will drink it and drain it; you will dash it to pieces, and tear your breasts. For I have spoken,’ declares the Lord GOD.

Psalm 75:8
For a cup is in the hand of the LORD, full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours from His cup, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to the dregs.

Lamentations 4:21
So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself.

Isaiah 51:22
Thus says your Lord, the LORD, even your God, who defends His people: “See, I have removed from your hand the cup of staggering. From that goblet, the cup of My fury, you will never drink again.

Habakkuk 2:16
You will be filled with shame instead of glory. You too must drink and expose your uncircumcision! The cup in the LORD’s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will cover your glory.

Revelation 14:10
he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.

Revelation 16:19
The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath.

Revelation 18:6
Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.

Matthew 20:22-23
“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” the brothers answered. / “You will indeed drink My cup,” Jesus said. “But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to grant. These seats belong to those for whom My Father has prepared them.”

Mark 10:38-39
“You do not know what you are asking,” Jesus replied. “Can you drink the cup I will drink, or be baptized with the baptism I will undergo?” / “We can,” the brothers answered. “You will drink the cup that I drink,” Jesus said, “and you will be baptized with the baptism that I undergo.

Luke 21:34
But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

Treasury of Scripture

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling to all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.

a cup.

Psalm 75:8
For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

Isaiah 51:17,22,23
Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out…

Jeremiah 25:15,17
For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it…

trembling.

Jeremiah 51:57
And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

or, poison.

Jeremiah 8:14
Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the LORD our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.

when they, etc.

Zechariah 14:14
And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.

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Besieged Causes Cup Fall Fear Jerusalem Judah Making Peoples Reeling Round Shaking Shut Siege Staggering Surrounding Trembling

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Besieged Causes Cup Fall Fear Jerusalem Judah Making Peoples Reeling Round Shaking Shut Siege Staggering Surrounding Trembling

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.

Berean Study Bible

Behold
The word "Behold" is a call to attention, often used in the Bible to introduce a significant announcement or prophecy. In Hebrew, it is "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), which serves as an imperative to the listener to pay close attention. This word sets the stage for a divine revelation, emphasizing the importance and certainty of what follows. It is a reminder that God is about to reveal His sovereign plan, and the audience should be prepared to witness His mighty works.

I will make
This phrase indicates God's direct intervention and sovereign will. The Hebrew root "שׂוּם" (sum) means to set, place, or appoint. It underscores that the events to follow are not random but are orchestrated by God Himself. This divine action assures believers that God is actively involved in the affairs of nations and His people, fulfilling His promises and prophecies.

Jerusalem
Jerusalem, the city of peace, holds a central place in biblical history and prophecy. It is not only the physical capital of Israel but also a spiritual symbol of God's presence and covenant with His people. Historically, Jerusalem has been the focal point of religious, political, and cultural significance. In prophecy, it represents the epicenter of God's redemptive plan and the future hope of restoration and peace.

a cup of drunkenness
The imagery of a "cup of drunkenness" is a metaphor for judgment and chaos. In Hebrew, the word "סַף" (saf) refers to a bowl or cup, often associated with God's wrath or judgment in prophetic literature. This metaphor suggests that the surrounding nations will be overwhelmed and disoriented by their actions against Jerusalem, leading to their downfall. It serves as a warning of the consequences of opposing God's chosen city and people.

to all the surrounding peoples
This phrase highlights the scope of the prophecy, indicating that the impact of God's judgment will extend beyond Israel to the nations around it. Historically, these surrounding peoples often opposed Israel, and this prophecy assures that their hostility will ultimately lead to their own confusion and defeat. It reflects the biblical theme of God's protection over His people and the futility of opposing His divine will.

When the siege is against Judah and Jerusalem
The mention of a "siege" evokes images of warfare and conflict, a common occurrence in the history of Jerusalem. The Hebrew word "מָצוֹר" (matsor) refers to a military blockade or encirclement. This phrase acknowledges the reality of external threats but also serves as a prophetic assurance that despite such challenges, God's ultimate plan for Jerusalem will prevail. It is a reminder of the trials God's people may face, yet with the promise of divine deliverance and victory.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - A cup of trembling; a bowl of reeling - a bowl whose contents cause staggering and reeling, ὡς πρόθυρα σαλευόμενα, "as tottering porticoes" (Septuagint); superliminare crapulae (Vulgate). This Jerome explains to mean that any one who crosses the threshold of Jerusalem in hostile guise shall totter and fall. Jerusalem is the capital and type of the Messianic theocracy; the hostile powers of the world crowd round her, like thirsting men round a bowl of wine; but they find the drought is fatal to them; they stagger back discomfited and destroyed. The figure of the cup and drunkenness is often employed to denote the judgment of God upon transgressors, which makes them incapable of defence or escape (comp. Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15, etc.; Jeremiah 51:39, 57; Habakkuk 2:16). The people; the peoples (so vers. 3, 4, 6). The heathen nations who war against God's people. When they shall be in the siege, etc. This gives a good sense, but the Hebrew will not allow it. Septuagint, Ἐν τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ ἔσται περιοχὴ ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλήμ, "In Judaea there shall be a blockade against Jerusalem;" Vulgate, Sed et Juda erit in obsidione contra Jerusalem, which may mean that Judah shall be among those that besiege Jerusalem, or when Jerusalem is beset Judah shall suffer the same calamity. Pusey and Revised Version render, "And upon Judah also shall it [i.e. 'the burden'] be in the siege against Jerusalem." Cheyne, "And also on [or, 'over '] Judah it [i.e. the protection and deliverance implied in the first clause of the verse] shall be, in the siege," etc. Any interpretation of the passage which makes Judah join with the enemy in attacking Jerusalem is precluded by the very intimate union between Judah and Jerusalem denoted in vers. 4-7, and by the hostility of the nations against Judah. Cheyne's explanation is hardly a natural one, however suitable. Lowe ('Hebr. Stud. Comm.') renders, "And also on Judah [shall fall this reeling] during the siege [which is to take place] against Jerusalem." It seems best to render, with Alexander, "Also against Judah shall it be in the siege against Jerusalem," i.e. not only the mother city, but all the country, shall be exposed to hostile invasion. This suits ver. 5, where the chieftains of Judah are represented as trusting in the valour of the inhabitants of Jerusalem when they are incurring the same danger.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“Behold,
הִנֵּ֣ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

I
אָ֠נֹכִי (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

will make
שָׂ֣ם (śām)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

Jerusalem
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֧ם (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

a cup
סַף־ (sap̄-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5592: A vestibule, a dish

of drunkenness
רַ֛עַל (ra·‘al)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7478: A reeling

to all
לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the surrounding
סָבִ֑יב (sā·ḇîḇ)
Adverb
Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around

peoples.
הָעַמִּ֖ים (hā·‘am·mîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

Judah
יְהוּדָ֛ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

will be
יִֽהְיֶ֥ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

besieged,
בַמָּצ֖וֹר (ḇam·mā·ṣō·wr)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4692: Something hemming in, a mound, a siege, distress, a fastness

as well as
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Jerusalem.
יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel

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OT Prophets: Zechariah 12:2 Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup (Zech. Zec Zc)