Zechariah 10:4 - Exposition

The firmness and security of Judah, thus "visited," is announced in terms admitting of further application. Out of him came forth ( shall come ). Out of Judah, mentioned in Zechariah 10:3 . Others, not so suitably, explain, "out of Jehovah," in contrast to Hosea 8:4 . The succeeding figures are taken from the building and furnishing of a house. The corner. The cornerstone ( Isaiah 28:16 ). From Judah herself shall come the prince on whom the whole edifice shall rest; i.e. primarily, she shall be independent of foreign rulers; and secondly, from Judah shall come the Messiah, "the Headstone of the corner" ( Matthew 21:42 ; Ephesians 2:20 ; Hebrews 7:14 ). Septuagint (taking the noun as a verb), καὶ ἀπ αὐτοῦ ἐπέβλεψε , "et ex ipso respexit" (Jerome). The nail. The word ( yathed ) is taken for the peg that fastens the cord of a tent, for a nail used in building with timber, or a peg for hanging up arms and utensils on the walls of a house. In whichever sense we take it here, it implies one who consolidates or upholds the political constitution ( Isaiah 22:23 , Isaiah 22:24 ). The battle bow. The people shall themselves have arms and military skill to protect them against all assailants. Oppressor ; rather, ruler , as Isaiah 3:12 ; Isaiah 60:17 . Judah shall have every leader necessary for all emergencies. Septuagint, πᾶς ὁ ἐξελαύνων ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ , "he that expelleth together;" Vulgate, omnis exactor simul. If the word be taken in the sense of these versions and the Authorized Version, the clause would mean that the Israelites shall subjugate their enemies, and oppress them, and exact tribute from them. The word ( noges ) usually means "taskmaster."