Zechariah 12:3 (LSB)

Passage

But it will be in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who heave it up will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.

Nearby Context

Zechariah 12:1 The oracle of the word of Yahweh concerning Israel. Thus declares Yahweh who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him,

Zechariah 12:2 “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.

Zechariah 12:3 But it will be in that day, that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who heave it up will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.

Zechariah 12:4 In that day,” declares Yahweh, “I will strike every horse with bewilderment and his rider with madness. But I will open my eyes to watch over the house of Judah, while I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness.

Zechariah 12:5 Then the clans of Judah will say in their hearts, ‘A strong support for us are the inhabitants of Jerusalem through Yahweh of hosts, their God.’

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "make", "jerusalem", "heavy", "stone", "peoples", "heave", "severely", and "injured". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "make" and "jerusalem", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "Behold I am going to make Jerusalem..." into verse 4's "In that day declares Yahweh I will...", so "make" and "jerusalem" belong inside that flow. In Zechariah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "make" and "jerusalem" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.