Zechariah 12:1 (KJV)

Passage

The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

Nearby Context

Zechariah 12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

Zechariah 12:2 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.

Zechariah 12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "burden", "word", "lord", "israel", "saith", "stretcheth", and "forth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "burden", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The next verse adds "Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup...", so "Spirit" and "burden" should be read forward into that movement. In Zechariah context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

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