Zechariah 9:3 (KJV)

Passage

And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

Nearby Context

Zechariah 9:1 The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.

Zechariah 9:2 And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.

Zechariah 9:3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.

Zechariah 9:4 Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.

Zechariah 9:5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "tyrus", "build", "herself", "strong", "hold", "heaped", "silver", and "dust". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "tyrus" and "build", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 2's "And Hamath also shall border thereby Tyrus..." into verse 4's "Behold the LORD will cast her out...", so "tyrus" and "build" 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 "tyrus" and "build" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.