King James Version

What Does Zechariah 9:11 Mean?

Zechariah 9:11 in the King James Version says “As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. by: o...” — study this verse from Zechariah chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. by: or, whose covenant is by blood”

Zechariah 9:11 · KJV

Context

9

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. having: or, saving himself

10

And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth.

11

As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. by: or, whose covenant is by blood

12

Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

13

When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.

Read Zechariah 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water—this verse transitions from describing Messiah's reign (verses 9-10) to addressing covenant people's redemption. The opening "As for thee also" (gam-at, גַּם־אַתְּ) personalizes the promise, directly addressing Zion/Israel. God Himself speaks: "I have sent forth" (shillachti, שִׁלַּחְתִּי), emphasizing divine initiative in liberation.

The basis is "by the blood of thy covenant" (be-dam beriteyikh, בְּדַם־בְּרִיתֵךְ), an astonishing phrase pointing to covenant ratification through blood sacrifice. This recalls Exodus 24:8 when Moses sprinkled blood on the people, declaring "Behold the blood of the covenant." Jesus explicitly quoted this at the Last Supper: "This is my blood of the new covenant" (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24). Zechariah prophetically connects Israel's deliverance to covenantal blood, ultimately fulfilled in Christ's blood that ratifies the new covenant (Hebrews 9:15-22; 10:29; 13:20).

"Thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water" (asiraikh mi-bor eyn mayim bo, אֲסִירַיִךְ מִבּוֹר אֵין־מַיִם בּוֹ) describes desperate captivity. A dry cistern/pit was used for imprisonment—Joseph was cast into such a pit (Genesis 37:24), as was Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:6). Without water, these pits meant death. The imagery represents hopeless bondage—exile, spiritual death, or Satan's captivity. God's liberation is comprehensive: physical return from exile, spiritual deliverance from sin, and eschatological resurrection. Prisoners without hope are freed by covenant blood—the gospel's core message.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Immediate historical context addresses Jewish exiles. Though many returned from Babylon after Cyrus's decree (538 BC), multitudes remained scattered throughout the Persian Empire (Esther 3:8). Zechariah assures them that God hasn't forgotten them—by covenant faithfulness, He will continue bringing them back. The "blood of thy covenant" reminds them of Sinai's covenant ratification and assures that God's covenantal commitment remains despite their unfaithfulness.

Prophetic fulfillment extends beyond physical exile. Christ's blood inaugurates the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:6-13), liberating captives from sin and death. The "pit wherein is no water" symbolizes humanity's hopeless condition apart from Christ—trapped in sin, facing death, without resources for escape. Romans 7:24 captures this: "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Christ's blood answers: He liberates prisoners, bringing them from death to life (Ephesians 2:1-5), from darkness to light (Colossians 1:13), from Satan's domain to God's kingdom. The image of waterless pit contrasts with Christ offering "living water" (John 4:10-14)—He provides what the pit cannot: life-giving salvation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding that our liberation was purchased "by the blood of thy covenant" deepen appreciation for Christ's sacrificial death?
  2. In what ways does the image of prisoners in a waterless pit accurately describe humanity's condition apart from Christ?
  3. How should covenant blood redemption shape our assurance of salvation and our response to feelings of spiritual captivity or hopelessness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 10 words
גַּם1 of 10
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

אַ֣תְּ2 of 10
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

בְּדַם3 of 10

“As for thee also by the blood”

H1818

blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshe

בְּרִיתֵ֗ךְ4 of 10

“of thy covenant”

H1285

a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)

שִׁלַּ֤חְתִּי5 of 10

“I have sent forth”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

אֲסִירַ֙יִךְ֙6 of 10

“thy prisoners”

H615

bound, i.e., a captive

מִבּ֔וֹר7 of 10

“out of the pit”

H953

a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)

אֵ֥ין8 of 10
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

מַ֖יִם9 of 10

“wherein is no water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

בּֽוֹ׃10 of 10
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Zechariah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Zechariah 9:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Zechariah 9:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 51:14Exodus 24:8Psalms 102:19-21Isaiah 42:71 Corinthians 11:25Isaiah 49:9

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