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

ZECHARIAH 9:12KJV
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Zechariah 9:12 (KJV)

What does Zechariah 9:12 mean?

Zechariah 9:12 calls people who feel trapped but still hope for God’s help to return to a place of safety and strength, promising that God will repay them with double blessings. The verse reassures those who have suffered or waited that God sees their hope and will reward them generously.

The prophet Zechariah is speaking to Israelites who have faced hardship and exile, encouraging them to trust in God’s protection and restoration. The phrase “prisoners of hope” highlights people who, despite difficult circumstances, continue to expect God’s deliverance. The promise to “render double” points to God’s intention to restore more than what was lost.

The Hebrew behind Zechariah 9:12

  • “Turn” (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means to return or come back, often with the sense of repentance or changing direction. Here, it urges the people to actively move toward God’s protection.
  • “Hold” (בִּרְזוֹן, birzon): This word refers to a stronghold or fortress, a secure place. Zechariah is inviting the people to seek safety in God, pictured as a reliable refuge.
  • “Prisoners” (אֲסִיר, asir): This word means someone who is bound or captive. The phrase “prisoners of hope” paints a vivid picture of people who are held by hope even in difficult times.
  • “Hope” (תִּקְוָה, tiqvah): This word means expectation or confident waiting. It emphasizes that the people’s hope is not empty, but a steady trust in God’s promise.
  • “Double” (מִשְׁנֶה, mishneh): This word means twofold or double, stressing that God’s restoration will be generous, not just a simple replacement.

Why Zechariah 9:12 matters

  • Zechariah 9:12 clarifies that hope is not just wishful thinking but a strong anchor, even for those who feel trapped by circumstances.
  • The verse connects to the wider message of Zechariah, which is about God’s faithfulness to restore and bless His people after judgment and exile.
  • The promise of “double” restoration shows God’s generosity and desire to go beyond mere compensation, offering abundant renewal to those who trust Him.

Where else these words appear

“prisoners” Hebrew H615 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 39:20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
  • Psalms 68:6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
  • Psalms 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

“hope” Hebrew H8615 · used in 33 verses

  • Joshua 2:18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
  • Job 14:7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
  • Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

“double” Hebrew H4932 · used in 34 verses

  • Genesis 41:43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
  • 1 Samuel 23:17 And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
  • 2 Chronicles 35:24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.