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 9:3KJV
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Zechariah 9:3 (KJV)

What does Zechariah 9:3 mean?

Zechariah 9:3 describes the city of Tyre, called “Tyrus” in the KJV, as powerful and wealthy. Its defenses and its stores of precious metal made it an impressive city in the eyes of its neighbors.

The verse compares silver to dust and gold to mud in the streets. These images picture wealth as plentiful as things found everywhere. Following the mention of Tyre’s wisdom in verse 2, verse 3 turns to the city’s defenses and riches.

The Hebrew behind Zechariah 9:3

  • “Tyrus” — צֹר (Tsor): This is the Hebrew name for Tyre. Its form is close to the word translated “strong hold,” creating a sound play between the city and its defenses.
  • “hold” — מָצוֹר (matsor): This word can mean a fortified place. In Zechariah 9:3, it points to the protection Tyre built around itself.
  • “mire” — טִיט (tit): This word means mud or clay. Comparing fine gold to street mud makes Tyre’s riches seem almost ordinary because there is so much of it.

Why Zechariah 9:3 matters

  • Tyre’s wealth is part of the picture of its power, not merely decoration. The phrase “heaped up” presents silver and gold as resources gathered in great quantities.
  • The surrounding passage challenges the security Tyre’s defenses suggest. Verse 4 says the Lord will strike the city’s power at sea and that fire will consume it.

Where else these words appear

“up” Hebrew H6651 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 41:35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
  • Exodus 8:14 And they gathered them together upon heaps: and the land stank.
  • Psalms 39:6 Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

“mire” Hebrew H2916 · used in 12 verses

  • 2 Samuel 22:43 Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
  • Psalms 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
  • Jeremiah 38:6 Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

“gold” Hebrew H2742 · used in 17 verses

  • Job 41:30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
  • Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
  • Proverbs 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

“hold” Hebrew H4692 · used in 25 verses

  • Deuteronomy 20:19 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down(for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege:
  • 2 Chronicles 11:5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
  • Ezekiel 4:3 Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel.