1 Heb “the master, the Lord who commands armies [traditionally, the Lord of hosts].” On the title “the Lord who commands armies,” see the note at .
2 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
3 Heb “support and support.” The masculine and feminine forms of the noun are placed side-by-side to emphasize completeness. See §122.v.
4 Heb “all the support of food, and all the support of water.”
5 Heb “elder” (so , , , ); “older leaders.”
6 Heb “the ones lifted up with respect to the face.” For another example of the Hebrew idiom, see 2 Kgs 5:1.
7 Heb “and the wise with respect to magic.” On the meaning of חֲרָשִׁים (kharashim, “magic”), see III חרשׁ. Some understand here a homonym, meaning “craftsmen.” In this case, one could translate, “skilled craftsmen” (cf. , ).
8 The words “the Lord says” are supplied in the translation for clarification. The prophet speaks in vv. 1–3 (note the third person reference to the Lord in v. 1), but here the Lord himself announces that he will intervene in judgment. It is unclear where the Lord’s words end and the prophet’s pick up again. The prophet is apparently speaking again by v. 8, where the Lord is referred to in the third person. Since vv. 4–7 comprise a thematic unity, the quotation probably extends through v. 7.
9 תַעֲלוּלִים (ta’alulim) is often understood as an abstract plural meaning “wantonness, cruelty” (cf. ). In this case the chief characteristic of these leaders is substituted for the leaders themselves. However, several translations make the parallelism tighter by emending the form to עוֹלְלִים (’olélim, “children”; cf. ESV, , , , , ). This emendation is unnecessary for at least two reasons. The word in the highlights the cruelty or malice of the “leaders” who are left behind in the wake of God’s judgment. The immediate context makes clear the fact that they are mere youths. The coming judgment will sweep away the leaders, leaving a vacuum which will be filled by incompetent, inexperienced youths.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For behold, the Lord God of hosts

is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah

support and supply,

all support of bread,

and all support of water;

the mighty man and the soldier,

the judge and the prophet,

the diviner and the elder,

the captain of fifty

and the man of rank,

the counselor and the skillful magician

and the expert in charms.

And I will make boys their princes,

and infants shall rule over them.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

See now, the Lord,

the Lord Almighty,

is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah

both supply and support:

all supplies of food and all supplies of water,

the hero and the warrior,

the judge and the prophet,

the diviner and the elder,

the captain of fifty and the man of rank,

the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.

“I will make mere youths their officials;

children will rule over them.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Note this: The Lord God of Armies

is about to remove from Jerusalem and from Judah

every kind of security:

the entire supply of bread and water,

heroes and warriors,

judges and prophets,

fortune-tellers and elders,

commanders of fifty and dignitaries,

counselors, cunning magicians, and necromancers.

“I will make youths their leaders,

and unstable rulers will govern them.”

NLTNew Living Translation

The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

will take away from Jerusalem and Judah

everything they depend on:

every bit of bread

and every drop of water,

all their heroes and soldiers,

judges and prophets,

fortune-tellers and elders,

army officers and high officials,

advisers, skilled sorcerers, and astrologers.

I will make boys their leaders,

and toddlers their rulers.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For look, the Lord Yahweh of hosts is removing every source of support

from Jerusalem and from Judah:

all of the supplies of bread

and all of the supplies of water,

mighty warrior and man of war,

judge and prophet,

and diviner and elder,

captain of fifty and the honorable men of rank,

and counselor and skillful magicians and skillful enchanter.

And I will make boys their princes,

and children shall rule over them.

KJV 1900King James Version

For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts,

Doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff,

The whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

The mighty man, and the man of war,

The judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,

The captain of fifty, and the honourable man,

And the counseller, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.

And I will give children to be their princes,

And babes shall rule over them.

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