BibleWord.ai› Bible› Zechariah› Chapter 9› Verse 6

Zechariah 9:6

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Zechariah 9:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
Zechariah 9:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Zechariah 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And Tyre did build herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
4Behold, the Lord will dispossess her, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
5Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also, and shall be sore pained; and Ekron, for her expectation shall be put to shame; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
6And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his teeth; and he also shall be a remnant for our God; and he shall be as a chieftain in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite.
8And I will encamp about my house against the army, that none pass through or return; and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with mine eyes.
9Rejoice 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, even upon a colt the foal of an ass.
← Zechariah 9:5Zechariah 9:7 →
← Full Chapter 9 Zechariah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, etc.] Somef184 take “mamzer”, the word for “bastard”, to be the name of a people that should dwell in Ashdod; this is the same place with Azotus, (<440840>Acts 8:40) and was also one of the five lordships of the Philistines, (<061303>Joshua 13:3 <090617>1 Samuel 6:17) some, by the “bastard” here, understand Alexander the great, who gave out that he was not the son of Philip, but of Jupiter Ammon: others think Jonathan the Maccabee is intended, who took this place and burnt it with fire, and the temple of Dagon in it, “83 The horsemen also, being scattered in the field, fled to Azotus, and went into Bethdagon, their idol’s temple, for safety. 84 But…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“bastard--not the rightful heir; vile and low men, such as are bastards (Deu 23:2) [GROTIUS]. An alien; so the Septuagint; implying the desolation of the region wherein men shall not settle, but sojourn in only as aliens passing through [CALVIN].”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And a bastard shall dwell at Ashdod - o The “mamzer” was one born unlawfully, whether out of marriage, or in forbidden marriage, or in adultery . Here it is, probably, like our “spurious brood” ; whether it was so itself or in the eyes of the Ashdodites; whence he adds. I will cut off the pride of the Philistines - Pride would survive the ruin of their country, the capture of their cities, the less of independence. It would not survive the loss of their nationality; for they themselves would not be the same people, who were proud of their long descent and their victories over Israel. The breaking down of nationalities, which was the policy of Alexander, was an instrument in God’s hands in…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“A bastard - Strangers, who have no right of inheritance. Zechariah 9:7”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:6 Foreigners: This Hebrew word occurs elsewhere only in Deut 23:2, where it refers to illegitimate children. Zechariah uses it to signify the Philistines’ eventual loss of political and social identity.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Ecc 2:18-21, Ecc 6:2; Amo 1:8; Isa 2:12-17, Isa 23:9, Isa 28:1; Dan 4:37; Zep 2:10; Pe1 5:5 Zechariah 9:7”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Zechariah 9 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification