Zechariah 2:2
Then said I, Whither goest thou? And hee said vnto me, To measure Ierusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. Zechariah 2:2 (KJV)
I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. This verse is part of a vision that the prophet Zechariah receives from the Lord. Zechariah was a prophet who lived during the time of the Israelites’ return from exile in Babylon. He was a contemporary of the prophet Haggai, and together, they encouraged the people to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The book of Zechariah is a collection of prophetic messages and visions given to the prophet Zechariah to inspire and guide the Israelites in their restoration efforts.
In Zechariah 2, the prophet sees a vision of a man with a measuring line, indicating that the man is preparing to measure something. The measuring line is a symbol of judgment and evaluation. In biblical times, measuring lines were used to measure the boundaries of land or the dimensions of buildings, and they were also used as a tool to measure and assess God’s people in terms of their faithfulness to His covenant.
The vision of the man with the measuring line suggests that God is about to assess and evaluate the situation of Jerusalem and its people. It implies that God is actively involved in the rebuilding and restoration process and that He will carefully measure and examine every aspect of their lives and their spiritual condition.
This vision also carries a broader message. It signifies that God is concerned about His people and their welfare. He wants to ensure that they are aligned with His will and living in obedience to His commands. By sending this vision to Zechariah, God is reminding the people of their responsibility to live in accordance with His laws and to faithfully fulfill the tasks He has given them.
The vision of the man with the measuring line can be seen as a call to self‑examination and spiritual introspection. It prompts the Israelites, and us as readers, to consider the ways in which we are living our lives and whether we are in alignment with God’s purposes. It encourages us to evaluate our attitudes, actions, and faithfulness to God’s commands.
In summary, Zechariah 2:2 in the KJV describes a vision of a man with a measuring line in his hand, symbolizing God’s assessment and evaluation of Jerusalem and its people. It serves as a reminder for self‑examination and calls for obedience to God’s commands, urging us to evaluate our lives and ensure that we are aligned with God’s will.
