Verses 2-6 contain a group of short oracles that may to some degree be linked together by the occurrence of the words says the LORD of hosts at the end of verse 6. This formula often marks the end of a paragraph or subparagraph. All four of these oracles are concerned with future blessing for the city of Jerusalem.

For Thus says the LORD of hosts, compare the comments on 7.9. For LORD of hosts, see the notes on Hag 1.2. Good News Translation has no equivalent to this clause, but has run it in with the previous verse. In verses 3, 4, 6, and 9 the parallel clause is also omitted. This gives a better style in English, but it hides the fact that there are several short messages here rather than one longer message. Translators will have to decide whether the frequent repetition of an introductory formula like Thus says the LORD of hosts is acceptable style in their own language or not. If such repetition is acceptable, it is preferable to retain it.

I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath: These words in Hebrew are closely similar to those in 1.14. Zion was the part of Jerusalem where the Temple was located, and Zion here stands for the city as a religious symbol (as it often does elsewhere). Translators will have to decide whether to keep the term Zion (as Revised Standard Version and most other versions do, including Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 2. Edition and Contemporary English Version) or to make the identity of the city plainer by saying “Jerusalem” (as Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 1. Edition, and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente do). For the meaning of jealous in connection with God, see the comments on 1.14. The two halves of the verse are parallel with each other, and say basically the same thing, though perhaps it is somewhat more emphatic in the second half. The Hebrew words for jealousy and wrath are also used together by Ezekiel, both to speak of judgment on God’s people (Ezek 23.25, where Revised Standard Version has “indignation”) and to speak of God’s care for them (Ezek 36.6). Here Zechariah is speaking of God’s care. Good News Translation expands the first part of the verse so as to make the full meaning clear, and says, “I have longed to help Jerusalem because of my deep love for her people.” In the second part of the verse, Good News Translation makes it clear that God in this context is angry not with his own people but with their enemies (compare Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Good News Translation however, is rather wordy. In some languages it may be more appropriate to say “I have a great love for Jerusalem, and am angry with her enemies.” Contemporary English Version expresses the meaning concisely with “I love Zion so much that her enemies make me angry,” though this involves a change of focus that would be better avoided.

Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Zechariah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .