This verse contains the second comparison. The introductory words as and so are parallel with “before those days” and “but now” in verses 10-11. Compare also 7.13 and 8.14-15.

As you have been a byword of cursing among the nations: A byword means a proverb (Revised English Bible) or a standard example. The way God had allowed the Temple to be destroyed and the people of Israel and Judah taken into exile had been used by other nations as an example of what it means to be under God’s curse. Compare Jer 24.9; Jer 25.18. So the clause you have been a byword of cursing among the nations may be translated “In the past foreigners have cursed one another by saying, ‘May the same disasters fall on you that fell on Judah and Israel.’ ” (Good News Translation). Cursing is expressed in certain languages as “saying bad [or, evil] words,” or even “putting evil words on another person.”

O house of Judah and house of Israel: Zechariah addresses those who had returned to Judah as representative of both the northern and southern kingdoms. In many languages it will be helpful to do as Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente have done and move this vocative expression to the beginning of the verse (compare the comment on verse 9): “People of Judah and Israel….”

So will I save you and you shall be a blessing: The prophet promises that the good things that lie ahead will become a proverbial example of what happens when God blesses a nation. Save here must refer not to rescue from exile, as in verse 7, since this had already taken place, but to prosperity among those who had returned. The word blessing is probably a reference to the promise God gave to Abraham (Gen 12.2-3), and you shall be a blessing could be translated “So I will make you prosper.” Blessing here refers to “receiving good things.” You shall be a blessing is expressed in Good News Translation as “then those foreigners will say to one another, ‘May you receive the same blessings that came to Judah and Israel’ ” (see the parallel expression a byword of cursing above). This is very clear in English, but it is rather long, with “Judah and Israel” coming three times in the one verse. New English Bible conveys the ideas more briefly with “You … have been the very symbol of a curse to all the nations; and now … you shall become the symbol of a blessing.” In some languages this may be a more convenient translation model than Good News Translation. Translators will have to decide just how much information needs to be stated in their own languages.

Fear not is the conclusion to the section beginning with “Let your hands be strong” in verse 9. Compare Hag 2.5 and many other places. Good News Translation has “don’t be afraid” (also Contemporary English Version).

But let your hands be strong: The Hebrew contains no word for but, and it is in fact out of place here. As explained in the introduction to this section, let your hands be strong is best regarded as the beginning of a second unit parallel with the one beginning with the same words in verse 9, and should be translated in the same way here as in verse 9. See the notes there. Translators are advised to begin a new paragraph here, and continue it into the following verse, where the reason for fresh courage is stated; for example, “Take courage, because the LORD Almighty says….”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• People of Judah and Israel, in the past foreigners took you as an example of a people God had cursed. But now I will make you prosper. Then those foreigners will say to one another, “May you receive all the good things that came to the people of Judah and Israel.” So, then, you should not be afraid.
Take courage, because….

Or the second half of the verse may be kept parallel with the first half, so as to say:

• Then those foreigners will take you as an example of a people God has blessed. So don’t be afraid.
Take courage, for….

The final words (“Take courage” or something similar) should then begin a new paragraph extending to the end of verse 17.

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 .