On that day: This phrase occurs in English versions frequently in chapters 12–14. Unfortunately the English versions, with the exception of very literal ones like Revised Version and New American Standard Bible, obscure the fact that the Hebrew is not the same in all occurrences. There are in fact two formulas here, a longer expression and a shorter one. The longer expression is rendered in Revised Version “And it shall come to pass in that day” (12.3, 9; 13.2, 4; 14.6, 8, 13), and the shorter one “In that day” (12.4, 6, 8, 11; 13.1; 14.20). These formulas are clearly markers that open discourse units, and as often happens, the longer formula indicates a higher level of unit than the shorter one. Translators may not find it desirable to maintain a difference in their translation between the longer and shorter formulas—it does indeed sound quite forced and artificial in English. But they should at least reflect the information carried by these formulas in the way they choose their paragraph breaks. On the basis of the discourse markers in chapter 12, new paragraphs should begin at verse 3 and verse 9. The shorter formulas in verses 4, 6, 8, 11, and 13.1 may be said to begin new subparagraphs, but these will probably not be shown in the layout of the printed text.

In terms of meaning, both the formulas translated On that day carry overtones of reference to the end times when God will intervene finally and decisively in human affairs. It is unlikely that there will be phrases with such overtones already in use in many languages. Most translators will have to use an ordinary expression (as English does) and let readers gradually come to understand the overtones from the contexts in which the phrase occurs.

I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples: At this point the picture changes from a cup to a stone. The language of this clause is not difficult, but it is harder to decide on the meaning of the picture. Some scholars follow Jerome in taking the stone to be a large one as used in lifting contests. But Jerome is describing a custom known in his own day (around 400 A.D.), and there is no evidence that it was known 800 years earlier, so this explanation seems rather unlikely. Other scholars (Chary, Meyers & Meyers) compare this verse with Isa 28.16, and go on to see a reference to the Temple in Jerusalem. Translators do not have to make a decision, but it may be helpful to them to be aware of the suggestions that others have made. As in verse 2, Good News Translation uses a simile, “I will make Jerusalem like a heavy stone,” and some translators may choose to follow this model. All the peoples probably refers to the same groups as in verse 2.

All who lift it shall grievously hurt themselves: In some languages the term chosen to translate lift may depend on the manner of the lifting. The only clue to this lies in the Hebrew phrase translated grievously hurt. This is a construction like those in 11.17, where the same verb is repeated in two different forms to add emphasis. In English the emphasis is conveyed by the adverb grievously. The root itself is found elsewhere only in Lev 21.5, where it refers to cutting the flesh as a sign of mourning. This suggests that in the present case people would hurt themselves by cutting and bruising while trying to lift the stone by hand. The suggestions of muscle strain or hernia do not seem convincing. The point of the whole picture is that those who set themselves against the LORD’s people will end up damaging their own interests. In most languages it should not be difficult to keep the picture of lifting a heavy stone. An alternative model is: “Anyone who lifts it will be badly hurt [or, will hurt themselves]” or “The stone will badly hurt anyone who lifts it.”

All the nations of the earth will come together against it: The phrase all the nations may have a wider meaning than all the peoples in the previous sentence. If so, it would probably refer to the larger and more distant nations, rather than to the smaller and more closely related peoples in and around the Holy Land. But this contrast is not certain, and if necessary, translators may render the two phrases in the same way.

Will come together against it refers to a hostile gathering against Jerusalem. Good News Translation makes this clear with “will join forces to attack her.” Despite the damage to themselves mentioned in the pictures of the cup and the heavy stone, pictures that they were presumably unaware of, the foreign nations were determined to attack Jerusalem. This final sentence may be also rendered as “The soldiers of all the nations of the world will join together to attack Jerusalem.”

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 .