In this verse and the next, the statements about the LORD are in the third person, but the flow of thought is closely linked with verse 3.
Out of them shall come the cornerstone, out of them the tent peg, out of them the battle bow, out of them every ruler: In the phrase translated out of them, the Hebrew is actually singular (“out of him”), but most scholars take “him” to refer back to “the house of Judah” in verse 3, and so to have a collective sense. This is why Revised Standard Version and some others translate it as plural. Several versions make it clear that they regard “him” as referring to Judah (Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, New International Version, Revised English Bible). A few commentators take “him” to refer to the LORD, but this does not seem very convincing.
The Hebrew word translated out of them occurs four times, each time in an emphatic position in its line. The point is that Judah will provide its own leadership, and will not be dominated by foreign powers. The word ruler in the fourth line gives the key to the meaning of cornerstone, tent peg, and battle bow: these are all metaphorical ways of speaking of people in positions of responsibility and prominence. The cornerstone is probably the large stone placed at the corner of the foundation of a building or wall. It is the stone that gives stability at the base of the place where two walls join. The tent peg is a large pointed piece of wood attached to one of the ropes of the tent and hammered into the ground. Along with other pegs it keeps the tent erect, and is perhaps the equivalent of a cornerstone in the structure of a tent. The battle bow is a symbol of power and authority, and in the ancient world, kings were often drawn holding a bow. It may be alternatively expressed as “a bow used for fighting,” or if necessary, “a weapon of war” (see 9.10). These pictures are common in the Old Testament: the cornerstone in Psa 118.22; Isa 19.13; Isa 28.16; and in the Hebrew text also in Jdg 20.2 (Revised Standard Version “chiefs”); 1 Sam 14.38 (Revised Standard Version “leaders”); the peg in Isa 22.23-24; and the bow and arrow as a symbol of victory in 2 Kgs 13.17 (compare Rev 6.2). These terms may be understood in some contexts to relate to the coming of the Messiah, but if so, such a sense is not prominent here.
The word translated ruler is the same Hebrew word as occurred in 9.8. There and elsewhere it has the meaning of “bad ruler,” “oppressor,” but it does not always have negative overtones. For instance, in Isa 3.12 (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “rulers”) and especially Isa 60.17 (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh “officials”), it has a positive sense, and that is probably also the case here. There seems little need for the alternative rendering offered in the Good News Translation footnote.
In languages where terms like cornerstone, tent peg, and battle bow are not used metaphorically, it may be necessary to add an explanatory footnote like those in Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch. It is likely to be more helpful, however, to follow the examples of Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, keeping the picture language but also explaining its meaning. A translation model in English could be “Out of Judah will come leaders of all kinds who will be sturdy as a cornerstone, firm as a tent peg [or, center pole of a hut], and powerful as a bow used in battle.” Good News Translation gives the meaning clearly but loses the power of the figurative language. This is why Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente are better models at this point. Contemporary English Version translates “From this flock will come leaders who will be strong like cornerstones and tent pegs and weapons of war.” This explains the basic meaning but loses the distinctions between the different figures of speech, and so is not as good as Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente.
Translators should note that Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente follow the Hebrew punctuation, and include in their translation of verse 4 the last word of the Hebrew text, which Revised Standard Version takes with verse 5 (“Together”). In Bible en français courant it is translated in a way equivalent to “of all kinds” in the model above, and we support this interpretation. See the notes below on verse 5.
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 .