And it shall be inhabited: In many languages this will need to be expressed in the active voice, as indeed it is in Hebrew. The subject is indefinite, so in many languages translators could say, “People will live in it” (that is, in Jerusalem). A few versions such as New American Bible and Jerusalem Bible take these words with verse 10, but there is no need to do this.

For there shall be no more curse: The Hebrew word underlying curse is cherem. There is no completely equivalent term in English, because the concept is not part of western culture. In the ancient Near Eastern world-view, people or things could be consigned to destruction as an act of devotion to a deity. Compare the alternative rendering in the Revised Standard Version footnote “ban of utter destruction.” The classic example is the destruction of Jericho and all its inhabitants except Rahab’s family (Josh 6). This type of action is what the prophet has in mind here. Jeremiah had spoken of the LORD putting such a curse or “ban” (Jerusalem Bible) on Jerusalem and Judah (Jer 25.8-9, where Revised Standard Version has “utterly destroy”), and this was regarded as having been carried out when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians. Zechariah is saying that no such thing will be possible again when the LORD is king.

English versions struggle to express clearly the concept of such religiously motivated destruction. Revised Standard Version curse is inadequate and New Revised Standard Version has expanded the whole clause to “never again shall it be doomed to destruction,” which is clearer. New Jerusalem Bible has “The curse of destruction will be lifted,” and Revised English Bible has “never again will a ban for her destruction be laid on her.” Good News Translation “no longer threatened by destruction” is clear, but oversimplified. New Living Translation has “never again to be cursed and destroyed.” Probably New Revised Standard Version is the best of these options as it combines intelligible language with overtones of religious sanction. Some translators may wish to include an explanatory footnote.

Jerusalem shall dwell in security: The expression translated dwell in security means not just physical safety, though that is included, but also God’s protection and blessing. Similar expressions are found for instance in Lev 26.5; Ezek 28.26; Ezek 34.25, 28. The Hebrew verb translated dwell here is the same as that translated inhabited earlier in the verse. This repetition has led some versions to restructure this verse in such a way as to express the meaning only once. Thus Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch has “Her inhabitants will live in security, and no destruction will threaten them again” (similarly Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Another possible translation model is “People will be able to live safely in Jerusalem, and no one will again doom them to be destroyed.”

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 .