For thus says Yahweh of Hosts, After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. 9 For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves. Then you will know that Yahweh of Hosts has sent me.
Zechariah 12:8-9

The Trinitarian Claim

Some Trinitarians attempt to claim this passage is telling us that Yahweh of Hosts sent Yahweh of Hosts and imagine that God the Father is sending God the Son.

The Claim vs. The Facts

The Scriptural facts show us that the one sent in this passage is the angel identified in the immediately preceding context.

The Problems with the Claim

1. Ambiguous Translation Exploitation

This Trinitarian claim requires a cherry picked translation and is based on the premise that Yahweh of Hosts is speaking in verse 8 and Yahweh says "He has sent me," and so it is supposed that "me" is Yahweh (i.e. Jesus) who is speaking and who was sent by Yahweh of Hosts, "He" who sent "me" (i.e. the Father). This is illustrated below:

For thus says Yahweh of Hosts, "After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.

For thus says Yahweh of Hosts, "After glory [Yahweh of Hosts No.1] has sent [Yahweh of Hosts No.2] against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of [Yahweh No. 1's] eye.

For thus says God the Son, "After glory God the Father has sent God the Son against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of God the Father's eye

Observe how Trinitarians are attempting to exploit an ambiguity in the text.

Now observe how following translations illustrate the problem with this Trinitarian claim. The part where Yahweh is actually speaking is highlighted:

For the LORD who rules over all says to me that for his own glory he has sent me to the nations that plundered you—for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of his eye. "I am about to punish them in such a way," he says, "that they will be looted by their own slaves." Then you will know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me. "Sing out and be happy, Zion my daughter! For look, I have come; I will settle in your midst," says the LORD. 11 “Many nations will join themselves to the LORD on the day of salvation, and they will also be my people. Indeed, I will settle in the midst of you all.” Then you will know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me to you.
NET

For thus said the LORD of hosts (after his glory sent me) regarding the nations that plundered you: Truly, one who touches you touches the apple of my eye. 9 See now, I am going to raise my hand against them, and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the LORD. 11 Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
NRSV

For thus says the LORD of hosts after the LORD’s glory had sent me, concerning the nations that have plundered you: Whoever strikes you strikes me directly in the eye. Now I wave my hand over them, and they become plunder for their own servants. Thus you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me. Sing and rejoice, daughter Zion! Now, I am coming to dwell in your midst—oracle of the LORD. 15Many nations will bind themselves to the LORD on that day. They will be my people,* and I will dwell in your midst. Then you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
NAB

For Adonai-Tzva’ot has sent me on a glorious mission to the nations that plundered you, and this is what he says: "Anyone who injures you injures the very pupil of my eye. But I will shake my hand over them, and they will be plundered by those who were formerly their slaves." Then you will know that Adonai-Tzva’ot sent me. “Sing, daughter of Tziyon; rejoice! For, here, I am coming; and I will live among you,” says Adonai. 15 When that time comes, many nations will join themselves to Adonai. “They will be my people, and I will live among you.” Then you will know that it was Adonai-Tzva’ot who sent me to you.
CJB

Notice how neither of these major translations illustrate the problems with the Trinitarian claim. A simple survey of various translations reveals an ambiguity in translation.

2. Punctuation

There was no punctuation in the original Hebrew text; there were not quotation marks. One of the ambiguities here in this verse involves punctuation. When does Yahweh begin to speak? The Trinitarian claim requires Yahweh's words to commence immediately after "Thus says Yahweh of Hosts." However, the text does not demand this to be case.

Analysis of the Facts

1. The Angel in the Surrounding Context

Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 So I said, "Where are you going?" And he said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is." 3 And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him, 4 and said to him, "Run, speak to that young man, saying,

"Jerusalem will be inhabited without walls because of the multitude of men and cattle within it. 5 For I,’ declares the LORD ‘will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst. Ho there! Flee from the land of the north,' declares the LORD, 'for I have dispersed you as the four winds of the heavens,' declares the LORD. 7 “Ho, Zion! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon.'"

Now notice the following context:

Then he showed me the high priest Joshua standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 3:1

The honest reader will already see the truth of the matter. The one being sent in verses 2:8 to 11 is this angel who was speaking to Zechariah.

3. Reading Comprehension: What Yahweh actually said

For thus says the LORD of Hosts after glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye, "For behold, I will wave My hand over them so that they will be plunder for their slaves." And you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. "Sing for joy and be glad, O daughter of Zion; for behold I am coming and I will dwell in your midst," declares the Lord. "Many nations will join themselves to the LORD in that day and will become My people and I will dwell in your midst." And you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you.

Conclusion

The preceding context clarifies what is happening in verses 8 and 9. This angel (messenger) was sent to deliver Yahweh's message. The angel speaking to Zechariah is the one sent in verses 8 and 9.

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Created: March 8, 2016
Last Revision/Update: March 8, 2016

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