Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying: This is a quotation formula that introduces a second message for Zerubbabel parallel with the one in verses 6-7. There is nothing in the Hebrew equivalent to Moreover, which sounds as if it were intended to signal a contrast with the previous message; apart from New Revised Standard Version, other English versions have no such link word. There is no contrast, and it would be better to say “Then” (Beck, New Living Translation) or “Next” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). In fact, the second message repeats much of the content of verses 6-7 in plainer language. Good News Translation has made this introductory formula into a separate sentence: “Another message came to me from the LORD.” Contemporary English Version is similar with “The LORD spoke to me again and said.” Some translators may also prefer to take this kind of approach.
The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house: The hands of Zerubbabel stand for Zerubbabel himself by a figure of speech called synecdoche, in which a part represents a whole. Good News Translation, New Living Translation, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente translate it just as “Zerubbabel,” and many translators will wish to do the same. New English Bible and Revised English Bible try to keep the force of the figure of speech by saying “Zerubbabel with his own hands…,” and this may also be a helpful model in some languages. For laid the foundation, see the comments on Hag 2.18. This house refers of course to “the Temple” (Good News Translation) and in many languages it will be better to say so.
His hands shall also complete it carries the same idea as verse 7. Good News Translation expresses this in more natural English as “and he will finish the building.” New English Bible and Revised English Bible keep the parallel with the earlier part of the sentence and say, “with his own hands he shall/will finish it.” Translators who follow this example in the first part of the sentence will need to follow it in the second part as well.
Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you: Words very similar to these occurred in 2.9, 11; see the comments on those verses. In Hebrew you in you will know is singular as in 2.11, but not 2.9. You in to you is plural here, whereas it was singular in 2.11. This change from singular to plural in the same clause is awkward, and the ancient versions differed in their approach to it. The Septuagint Greek translated the pronoun as singular both times, and the Aramaic, Syriac and Latin versions translated it as plural both times. However, the Hebrew text is not unintelligible as it stands. When the rebuilding of the Temple is finished, Zerubbabel (you singular) will be reassured that it was indeed the LORD who had sent Zechariah to prophesy to the people (you plural). Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, Bible en français courant, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente all seem to be following the Aramaic, Syriac, and Latin here, though this is acknowledged in a footnote only in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, 2. Edition. The problem is more noticeable in languages that (unlike English) have different forms for the singular you and the plural you. Translators could say, for example, “Then you, Zerubbabel, will realize that the LORD sent me to all you people.” If they do decide to take this approach, it may be necessary for stylistic reasons to turn the last part of the sentence into third person, and say “to all the people.”
It is possible that the content of the LORD’s message is only the first sentence of verse 9, and that the second sentence is the prophet’s comment on that message (as in Bible en français courant, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). If translators take this view, they will probably need to include something to show that there is a change of speaker in the middle of the verse. Moreover, if they take this view, they will also need to decide whether verse 10a is part of Zechariah’s comment or a continuation of the LORD’s words. Bible en français courant and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente take verse 10a to be part of the prophet’s words. However, we consider that verse 10a is a continuation of the LORD’s words, so if the second half of verse 9 is treated as the prophet’s comment, it would probably be best to put it in round brackets as an aside (compare Jerusalem Bible/New Jerusalem Bible). Another possible approach is found in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, which runs verses 9 and 10a together. It treats verse 10a as the LORD’s words, and then transposes verse 9b to follow verse 10a. This has the advantage of keeping all the LORD’s words together without interruption. However, many modern versions (such as Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, New Living Translation, Contemporary English Version) take the whole of verses 9 and 10 as the LORD’s words, and accept the slight awkwardness of having the prophet referred to as me in the middle of the LORD’s utterance. On the whole this seems the least confusing option, though the Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch rendering is also worth considering.
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 .