Zechariah II
For thus said the Lord of hosts, after His glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. (Zechariah 2:8 ESV)
Eye Apples (again)
The idea of God’s people being the apple of His eye means that we are precious to Him.
It is also a fun play on words, one that resonates with other parts of Scripture. The word for apple, and one of the words for mankind, in Hebrew, are very similar. Basically, it is “ish.” So if this phrase were said out loud, it would sound like, “Ish of ish.”
Which is remarkably like the Nicene Creed’s description of Jesus Christ: “God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God…”
The creeds are not Scripture, of course, but they are great summaries of what many Christians believe. And here, we are reminded that to God, His people are profoundly important.
Not merely a part of creation, but the central part.
Not merely a random result of a mechanical universe, but God’s precious folk.
Not merely an average, mean, or median… but the central part of God’s focus.
Again, God’s people are deeply loved.