Zechariah 8:12

the seed shall be prosperous Lit. The seed of peace (there shall be). This gives a very good sense, when we remember that the Hebrew words here used have a wide meaning. Seedis not only that which is sown, but sometimes seed-time, or sowing(Genesis 8:22), sometimes produceor harvest(Job 39:12). Peaceis prosperityand plenty. So that the words may be paraphrased, The processes of agriculture shall prosper. Another rendering, however, according to which this clause is in apposition with the words immediately following, The seed(or plant) of peace, namely, the vine, shall give, &c., has been strongly supported. The vine is then thought to be called "the seed of peace," because "it can only flourish in peaceful times, and not when the land is laid waste by enemies." But one fails to see how this is a peculiarity of the vine. It would seem to be equally true of corn and other products of the earth. Moreover, such an apposition destroys the balanceof the three following clauses, which form a threefold expansion of the general statement with which the verse begins. In the Speaker's Commentaryit is said, "The vine is pre-eminently a plant of peace." But in all the passages referred to in support of the assertion the fig-tree is associated with the vine. It is difficult, therefore, to see how the vine can be singled out as theplant of peace.

to possess Lit. to inherit. Comp. ὁ νικῶν κληρονμήσει ταῦτα, Revelation 21:7.