Deuteronomy 32:10

Hebrew Bible

8 When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided up humankind, he set the boundaries of the peoples, according to the number of the heavenly assembly. 9 For the Lord’s allotment is his people, Jacob is his special possession. 10 The Lord found him in a desolate land, in an empty wasteland where animals howl. He continually guarded him and taught him; he continually protected him like the pupil of his eye. 11 Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, so the Lord spread out his wings and took him, he lifted him up on his pinions. 12 The Lord alone was guiding him, no foreign god was with him.

Zechariah 2:8

Hebrew Bible

6 “You there! Flee from the northland!” says the Lord, “for like the four winds of heaven I have scattered you,” says the Lord. 7 “Escape, Zion, you who live among the Babylonians!” 8 For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “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. 9 Yes, look here, I am about to punish them so that they will be looted by their own slaves.” Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. 10 “Sing out and be happy, Zion my daughter! For look, I have come; I will settle in your midst,” says the Lord.

 Notes and References

"... The phrase (“the one touching you is striking the pupil[?] of my eye”) is also unusual. The “pupil” (הָבָבּ) is a hapax legomenon. Its meaning would seem to be best explained as an allusion to the phrase “apple of his eye” used in Deuteronomy 32:10 and Psalm 7:2 (compare Psalm 17:8) ..."

Stead, Michael R. The Intertextuality of Zechariah 1-8 (pp. 116-117) T&T Clark, 2009

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