Zechariah 8:1-17

Yahweh’s Promise to Jerusalem

1 And the word of Yahweh of hosts came, saying,

2 "Thus says Yahweh of hosts: '{I am exceedingly jealous for Zion}; I am jealous for it [with] great wrath.'

3 Thus says Yahweh: 'I have returned to Zion, and I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem will be called the faithful city, and the mountain of Yahweh of hosts [will be called] the holy mountain.'

4 Thus says Yahweh of hosts: 'Old men and old women shall again sit in the public squares of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand {because of great age}.

5 And the public squares of the city will be filled [with] boys and girls playing in its public squares.'

6 Thus says Yahweh of hosts: '[Even] if it seems impossible {to the remnant} of this people in those days, should it also seem impossible {to me}?' {declares} Yahweh of hosts.

7 Thus says Yahweh of hosts: 'Look! I [am] going to save my people from the land of the east, and from the land of the west,

8 and I will bring them and they will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They will be my people and I will be their God in faithfulness and in righteousness.'

9 "Thus says Yahweh of hosts: 'Let your hands be strong, you who are hearing in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets who [were present] on [the] day {the foundation was laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of Yahweh of hosts}.

10 For before those days there was no wage for people or for animals, and there was no safety from the enemy for those who went out or those who came in, and I sent each person against {one another}.

11 But now {I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days},' {declares} Yahweh of hosts.

12 'For [there will be] a sowing of peace; the vine will give its fruit, and the soil will give its produce, and the heavens will give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these [things].

13 {And then}, just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. You must not be afraid; let your hands be strong!'"

14 For thus says Yahweh of hosts: "Just as I planned to bring disaster on you when your ancestors provoked me to anger," says Yahweh of hosts, "and I did not regret [it],

15 {so again I have planned} in these days to do good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Do not be afraid!

16 These [are] the things that you must do: speak truth, each [of you], with his neighbor; practice trustworthy judgment and peace in your gates.

17 Do not devise evil in your hearts [against] your neighbor, and do not love {a false oath}, because all these [are] things I hate," {declares} Yahweh.

Zechariah 8:1-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 8

This chapter contains promises of various blessings to the people of the Jews; and exhortations to each of the duties incumbent on them; and is concluded with a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles. The cause of all the blessings promised is the love of God to them, signified by zeal, or jealousy for them, Zec 8:1,2. The blessings promised are the Lord's return to dwell in Jerusalem, and the integrity and holiness of that city, Zec 8:3. The long life of the inhabitants of it, and the plenty of children that should be born in it, Zec 8:4,5 and, however wonderful and incredible this might seem to some, it was not to the Lord, who was determined to bring his people that were in various distant countries to Jerusalem, and settle them there; and renew and reestablish his covenant with them, Zec 8:6-8 wherefore the Lord encourages them to go on in rebuilding the temple, Zec 8:9 and promises them that things would be better with them than in times past; that whereas there had been nothing but penury, affliction, and distress, now there should be great affluence and prosperity, Zec 8:10-12 and though before they were a curse among the nations, now they should be a blessing; and though their fathers were punished, they should be dealt well with, Zec 8:13-15 and then they are exhorted to the discharge of several duties mentioned, to which they are induced by the Lord's hatred of that which is evil, and by his turning their fasts into cheerful feasts. Zec 8:16-19 to which is added a prophecy of the calling and conversion of the Gentiles, which would make for the glory of the Jewish church; who are described by their numbers, being many people, and the inhabitants of many cities; by their association together, to pray to the Lord, and worship him; by their coming up to Jerusalem for that purpose; and by their junction with the Jews, to which they will be encouraged by having heard that God is with them, Zec 8:20-23.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "I am jealous for Zion [with] great jealousy"
• [b]. Or "the city of truth"
• [c]. Hebrew "a man his staff in his hand"
• [d]. Literally "because of the multitude of days"
• [e]. Or "wonderful"
• [f]. Literally "in the eyes of the remnant"
• [g]. Or "wonderful"
• [h]. Literally "in my eyes"
• [i]. Literally "declaration of"
• [j]. Or "truth"
• [k]. Hebrew "the [ones]"
• [l]. Literally "the temple, the house of Yahweh of hosts, was founded to be built"
• [m]. Literally "his neighbor"
• [n]. Literally "not like the former days I [will be] to the remnant"
• [o]. Literally "declaration of"
• [p]. Literally "and it will happen"
• [q]. Hebrew "evil"
• [r]. Or "fathers"
• [s]. Literally "So I did again, I planned"
• [t]. Literally "an oath of deception"
• [u]. Literally "declaration of"