Zechariah 8:22

22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat him.”

Zechariah 8:22 in Other Translations

22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.

22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD.

22 Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing.

22 "Lots of people, powerful nations - they'll come to Jerusalem looking for what they can get from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, looking to get a blessing from God."

22 Yea, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek Jehovah of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Jehovah.

22 Many people and powerful nations will come to seek the LORD of Armies in Jerusalem and to ask the LORD for a blessing.

22 Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead for the Lord's favor."

22 Large numbers of people and nations will come to Jerusalem. They will look to me. They will ask me to show them my favor."

Zechariah 8:22 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 8:22

Yea, many people, and strong nations
Or, "mighty kingdoms", as the Targum renders it; even such have embraced the Gospel, and professed the Christian religion; of which there has been abundant proof since the downfall of Paganism under Constantine: shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem;
that is, shall attend the public worship of God in the church: and to pray before the Lord;
join in public prayer, and other ordinances of the Gospel. This phrase, which is used also in the preceding verse ( Zechariah 8:21 ) , signifies that the Lord, and he only, is the object of prayer: it is not to be made to a creature, or to an idol made with hands, they had been used to pray to before, but to the one only living and true God, Father, Son, and Spirit; and that this is to be done as in the presence of God, who is omniscient, who knows all persons and their cases, and what are their ends and views in their petitions to him, and whether these come from a true heart and unfeigned lips; for all things are naked and open unto him, with whom we have to do; that, under the Gospel dispensation especially, men may come into the presence of God with great freedom and liberty, and pour out their souls before him, and with great boldness and confidence, through the blood of Christ being shed, and a new and living way opened by it, in which they may come and ask in faith whatever they want; though this should always be performed with reverence and godly fear, and with all humility and submission to the will of God: and though it may take in all sorts of prayer, and wherever and by whomsoever performed, either mental or vocal, in the closet or in the family, which is always to be done in like manner before God; yet it seems chiefly to design social and public prayer: which being put up to God in the church, may be said to be before the Lord, it being in the assembly of his saints, where he more especially grants his presence, and shows himself to be a God hearing and answering prayer; see ( Psalms 65:1 Psalms 65:2 ) .

Zechariah 8:22 In-Context

20 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come,

21 and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the LORD and seek the LORD Almighty. I myself am going.’

22 And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD Almighty and to entreat him.”

23 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’ ”

Cross References

• 1. S Psalms 86:9; Psalms 117:1; Isaiah 2:2-3; S Isaiah 44:5; S Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 60:3; S Zechariah 2:11