Zechariah 7:11

11 But they refused to pay attention^[a] and turned a stubborn shoulder; they closed their ears so they could not hear.^[b]

Zechariah 7:11 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 7:11

But they refused to hearken
. That is, the Jews, before the captivity, refusal to give heed to the above exhortations, and obey the voice of God in them: and pulled away the shoulder;
from serving the Lord, and supporting his interest: or "they gave", or presented, "a rebellious shoulder" {f}; a refractory one, that slides back, like a backsliding or refractory heifer, that will not admit of the yoke, ( Hosea 4:16 ) so these could not bear the yoke of the law, nor the burden of duty; nor suffer the words of exhortation, or receive the admonitions given them: and stopped their ears, that they should not hear;
like the deaf adder, ( Psalms 58:4 Psalms 58:5 ) they would not hear, and pretended they could not; which was an instance of contempt to the speakers.

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FOOTNOTES:

F6 (trro Ptk) "scapulam aversam", Pagninus; "deflectentem", Montanus; "rebellem", Munster, Tigurine version; "refractarium", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so Ben Melech.

Zechariah 7:11 In-Context

9 "The Lord of Hosts says this: Render true justice. Show faithful love and compassion to one another.

10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor, and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.

11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they closed their ears so they could not hear.

12 They made their hearts like a rock so as not to obey the law or the words that the Lord of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the Lord of Hosts.

13 Just as He had called, and they would not listen, so when they called, I would not listen," says the Lord of Hosts.

Footnotes

• [a]. Zch 1:4
• [b]. Isa 6:10