Zechariah 8:16

16 These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; render honest and peaceful judgments in your gates.

Zechariah 8:16 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 8:16

These [are] the things that ye shall do
Which were duties incumbent on them, and which it became them to perform, under a sense of the favours bestowed on them, to show their gratitude to God, and that they might glorify him: Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour;
not using deceit, prevarication, and lying, ( Ephesians 4:25 ) and it becomes every man under the Gospel dispensation, according to the gift he has received, to speak, publish, and declare the truth of the Gospel, to the edification of others: execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates;
that is, execute true judgment, as in ( Zechariah 7:9 ) do justice between man and man, without respect of persons; the issue of which will be peace between the contending parties: and this was to be done in their "gates", because there their courts of judicature were kept.

Zechariah 8:16 In-Context

14 For the Lord of Hosts says this: "As I resolved to treat you badly when your fathers provoked Me to anger, and would not relent," says the Lord of Hosts,

15 "so I have resolved again in these days to do what is good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Don't be afraid.

16 These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another; render honest and peaceful judgments in your gates.

17 Do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love perjury, for I hate all this"- the Lord's declaration.

18 Then the word of the Lord of Hosts came to me: