Zechariah 7:8-14

8 And the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying,

9 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, ¹Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,

10 ²do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, ³or the poor, and ⁴let none of you devise evil against another in your heart."

11 But ⁵they refused to pay attention ⁶and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.^[a]

12 ⁷They made their hearts diamond-hard ⁸lest they should hear the law and the words that the LORD of hosts had sent ⁹by his Spirit through ¹⁰the former prophets. ¹¹Therefore great anger came from the LORD of hosts.

13 ¹²"As I^[b] called, and they would not hear, ¹³so they called, and I would not hear," says the LORD of hosts,

14 ¹⁴"and I scattered them with a whirlwind among all ¹⁵the nations that they had not known. ¹⁶Thus the land they left was desolate, ¹⁷so that no one went to and fro, ¹⁸and the pleasant land was made desolate."

Zechariah 7:8-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 7

This chapter treats concerning the nature and use of certain fasts kept by the Jews, on account of the destruction of the temple, and other things; and concerning the message of the former prophets to them, and the effects of it. The occasion of the former was an embassy sent by the Jews to the priests and prophets, to know whether they should continue the fast of the fifth month; upon which the prophet was sent by the Lord unto them. The time of the prophecy is noted, Zec 7:1. An account of the embassy is given, of the persons that were sent, and to whom, and upon what account, Zec 7:2,3. The answer of the Lord to it by the prophet, showing the usefulness of fasts to him, and putting them upon hearkening to his voice by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was in great prosperity, Zec 7:4-7 and then they are exhorted by him, in the ministry of the present prophet, to acts of righteousness, several species of which are mentioned; and which were the same they had been exhorted to by the former prophets, but had neglected, and hardened their hearts against all exhortations and instructions, Zec 7:8-12 and were the reason of their captivity and desolation, Zec 7:13,14.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 21:12; Micah 6:8; [Matthew 23:23]
• 2. Isaiah 1:23; Jeremiah 5:28; See Exodus 22:21, 22
• 3. Proverbs 22:22
• 4. Zechariah 8:17
• 5. Zechariah 1:4
• 6. Nehemiah 9:29
• 7. [Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26]
• 8. [Nehemiah 9:30]
• 9. [Nehemiah 9:30]
• 10. ver. 7
• 11. [2 Chronicles 36:16; 1 Thessalonians 2:16]
• 12. [Isaiah 1:15; Jeremiah 11:11]; See Proverbs 1:24-28
• 13. [Isaiah 1:15; Jeremiah 11:11]; See Proverbs 1:24-28
• 14. [Zechariah 2:6]
• 15. See Deuteronomy 28:33
• 16. Ezekiel 12:19
• 17. Zechariah 9:8; [Zephaniah 3:6]
• 18. [Jeremiah 7:34]

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew and made their ears too heavy to hear
• [b]. Hebrew he