Zechariah 1:3

3 But you must say to the people, The LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: Return to me, says the LORD of heavenly forces, and I will return to you, says the LORD of heavenly forces.

Zechariah 1:3 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 1:3

Therefore say thou unto them
This is an order from the Lord to Zechariah, to say unto them, in the name of the Lord: thus saith the Lord of hosts;
of the hosts above and below, of angels and of men, of heaven and earth, and all that is therein: this is said, that the greater regard might be had to his words: turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts;
by repentance, and acknowledgment of former sins; by reformation for the future; by attending to the worship and service of God, and seeking to glorify him. So the Targum, "return to my worship": this is not the condition of what follows, but what follows is the motive and encouragement to this: and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts;
to dwell among them, manifest himself unto and protect them. Three times the phrase, "the Lord of hosts", is used in this verse: it may be with respect to the three Persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Spirit; who manifest themselves unto, and take up their abode with, such as love the Lord, and keep his commandments; see ( John 14:21 ) .

Zechariah 1:3 In-Context

1 In the eighth month in the second year of Darius, the LORD's word came to Zechariah the prophet, Berechiah's son and Iddo's grandson:

2 The LORD was terribly angry with your ancestors.

3 But you must say to the people, The LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: Return to me, says the LORD of heavenly forces, and I will return to you, says the LORD of heavenly forces.

4 Don't be like your ancestors to whom the former prophets preached: The LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: Turn from your evil ways and your evil deeds. But they didn't listen; they didn't draw near to me.

5 So where are your ancestors? Do the prophets live forever?