Zechariah 8:16

16 These are the things you should do: Speak the truth to each other; make truthful, just, and peaceable decisions within 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 The LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: Just as I planned evil against you when your ancestors angered me, says the LORD of heavenly forces, and did not relent,

15 so now I have changed course and again plan to do good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Don't be afraid.

16 These are the things you should do: Speak the truth to each other; make truthful, just, and peaceable decisions within your gates.

17 Don't plan evil for each other. Don't adore swearing falsely, for all of these are things that I hate, says the LORD.

18 The word of the LORD of heavenly forces came to me: