Zechariah 8:5

5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.

Zechariah 8:5 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 8:5

And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls,
&c.] Denoting a large increase of inhabitants, in a literal sense; and may spiritually signify the large numbers of converts, of new born babes, who are regenerated by the grace and Spirit of God, and are accounted of by the Lord for a generation: playing the streets thereof;
being in health and rigour, and in great security. The Targum renders it, "singing" or "praising in the spacious places thereof"; singing the praises of God in Gospel strains; saying their Hosannas to the Son of David; rejoicing in the great salvation by Christ, and magnifying the grace of God, and setting forth the glories of it in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; see ( Matthew 11:16 Matthew 11:17 ) ( Matthew 21:15 Matthew 21:16 ) . In Jerusalem, literally taken, there were various streets, besides the street of the temple, which led to it, ( Ezra 10:9 ) mention is made of others in Jewish writings, as of the upper street F11, and of the street of the butchers, and of the street of those that dealt in wool F12.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Misn. Shekalim, c. 8. sect. 1.
F12 Misn. Erubin, c. 10. sect. 9.

Zechariah 8:5 In-Context

3 Thus saith Jehovah: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and Jerusalem shall be called, The city of truth; and the mountain of Jehovah of hosts, The holy mountain.
4 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: There shall yet old men and old women sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each one with his staff in his hand for multitude of days.
5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
6 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: If it be wonderful in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be wonderful in mine eyes? saith Jehovah of hosts.
7 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country;
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.