Zecharyah 8:1-17

1 Again the Devar Hashem Tzva’os came to me, saying,

2 Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os; I am jealous for Tziyon with kina gedolah (great jealousy) and I am jealous for her with chemah gedolah (great fury).

3 Thus saith Hashem: I will return unto Tziyon, and will dwell in the midst of Yerushalayim; and Yerushalayim shall be called Ir HaEmes; and Har Hashem Tzva’os, Har HaKodesh.

4 Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os: Zekenim and zekenot shall yet dwell in the rechovot of Yerushalayim, and every man with his staff in his hand me’rov yamim (because of many days, i.e., old age).

5 And the rechovot of the city shall be full of yeladim and yeladot playing in the rechovot thereof.

6 Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the she’erit HaAm HaZeh in those days, should it also be marvellous in Mine eyes? saith Hashem Tzva’os.

7 Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os: Hineni, I will save My people from the eretz mizrach (land of the east), and from the eretz of the setting sun;

8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Yerushalayim; and they shall be My people, and I will be their G-d, in emes and in tzedakah.

9 Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os: Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these devarim by the mouth of the nevi’im, on the yom that the Yesod of the Beis Hashem Tzava’os was laid, the Heikhal, that it may be built.

10 For before these days there was no sachar for man, nor any sachar for beast; neither was there any shalom to him that went out or came in because of the tzar (oppressor); for I set all men every one against his neighbor.

11 But now I will not be unto the she’erit HaAm HaZeh as in the former days, saith Hashem Tzva’os.

12 For the zera is of shalom; the gefen shall yield her fruit, and ha’aretz shall give her increase, and HaShomayim shall give their tal; and I will cause the she’erit HaAm HaZeh to possess all these things for a nachalah.

13 And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a kelalah (curse) among the Goyim, O Bais Yehudah, and Bais Yisroel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a brocha; fear not, but let your hands be strong.

14 For thus saith Hashem Tzva’os: As I determined to bring rah on you, when your avot provoked Me to wrath, saith Hashem Tzava’os, and I relented not with rachamim:

15 So again have I determined in these days to do good unto Yerushalayim and to Bais Yehudah; fear ye not.

16 These are the things that ye must do: Speak ye every man emes to his neighbor; execute the judgment of mishpat shalom in your she’arim (gates, courts);

17 And let none of you imagine ra’ah in your levavot against his neighbor; and love no shevuat sheker (false oath); for all these are things that I hate, saith Hashem.

Zecharyah 8:1-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 8

This chapter contains promises of various blessings to the people of the Jews; and exhortations to each of the duties incumbent on them; and is concluded with a prophecy of the calling of the Gentiles. The cause of all the blessings promised is the love of God to them, signified by zeal, or jealousy for them, Zec 8:1,2. The blessings promised are the Lord's return to dwell in Jerusalem, and the integrity and holiness of that city, Zec 8:3. The long life of the inhabitants of it, and the plenty of children that should be born in it, Zec 8:4,5 and, however wonderful and incredible this might seem to some, it was not to the Lord, who was determined to bring his people that were in various distant countries to Jerusalem, and settle them there; and renew and reestablish his covenant with them, Zec 8:6-8 wherefore the Lord encourages them to go on in rebuilding the temple, Zec 8:9 and promises them that things would be better with them than in times past; that whereas there had been nothing but penury, affliction, and distress, now there should be great affluence and prosperity, Zec 8:10-12 and though before they were a curse among the nations, now they should be a blessing; and though their fathers were punished, they should be dealt well with, Zec 8:13-15 and then they are exhorted to the discharge of several duties mentioned, to which they are induced by the Lord's hatred of that which is evil, and by his turning their fasts into cheerful feasts. Zec 8:16-19 to which is added a prophecy of the calling and conversion of the Gentiles, which would make for the glory of the Jewish church; who are described by their numbers, being many people, and the inhabitants of many cities; by their association together, to pray to the Lord, and worship him; by their coming up to Jerusalem for that purpose; and by their junction with the Jews, to which they will be encouraged by having heard that God is with them, Zec 8:20-23.