Zecharyah 7:9

9 Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os, saying, Administer mishpat emes. And let every man show chesed and rachamim to his brother;

Zecharyah 7:9 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 7:9

Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying
The same things as he had before; for the things following are ever in force, and always to be attended to, and to be regarded and preferred before anything merely ritual and ceremonial; and especially before the traditions and commandments of men, of which nature the above fasts were: Execute true judgment;
or, "judge judgment ^F5 of truth"; this is addressed to the judges of the people, that when any cause came before them between man and man, that they would judge righteously, according to the law of God; and, without respect to persons, pass sentence as the truth of the case required: and show mercy and compassion every man to his brother;
whether in want of food, raiment, or in whatsoever distress, whether of body or mind; which is much more acceptable to God than any legal sacrifices, or outward abstinences and humiliations, ( Hosea 6:6 ) ( 1 John 3:17 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (tma jpvm) "judicium veritatis", Montanus, Calvin, Cocceius, Burkius; "jus veritatis", Junius & Tremellius, Tarnovius.

Zecharyah 7:9 In-Context

7 Should ye not hear the devarim which Hashem hath preached by the nevi’im harishonim, when Yerushalayim was inhabited and at ease, and the towns thereof round about her, when men inhabited the Negev and the Shefelah?

8 And the Devar Hashem came unto Zecharyah, saying,

9 Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os, saying, Administer mishpat emes. And let every man show chesed and rachamim to his brother;

10 And oppress not the almanah, nor the yetomim, the ger, nor the aniyim; and let none of you imagine ra’ah against his brother in your lev.

11 But they refused to heed, and stubbornly stiffened their shoulders, stopped up their oznayim, that they not hear.