Zechariah 7:9-14

9 "Thus says Yahweh of hosts: 'Judge [with] trustworthy justice, and show steadfast love and compassion {to one another}.

10 You must not oppress [the] widow, [the] orphan, [the] foreigner, and [the] needy. You must not devise evil in your heart {against one another}.'

11 But they refused to listen, and turned a stubborn shoulder and {stopped their ears from listening}.

12 {They made their hearts adamant} in order not to hear the law and the words that Yahweh of hosts had sent by his spirit through the former prophets; [therefore] great wrath came from Yahweh of hosts.

13 'Thus, just as I called and they would not hear, so they will call and I will not hear,' says Yahweh of hosts.

14 'And I scattered them with a wind among all the nations that they had not known; the land was made desolate behind them-- no one crossing through [it] or returning--and they made the desirable land a desolation.'"

Zechariah 7:9-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 7

This chapter treats concerning the nature and use of certain fasts kept by the Jews, on account of the destruction of the temple, and other things; and concerning the message of the former prophets to them, and the effects of it. The occasion of the former was an embassy sent by the Jews to the priests and prophets, to know whether they should continue the fast of the fifth month; upon which the prophet was sent by the Lord unto them. The time of the prophecy is noted, Zec 7:1. An account of the embassy is given, of the persons that were sent, and to whom, and upon what account, Zec 7:2,3. The answer of the Lord to it by the prophet, showing the usefulness of fasts to him, and putting them upon hearkening to his voice by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was in great prosperity, Zec 7:4-7 and then they are exhorted by him, in the ministry of the present prophet, to acts of righteousness, several species of which are mentioned; and which were the same they had been exhorted to by the former prophets, but had neglected, and hardened their hearts against all exhortations and instructions, Zec 7:8-12 and were the reason of their captivity and desolation, Zec 7:13,14.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "do"
• [b]. Literally "a man his brother"
• [c]. Literally "a man his brother"
• [d]. Hebrew "gave"
• [e]. Literally "their ears were heavy from hearing"
• [f]. Literally "They set their hearts [like] hard stone"
• [g]. Hebrew torah
• [h]. Literally "by the hand of"
• [i]. Hebrew "he called" (but still referring to Yahweh)
• [j]. Hebrew "land of desire," but this could be understood as a land characterized by desire rather than a desirable land