Zechariah 8:15-23

15 so I converted thought in these days to do well to the house of Judah and to Jerusalem; do not ye dread. (but now turned, I have thought, or I have resolved, in these days to do good to the house of Judah and to Jerusalem; do not ye fear/fear not.)

16 Therefore these be the words which ye shall do; speak ye truth, each man with his neighbour; deem ye truth and the doom of peace in your gates; (And so these be the things which ye shall do; speak ye truth, each person with his neighbour; judge ye truthfully, and give ye the kind of justice that bringeth peace within your gates;)

17 and think ye not in your hearts, any man, evil against his friend, and love not a false oath; for all these things it be which I hate, saith the Lord. (and think ye not in your hearts, anyone, evil against his friend, or against his neighbour, and do not love to make a false oath, or to commit perjury; for all these be the things which I hate, saith the Lord.)

18 And the word of the Lord of hosts was made to me, and said,

19 The Lord of hosts saith these things, The fasting of the fourth month, and fasting of the fifth, and the fasting of the seventh, and the fasting of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah into joy and gladness, and into solemnities full clear; love ye only truth and peace. (The Lord of hosts saith these things, The fasting of the fourth month, and the fasting of the fifth month, and the fasting of the seventh month, and the fasting of the tenth month, shall be cheerful feasts of happiness, and joy, for the house of Judah; love ye only truth and peace.)

20 The Lord of hosts saith these things, Peoples shall come on each side, and dwell in many cities; (The Lord of hosts saith these things, Peoples shall come from everywhere, and shall live in many cities;)

21 and the dwellers shall go, one to another, and say, Go we, and beseech the face of the Lord, and seek we the Lord of hosts; also I shall go. (and the inhabitants shall go, one to another, and say, Let us go, and beseech the face of the Lord, and seek we the Lord of hosts; and I shall also go/yea, come with me.)

22 And many peoples shall come, and strong folks, for to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to beseech the face of the Lord. (And many peoples, and strong nations, shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to beseech the face of the Lord.)

23 The Lord of hosts saith these things, In those days, in which ten men of all languages of heathen men shall take (hold), and they shall take the hem of a man a Jew, and say, We shall go with you; for we have heard that God is with you. (The Lord of hosts saith these things, In those days, in which ten men of all the languages of the heathen shall take hold, yea, they shall take hold of the hem of a Jewish man, and say, We shall go with you; for we have heard that God is with you.)

Zechariah 8:15-23 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.