Zechariah 8:8

8 and I shall bring them (back), and they shall dwell in the middle of Jerusalem; and they shall be to me into a people, and I shall be to them into God, and in truth, and in rightwiseness. (and I shall bring them back, and they shall live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people, and I shall be their God, in truth, and in righteousness.)

Zechariah 8:8 Meaning and Commentary

Zechariah 8:8

And l will bring them
To Zion, into the church of God, the Gospel fold, where Christ has engaged to bring his other sheep, that there may be one fold for Jew and Gentile, ( Jeremiah 3:14 ) ( John 10:16 ) : and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem:
the Gospel church; and be no more foreigners and strangers, but of the household of God, enjoying all the immunities and privileges of the Jerusalem that is above, the mother of us all: and they shall be my people;
appear to be so by effectual calling; which makes those manifest to be the people of God, to be in the covenant of his grace, who before were not known to be so, either by themselves or others, ( 1 Peter 2:10 ) : and I will be their God, in truth, and in righteousness;
according to the covenant of his grace, which will now in a very open manner be truly and faithfully fulfilled; and they, in consequence of the grace bestowed on them, will worship God in sincerity and truth, being justified by the righteousness of Christ, and so will have no dependence on their own for their acceptance with God; see ( Hosea 2:19 Hosea 2:20 ) .

Zechariah 8:8 In-Context

6 The Lord of hosts saith these things, Though it shall be seen (as) hard (to do) before the eyes of the remnants of this people in those days, whether before mine eyes it shall be hard, saith the Lord of hosts? (The Lord of hosts saith these things, Though it shall be seen as impossible by those who be the remnants of this people in those days, shall I see it as impossible to do, saith the Lord of hosts?)
7 The Lord of hosts saith these things, Lo! I shall save my people from the land of the east, and from the land of the going down of the sun;
8 and I shall bring them (back), and they shall dwell in the middle of Jerusalem; and they shall be to me into a people, and I shall be to them into God, and in truth, and in rightwiseness. (and I shall bring them back, and they shall live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people, and I shall be their God, in truth, and in righteousness.)
9 The Lord of hosts saith these things, Be your hands strengthened, which hear in these days these words by the mouth of prophets, in the day in which the house of the Lord of hosts is founded, that the temple should be builded (again). (The Lord of hosts saith these things, Take courage! you who hear in these days these words from the mouths of the prophets, yea, those prophets from the days in which the House of the Lord of hosts was founded, who say that the Temple should now be rebuilt.)
10 Soothly before those days hire of men was not, neither hire of work beasts was, neither to man entering and going out was peace for tribulation; and I let go all men, each against his neighbour. (Truly before those days there was no hiring of men, or of work beasts, nor was there peace from tribulation for anyone entering in or going out; yea, I let everyone go, each against his neighbour/each against the other.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.