Zechariah 8

King James Version

Full text for Zechariah Chapter 8

1¶ Again the word of the LORD of hosts came [to me], saying,

2Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.

3Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

4Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.

5And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.

6Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.

7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;

8And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

9¶ Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which [were] in the day [that] the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

10For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither [was there any] peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.

11But now I [will] not [be] unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.

12For the seed [shall be] prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these [things].

13And it shall come to pass, [that] as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, [but] let your hands be strong.

14For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:

15So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.

16These [are] the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

17And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these [are things] that I hate, saith the LORD.

18¶ And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,

19Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth [month], and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

20Thus saith the LORD of hosts; [It shall] yet [come to pass], that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:

21And the inhabitants of one [city] shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.

22Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.

23Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days [it shall come to pass], that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard [that] God [is] with you.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The LORD declares His fervent return to Zion, promising to dwell in Jerusalem, which will become a city of truth and holiness, filled with peace and prosperity for all generations. He assures His people of future blessings, transforming their past suffering into joy and making them a blessing among nations. The chapter concludes with a vision of Gentiles seeking the LORD in Jerusalem, recognizing His presence with the Jews.

Medium Summary

Zechariah 8 opens with the LORD's fervent declaration of His return to Zion, promising to dwell in Jerusalem, which will be known as a city of truth and a holy mountain. He foretells a future where Jerusalem's streets are safe, populated by both the aged and playing children, signifying peace and longevity. The LORD pledges to gather His people from all lands, bringing them back to Jerusalem to establish a renewed covenant relationship based on truth and righteousness. He then encourages those rebuilding the temple, contrasting their past hardships—marked by lack of hire and internal strife—with a coming era of agricultural abundance and divine favor. Judah and Israel, once a symbol of a curse, are promised to become a blessing. The LORD also issues ethical commands, urging truthfulness, righteous judgment, and the rejection of evil intent and false oaths. Finally, the chapter reveals that the traditional fasts will be transformed into joyful feasts, and a future time is envisioned where many nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD, acknowledging His presence among the Jews.

Long Summary

Zechariah 8 begins with the LORD of hosts expressing His intense jealousy for Zion, declaring His intention to return and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, which will henceforth be called a city of truth and a holy mountain. He envisions a future Jerusalem where the elderly will safely sit in the streets, and children will play freely, symbolizing a time of peace, security, and long life. The LORD promises to gather His scattered people from the east and west, bringing them back to Jerusalem to establish a covenant where they will be His people and He their God, in truth and righteousness. The prophet then delivers a message of encouragement to those engaged in rebuilding the temple, urging them to be strong, recalling the difficult times before the temple's foundation was laid, characterized by a lack of prosperity and conflict among neighbors. However, the LORD declares that He will no longer treat the remnant as in former days, but will instead bring abundant prosperity, ensuring fruitful vines, increased ground yield, and heavenly dew. He states that Judah and Israel, who were once a curse among the nations, will now be saved and become a blessing, emphasizing that His intention is to do good to Jerusalem and Judah, contrasting with His past judgment for their fathers' provocations. The chapter then outlines ethical requirements for the people: speaking truth to neighbors, executing true and peaceful judgment, refraining from imagining evil against others, and hating false oaths, as these are things the LORD detests. Furthermore, the LORD announces a transformation of the traditional fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months into occasions of joy, gladness, and cheerful feasts, reiterating the importance of loving truth and peace. The prophecy culminates in a vision of future global pilgrimage, where inhabitants of many cities and strong nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD of hosts and pray before Him. This future includes a remarkable scene where ten men from all languages of the nations will grasp the skirt of a Jew, desiring to go with them, for they will have heard that God is with them, signifying the ultimate recognition of God's presence among His chosen people and the inclusion of Gentiles in His worship.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Jealousy and ReturnThe LORD expresses intense jealousy for Zion, signifying His passionate commitment to His people and His intention to return and dwell in Jerusalem. This return marks the beginning of a new era of divine presence and favor.
  • Restoration and ProsperityJerusalem is promised a future of peace, security, and abundance, where old people and children will thrive, and the land will yield plentifully. This contrasts with past periods of affliction and scarcity.
  • Covenant RenewalThe LORD reaffirms His covenant relationship, declaring that His people will be gathered from all directions and brought back to Jerusalem, where they will be His people and He their God in truth and righteousness. This signifies a renewed and faithful bond.
  • Ethical LivingThe chapter emphasizes the importance of moral conduct, instructing the people to speak truth, administer just judgment, avoid evil intent, and reject false oaths. These actions are presented as pleasing to the LORD, who hates their opposites.
  • Transformation of FastsThe traditional fasts, commemorating past calamities, are prophesied to be transformed into joyful and cheerful feasts. This symbolizes a shift from mourning to celebration, reflecting God's favor and the restoration of His people.
  • Gentile InclusionA significant theme is the future coming of many nations and peoples to Jerusalem to seek the LORD. This highlights the universal appeal of God's presence and the recognition by Gentiles that God is with the Jews, leading them to desire to join in worship.
  • Blessing Among NationsJudah and Israel, once a symbol of a curse, are promised to become a blessing among the heathen. This signifies their restored status and their role as a conduit of divine favor to the wider world.