FocusTruthful worship and renewed community
Connection to the wholeA question about fasting leads to exhortations about justice and words of future blessing and gathering.
interpretation Zechariah 8:22
KJVYea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
Read it in context
The Restoration of Jerusalem
Start reading at Zechariah 8:1 (Zechariah 8:1 to Zechariah 8:23).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
A question about fasting leads to exhortations about justice and words of future blessing and gathering.
- 8:1 Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,
- 8:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
- 8:3 Thus 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.
- 8:4 Thus 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.
- 8:5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
- 8:6 Thus 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.
- 8:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
- 8:8 And 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.
- 8:9 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.
- 8:10 For 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.
- 8:11 But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.
- 8:12 For 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.
- 8:13 And 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.
- 8:14 For 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:
- 8:15 So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
- 8:16 These 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:
- 8:17 And 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.
- 8:18 And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,
- 8:19 Thus 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.
- 8:20 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
- 8:21 And 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.
- 8:22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
- 8:23 Thus 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.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, is the named prophet and traditional author. The composition of the later portions is debated. Biblical references: Zechariah 1:1. stated in the text
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Zechariah 7:1–8:23): A delegation asks the priests and prophets about fasting; Zechariah conveys the LORD's answer to the people and priests and promises concerning Jerusalem. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? The restored community of Judah and Jerusalem, with messages for its leaders and visions extending beyond that immediate community. Biblical references: Zechariah 1:3; Zechariah 4:9; Zechariah 7:5. stated in the text
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? The Restoration of Jerusalem. Read Zechariah 8:1 through Zechariah 8:23 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? A question about fasting leads to exhortations about justice and words of future blessing and gathering. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The opening dates messages to Darius' reign; later oracles are not all introduced with the same level of dating. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? The returned community, Jerusalem, the temple, and symbolic visionary scenes are central, with wider nations and conflicts in view. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in The Restoration of Jerusalem (Zechariah 8:1 to Zechariah 8:23). Start reading at Zechariah 8:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? The Gospels explicitly connect the king riding on an ass with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and cite other passages in the passion accounts. Additional identifications should still be marked as interpretation. See Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:4, Matthew 21:5, Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 26:31. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Join worship with truth, mercy, and justice. Begin interpretation of a vision with its supplied explanation and avoid treating speculation about present events as the words of the prophecy. interpretation
Cited: Zechariah 8:1, Zechariah 8:23, Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:4, Matthew 21:5, Zechariah 13:7, Matthew 26:31
Who wrote it, and how we know
Zechariah
Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe book opens with the word of the LORD to Zechariah.
Zechariah 1:1
Early traditionTradition names Zechariah.
What is debatedSome scholars propose a second author for chapters 9 through 14.
Related passages
- Yea, many people and strong nations shall… Isa 25:7 Isa 55:5 Isa 60:3-22 Isa 66:23 Jer 4:2 Mic 4:3 Hag 2:7 Gal 3:8
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Zechariah 8
Zechariah's dated opening belongs to the post-exilic setting under Darius. The book includes interpreted visions, exhortations, and later oracles. Retain explanations supplied by the text and label further symbolic connections as interpretation. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Zechariah 1:1 Zechariah 1:3 Zechariah 7:1
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Zechariah
Zechariah's dated opening belongs to the post-exilic setting under Darius. The book includes interpreted visions, exhortations, and later oracles. Retain explanations supplied by the text and label further symbolic connections as interpretation.
Zechariah 1:1 Zechariah 1:3 Zechariah 7:1
Return to the LORD
Zechariah 1:1–6FocusThe warning from the fathers
Connection to the wholeThe opening appeal recalls earlier refusals to hear the prophets and calls the present community to return.
interpretation The night visions and the crown
Zechariah 1:7–6:15FocusRestoration, cleansing, and the Branch
Connection to the wholeA sequence of visions and explanations addresses the community's situation and the LORD's purposes, followed by the symbolic crowning.
interpretation FocusTruthful worship and renewed community
Connection to the wholeA question about fasting leads to exhortations about justice and words of future blessing and gathering.
interpretation The king and the shepherds
Zechariah 9:1–11:17FocusDeliverance and rejected shepherding
Connection to the wholeThe oracles present the coming king and conflicts involving the flock and shepherds, requiring careful attention to their changing images.
interpretation Jerusalem, cleansing, and the LORD's reign
Zechariah 12:1–14:21FocusConflict and final hope
Connection to the wholeThe closing oracles move through mourning, cleansing, conflict, and the LORD's kingship; detailed fulfillments must be argued rather than assumed.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.