Zechariah 1:15
in Zechariah 1but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have added to the calamity.’
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And I am very sore displeased with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
KJV
And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
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This verse in Zechariah 1
Commentary
10 notes on this verse(Verse 14 and following) And the angel who spoke in me said to me: Cry out, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and Zion with great jealousy, and with great anger I am angry (alternate: I will be angry) with the prosperous nations, for I was angry only a little, but they (alternate: they themselves) assisted in bringing about evil.
This site's exposition
I am jealous for Jerusalem
on Zechariah 1:14-17
The comfortable words are given content: the Lord is jealous for Jerusalem and Zion with a great jealousy, and sore displeased with the nations that are at ease, the very powers used to punish Judah now judged for exceeding their commission, for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Calvin and the older bench read this as the standing principle behind every instrument God raises against his people, the rod is used and then broken for using too much force. The promise answers the vision's report point for point: my house shall be built in it, a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem, anticipating the measuring vision of chapter two, and my cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad, the Lord comforting Zion and choosing Jerusalem again.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
26 ) and insulting over those whom he had troubled. Note, God is displeased with those who help forward the affliction even of such as suffer justly; for true humanity, in such a case, is good divinity. (2.) He must proclaim the mercy God has in store for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah,
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-citation-number+unbalanced-parens
A little displeased - With mine own people, that is, in comparison of the anger I bear against the Heathen. Helped forward - Attempted to destroy whom I would but correct.
And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
I am sore displeased - literally “with great anger am I angered against the nations which are at ease.” The form of the words shows that the greatness of the displeasure of God against those who oppress His people, is proportionate to the great and tender love toward themselves. God had been angered indeed with His people; with their enemies He was “angered with a great anger;” and that the more, because they were at ease, in unfeeling self-enjoyment amid the miseries of others.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
very sore displeased with the heathen--in contrast with "I was but a little displeased" with My people. God's displeasure with His people is temporary and for their chastening; with the heathen oppressors, it is final and fatal (Jer 30:11).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Therefore thus says the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it, says the Lord of Hosts and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad. And the Lord shall yet comfort Zion and shall yet choose Jerusalem. Then lifted I up my eyes and sa w and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. And the Lord showed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And He spoke, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to scatter them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it." Zechariah 1:8-21. THIS is a somewhat dark and mysterious passage. And if we should ask many a reader, "Do you understand what you are reading?" he would be compelled to reply as did the Ethiopian eunuch, "How can I, except some man should guide me?" Although there are some portions of the Word of God which are hard to be understood—by far the greater portion of Scriptures which are at first perplexing—will open up if we will carefully peruse them and prayerfully ask the illumination of God's Holy Spirit. We should seek to know all of God's Word which can be known. You will perceive that the Prophet Zechariah himself was not content with beholding the two visions described in this passage, but had to ask, in the ninth verse, "O my Lord, what are these?" And then, again, in the nineteenth verse, "What are these?" Nor did he cease his enquiries! In the twenty-first verse he says, "What come these to do?" If the seer of the vision asked for an interpretation, much more may you and I.
Therefore thus says the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it, says the Lord of Hosts and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad. And the Lord shall yet comfort Zion and shall yet choose Jerusalem. Then lifted I up my eyes and sa w and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these?
I was but a little displeased - I was justly displeased with my people, and I gave their enemies a commission against them; but they carried this far beyond my design by oppression and cruelty; and now they shall suffer in their turn.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
I am jealous for Jerusalem I am exacting the retribution [for] the cause of Jerusalem from those who oppress her.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְקֶ֤צֶף | veketzef | and anger | H7110 → | 29 times |
| גָּדוֹל֙ | gadol | great | H1419 → | 526 times |
| אֲנִ֣י | ʾani | I | H589 → | 874 times |
| קֹצֵ֔ף | kotzef | [am] angry | H7107 → | 34 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | towards | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הַגּוֹיִ֖ם | hagoyim | the nations | H1471 → | 561 times |
| הַשַּֽׁאֲנַנִּ֑ים | hashaananim | <the> at ease | H7600 → | |
| אֲשֶׁ֤ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| אֲנִי֙ | ʾani | I | H589 → | 874 times |
| קָצַ֣פְתִּי | katzafti | I was angry | H7107 → | 34 times |
| מְּעָ֔ט | meat | a little | H4592 → | |
| וְהֵ֖מָּה | vehemah | and they | H1992 → | 553 times |
| עָזְר֥וּ | ʾazeru | they have helped | H5826 → | |
| לְרָעָֽה׃ | leraah | for evil | H7451 → | 662 times |
וְקֶ֤צֶףand anger
veketzefH7110 →29 times
גָּדוֹל֙great
gadolH1419 →526 times
אֲנִ֣יI
ʾaniH589 →874 times
קֹצֵ֔ף[am] angry
kotzefH7107 →34 times
עַל־towards
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הַגּוֹיִ֖םthe nations
hagoyimH1471 →561 times
הַשַּֽׁאֲנַנִּ֑ים<the> at ease
hashaananimH7600 →
אֲשֶׁ֤רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
אֲנִי֙I
ʾaniH589 →874 times
קָצַ֣פְתִּיI was angry
katzaftiH7107 →34 times
מְּעָ֔טa little
meatH4592 →
וְהֵ֖מָּהand they
vehemahH1992 →553 times
עָזְר֥וּthey have helped
ʾazeruH5826 →
לְרָעָֽה׃for evil
leraahH7451 →662 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 54:8In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 31:3
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.
- Isaiah 60:10
Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Although I struck you in anger, yet in favor I will show you mercy.
- 1 Timothy 1:16
But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him…
- Ezekiel 39:23–24
And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity, because they were unfaithful to Me. So I hid My face from them and delivered them into the…
- Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has…
- Jeremiah 31:3
Through
Jeremiah 51:24Before your very eyes I will repay Babylon and all the dwellers of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion,” declares the LORD.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 50:15
Raise a war cry against her on every side! She has thrown up her hands in surrender; her towers have fallen; her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the LORD,…
- Revelation 18:24
And there was found in her the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who had been slain on the earth.
- Isaiah 63:1–4
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”
- Jeremiah 50:15
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
On this verse
On this chapter
About Zechariah
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 598: “Two Visions” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Zechariah; John Calvin, Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.