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Zechariah 1:17

in Zechariah 1

Proclaim further that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘My cities will again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

Cry yet again, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: My cities shall yet overflow with prosperity; and Jehovah shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

KJV

Cry yet, saying, Thus saith 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.

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This verse in Zechariah 1

Commentary

9 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jerome

Commentary on Zechariah · Written before 420.

(Verse 17.) Still cry out, saying: Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall still overflow with goods, and the Lord shall still comfort Zion, and shall still choose Jerusalem. LXX: And the angel who spoke in me said: Still cry out, saying: Thus says the Lord Almighty: Still cities shall be spread with goods, and the Lord shall still have mercy on Zion, and shall still choose Jerusalem.

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 Awakening2 voices

Cry yet, saying,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

The Lord, even the Lord of hosts, assures them, [1.] That the temple shall be built that is now but in the building. This good work which they are now about, though it meet with much discouragement, shall be perfected, and they shall have the tokens of God's presence, and opportunities of conversing with him, and worshipping him, as formerly.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

Cry yet - A further promise; not only should Jerusalem be rebuilt, but should as we say, overflow with good ; and God, who had seemed to cast off His people, should yet comfort her, and should show in act that He had chosen her. “love.” In all the cases, which Gesenius cites as meaning “love” Gen 6:2; 1Sa 20:30; 2Sa 15:15; Pro 1:29; Pro 3:31; Isa 1:29, the sense would be injured by rendering, “loved”) Zechariah thrice repeats the promise, given through Isaiah Isa 14:1 to Jerusalem, before her wasting by the Chaldaeans, reminding the people thereby, that the restoration, in the dawn whereof they lived, had been promised two centuries before.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

Abundance of fruits of the earth, corn and wine, and a large increase of citizens, are meant; also spiritual prosperity. comfort Zion-- (Isa 40:1, 2; 51:3). choose-- (Zec 2:12; Here meaning, "show by acts of loving-kindness that He has chosen." His immutable choice from everlasting is the fountain whence flow all such particular acts of love.

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens

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?
2 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century2 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.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

By cities - shall yet be spread abroad - The whole land of Judea shall be inhabited, and the ruined cities restored.

The words behind it

19 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • ע֣וֹד׀again

    odH5750 →490 times

  • קְרָ֣אproclaim

    kera'H7121 →733 times

  • לֵאמֹ֗ר<to> saying

    lemorH559 →5305 times

  • כֹּ֤הthus

    kohH3541 →577 times

  • אָמַר֙he says

    ʾamarH559 →5305 times

  • יְהוָ֣הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • צְבָא֔וֹתof hosts

    tzevaotH6635 →485 times

  • ע֛וֹדagain

    odH5750 →490 times

  • תְּפוּצֶ֥ינָהthey will overflow

    tefutzeinahH6327 →

  • עָרַ֖יcities my

    ʾaraiH5892 →1090 times

  • מִטּ֑וֹבfrom good

    mitovH2896 →538 times

  • וְנִחַ֨םand he will comfort

    venichamH5162 →108 times

  • יְהוָ֥הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • עוֹד֙again

    ʾodH5750 →490 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • צִיּ֔וֹןZion

    tziyonH6726 →154 times

  • וּבָחַ֥רand he will choose

    uvacharH977 →171 times

  • ע֖וֹדagain

    odH5750 →490 times

  • בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ ס<in> Jerusalem

    birushalimH3389 →643 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Psalms 125:1Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever.15 worksIsaiah 14:1For the LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again He will choose Israel and settle them in their own land. The foreigner will join them and unite with the house of Jacob.8 worksIsaiah 51:3For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.7 worksZechariah 3:2And the LORD said to Satan: “The LORD rebukes you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you! Is not this man a firebrand snatched from the fire?”7 worksZechariah 2:12And the LORD will take possession of Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and He will once again choose Jerusalem.6 worksZechariah 2:4and said to him, “Run and tell that young man: ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the multitude of men and livestock within it.6 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Isaiah 66:13As a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you, and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.”4 worksPsalms 69:35For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.4 worksIsaiah 61:4–6They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.4 worksJeremiah 32:43–44And fields will be bought in this land about which you are saying, ‘It is a desolation, without man or beast; it has been delivered into the hands of the Chaldeans.’4 worksZephaniah 3:15–17The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm.4 worksIsaiah 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.4 worksIsaiah 44:26who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’4 worksEzekiel 36:10–11I will multiply the people upon you—the house of Israel in its entirety. The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.4 works2 Chronicles 6:6But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’4 worksJeremiah 33:13In the cities of the hill country, the foothills, and the Negev, in the land of Benjamin and the cities surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD.3 worksIsaiah 40:1–2“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.3 worksPsalms 132:13–14For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His home:3 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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 66:13

    As a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you, and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.”

    it leads to

    • 2 Corinthians 1:4

      who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.

    • Isaiah 51:3

      For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness…

    • Isaiah 40:1

      “Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.

    • 1 Thessalonians 2:7

      On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.

  • Through

    Isaiah 51:3

    For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness…

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 49:13

      Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.

    • Isaiah 52:9

      Break forth in joy, sing together, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem.

    • Joel 2:3

      Before them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—surely nothing will escape them.

  • Through

    Psalms 69:35

    For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah, that they may dwell there and possess it.

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 44:26

      who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I…

Where this verse is studied

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About Zechariah

Zechariah's Vision of Four Chariots, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Zechariah's Vision of Four Chariots, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Zechariah: the study guide →Read Zechariah 1 →

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) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Zechariah 1 →