Zechariah 8:15
in Zechariah 8“so now I have resolved to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
so again have I thought in these days to do good unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
KJV
So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
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This verse in Zechariah 8
Commentary
6 notes on this verseSo again,.... Or "so I am returned" (n), as in Zec 8:3, have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah; by bestowing the above mentioned blessings on them; and as Jehovah has thought, so it comes to pass, and as he has purposed, so it stands; whatever he determines shall be, as for evil, so for good, Isa 14:24, fear ye not; as in Zec 8:13. (n) כן שבתי "sic conversus sum", Pagninus, Montanus, Calvin; "ita conversus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "reversus sum", Burkius.
This site's exposition
Just as I resolved to bring disaster upon you
on Zechariah 8:14-15
The LORD states his change of purpose. As he once “resolved to bring disaster” and “did not relent”, “so now I have resolved to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah”. Clarke notes the parallel construction, the same resolve that held in judgment now set on good.
This site's exposition
so now I have resolved to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah
Gill notes that the verb can be read as a turning again, the word of the Lord's return to Zion in verse 3. What the Lord purposes stands. Dionysius, quoted by Barnes, called this God speaking after the manner of men.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 13 and following) And it shall be, as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, let your hands be strong. For thus says the Lord of hosts: Just as I purposed to afflict you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, says the Lord, and I did not relent, so now I have purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Note, God's punishing sinners is never a sudden and hasty resolve, but is always the product of thought, and there is a counsel in that part of the will of God. If the sinner turn not, God will not turn. (2.) Now that they pleased him with their services; he said that he would do them good; and will he not be as true to his promises as he was to his threatenings?
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
So have I turned and purposed in these days to do well unto Jerusalem - Dionysius: “God, to be better understood, speaketh with the feelings and after the manner of men, although, in the passionless and unchangeable God, there is no provocation to anger, nor turning, implying change in Himself.” So He says by Jeremiah, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil” Jer 29:
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
and I did not repent of what I had planned to bring upon you, [or] retract it; but I brought it. Neither will I repent of the good that I have planned for you.
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. 7 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
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כֵּ֣ן | ken | so | H3651 → | 771 times |
| שַׁ֤בְתִּי | shavti | I have returned | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| זָמַ֙מְתִּי֙ | zamamti | I have planned | H2161 → | 13 times |
| בַּיָּמִ֣ים | baiyamim | in the days | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| הָאֵ֔לֶּה | haeleh | <the> these | H428 → | 746 times |
| לְהֵיטִ֥יב | leheitiv | to do good to | H3190 → | |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם | yerushalim | Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| בֵּ֣ית | beit | [the] house of | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| יְהוּדָ֑ה | yehudah | Judah | H3063 → | 819 times |
| אַל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תִּירָֽאוּ׃ | tirau | you be afraid | H3372 → | 315 times |
כֵּ֣ןso
kenH3651 →771 times
שַׁ֤בְתִּיI have returned
shavtiH7725 →1056 times
זָמַ֙מְתִּי֙I have planned
zamamtiH2161 →13 times
בַּיָּמִ֣יםin the days
baiyamimH3117 →2304 times
הָאֵ֔לֶּה<the> these
haelehH428 →746 times
לְהֵיטִ֥יבto do good to
leheitivH3190 →
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םJerusalem
yerushalimH3389 →643 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
בֵּ֣ית[the] house of
beitH1004 →2046 times
יְהוּדָ֑הJudah
yehudahH3063 →819 times
אַל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תִּירָֽאוּ׃you be afraid
tirauH3372 →315 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
Luke 12:32Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.
it leads to
- Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
- 1 Peter 1:3–5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
- Revelation 1:6
who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
- Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
- Luke 10:21
At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them…
- Hebrews 12:28
Through
Zechariah 8:13As you have been a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid; let your…
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- Zechariah 8:9
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Let your hands be strong, you who now hear these words spoken by the prophets who were present when the foundations were laid to rebuild the…
- Psalms 72:17
May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Zechariah
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonPatriarchsJudahJacob's fourth son who pledges himself for Benjamin; the tribe that carries the scepter to Shiloh (49:10) and the line to Christ (…
- PlaceJerusalemJerusalemThe city David took from the Jebusites and made his capital, where Solomon built the temple, where Christ was crucified and rose,…
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jerome, Commentary on Zechariah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.