Zechariah 8:21

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

the inhabitants of one city will travel to another and say, "We must go to ask ADONAI's favor and consult ADONAI-Tzva'ot. I'll go too."

Berean Standard Bible:

and the residents of one city will go to another, saying: ‘Let us go at once to plead before the LORD and to seek the LORD of Hosts. I myself am going.’

American Standard Version:

and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Jehovah, and to seek Jehovah of hosts: I will go also.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the inhabitants^{H3427} of one^{H259} city shall go^{H1980} to another^{H259}, saying^{H559}, Let us go^{H3212} speedily^{H1980} to pray^{H2470} before^{H6440} the LORD^{H3068}, and to seek^{H1245} the LORD^{H3068} of hosts^{H6635}: I will go^{H3212} also.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Zechariah 8:21

Zechariah 8:21 is part of the larger section of the book of Zechariah that contains prophecies of restoration and hope for the people of Judah who have returned from exile in Babylon. This verse specifically paints a picture of a future where people from different cities will urgently travel to seek the presence of the Lord of hosts, indicating a time of spiritual renewal and fervor. The historical context is post-exilic Judah, around the late 6th century BCE, when the Jews were rebuilding their lives and their temple in Jerusalem after a period of captivity.

The themes present in this verse include:

1. **Communal Worship and Pilgrimage**: The mention of inhabitants from one city going to another to pray suggests a communal aspect to worship. It reflects a practice that may have been common in ancient Israel, where people would travel to central places of worship, such as Jerusalem, to offer sacrifices and prayers.

2. **Urgency and Zeal**: The word "speedily" conveys a sense of eagerness and urgency among the people to seek God's presence. This enthusiasm for worship and seeking the Lord indicates a revival of faith and a strong desire for divine connection among the post-exilic community.

3. **Unity and Solidarity**: The verse implies a unity among the people of different cities as they collectively decide to seek the Lord together. This reflects a breaking down of barriers between communities, fostering a sense of solidarity in faith.

4. **The Lord of Hosts**: The title "LORD of hosts" is used frequently in Zechariah and refers to God as the ruler of all powers, both heavenly and earthly. It emphasizes God's sovereignty and might, and in the context of this verse, it suggests that the people recognize and submit to God's supreme authority.

5. **Personal Commitment**: The personal commitment expressed in "I will go also" indicates a voluntary and individual decision to participate in the collective worship experience. It underscores the importance of personal piety alongside communal religious practice.

In summary, Zechariah 8:21 encapsulates a vision of a spiritually vibrant future for the people of Judah, characterized by a renewed commitment to worship, a sense of unity and shared purpose, and an eagerness to seek the Lord of hosts with urgency and personal devotion. This vision would have been particularly poignant for a people who had recently experienced the disruption of exile and were in the process of reestablishing their religious and national identity.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3427
   There are 980 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָשַׁב
   Transliteration: yâshab
   Pronunciation: yaw-shab'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry; (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.
   
2. Strong's Number: H259
   There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶחָד
   Transliteration: ʼechâd
   Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
   Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
   
3. Strong's Number: H1980
   There are 468 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָלַךְ
   Transliteration: hâlak
   Pronunciation: haw-lak'
   Description: akin to יָלַךְ; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively); (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, [phrase] be eased, enter, exercise (self), [phrase] follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), [phrase] greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, [idiom] more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), [phrase] send, speedily, spread, still, surely, [phrase] tale-bearer, [phrase] travel(-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, (way-) faring man, [idiom] be weak, whirl.
   
4. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3212
   There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָלַךְ
   Transliteration: yâlak
   Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
   Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2470
   There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָלָה
   Transliteration: châlâh
   Pronunciation: khaw-law'
   Description: a primitive root (compare חוּל, חָלָה, חָלַל); properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence (figuratively) to be weak, sick, afflicted; or (causatively) to grieve, make sick; also to stroke (in flattering), entreat; beseech, (be) diseased, (put to) grief, be grieved, (be) grievous, infirmity, intreat, lay to, put to pain, [idiom] pray, make prayer, be (fall, make) sick, sore, be sorry, make suit ([idiom] supplication), woman in travail, be (become) weak, be wounded.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
9. Strong's Number: H1245
   There are 215 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּקַשׁ
   Transliteration: bâqash
   Pronunciation: baw-kash'
   Description: a primitive root; to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after; ask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).
   
10. Strong's Number: H6635
    There are 463 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: צָבָא
    Transliteration: tsâbâʼ
    Pronunciation: tsaw-baw'
    Description: or (feminine) צְבָאָה; from צָבָא; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship); appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).