Zechariah 7:10

KJV

And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

KJV (with Strong's)

And oppress {H6231} not the widow {H490}, nor the fatherless {H3490}, the stranger {H1616}, nor the poor {H6041}; and let none of you imagine {H2803} evil {H7451} against {H376} his brother {H251} in your heart {H3824}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Don't oppress widows, orphans, foreigners or poor people. Don't plot evil against each other.'

Berean Standard Bible

Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

American Standard Version

and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the sojourner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Zechariah 7:10 delivers a profound divine command, urging the post-exilic community to prioritize ethical righteousness and inner integrity over mere ritualistic observance. It calls for active protection of society's most vulnerable—widows, the fatherless, strangers, and the poor—by forbidding their oppression. Furthermore, it penetrates to the heart of human malice, prohibiting the internal plotting or devising of evil against one's fellow human being, emphasizing that true piety encompasses both external justice and internal purity of intention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Zechariah 7:10 is an integral part of God's response to a delegation from Bethel, who had come to Jerusalem to inquire whether they should continue their traditional fasts commemorating the destruction of the temple and the exile. Rather than directly addressing the fasting rituals, God, through Zechariah, redirects their attention to the true essence of His covenant demands: justice, mercy, and righteousness. This verse, following the direct commands for true judgment, mercy, and compassion in [Zechariah 7:9](/zechariah/7-9 "Zechariah 7:9 - God's Call to Justice and Mercy"), serves as a specific articulation of what genuine righteousness looks like in practice. Chapters 7 and 8 form a cohesive unit, contrasting the past disobedience that led to national calamity with God's vision for a restored community characterized by moral purity and social justice, promising future blessings contingent on their obedience.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is post-exilic Judah, around 518 BC, when the community was rebuilding the temple and re-establishing their national identity after returning from Babylonian captivity. The people were grappling with how to live faithfully under the restored covenant. In ancient Near Eastern societies, widows, orphans (fatherless), and strangers (sojourners) were particularly vulnerable groups, often lacking legal protection, familial support, or land rights. The poor were perpetually susceptible to exploitation. Laws throughout the Mosaic Covenant—such as those found in [Exodus 22:21-24](/exodus/22-21-24 "Exodus 22:21-24 - Laws Concerning the Vulnerable") and [Deuteronomy 24:17-22](/deuteronomy/24-17-22 "Deuteronomy 24:17-22 - Justice for the Marginalized")—repeatedly emphasized God's special concern for these groups, reflecting His own character as a defender of the defenseless. The prohibition against imagining evil in one's heart also speaks to a society where interpersonal relationships and community harmony were paramount, and internal malice could easily fester into destructive actions.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Zechariah and the broader prophetic tradition. Firstly, it underscores **God's unwavering concern for social justice and the protection of the vulnerable**. This theme is a consistent thread throughout the Old Testament, portraying Yahweh as the advocate for the oppressed, as seen in [Psalm 68:5](/psalm/68-5 "Psalm 68:5 - God, Father of the Fatherless and Defender of Widows"). Secondly, it highlights the importance of **internal righteousness and purity of heart** as foundational to true obedience. God is not merely concerned with outward actions but with the very intentions and thoughts that originate within the human heart. This anticipates the New Testament emphasis on inner transformation, as exemplified by Jesus' teachings in [Matthew 5](/matthew/5 "Matthew 5 - The Sermon on the Mount"). Finally, Zechariah 7:10 reinforces the prophetic message that **genuine obedience to God's moral law takes precedence over ritualistic observance**. The prophet, like Isaiah ([Isaiah 1:10-17](/isaiah/1-10-17 "Isaiah 1:10-17 - God's Call for True Worship")) and Amos ([Amos 5:21-24](/amos/5-21-24 "Amos 5:21-24 - God Desires Justice, Not Just Ritual")), reminds the people that God desires mercy and justice more than sacrifices or fasts.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Oppress (Hebrew, _ʻâshaq'_):** Derived from H6231, this term signifies more than mere discomfort; it means "to press upon," "to defraud," "to violate," or "to get deceitfully." It implies a deliberate, often systemic, act of exploitation, extortion, or unjust treatment, especially against those who are powerless to resist. It speaks to a perversion of justice where the stronger party takes advantage of the weaker.
* **Stranger (Hebrew, _gêr'_):** From H1616, this word refers to "a guest," and by implication, "a foreigner," "alien," or "sojourner." In ancient Israel, a _gêr_ was a non-Israelite resident who lived among the community, often without land or tribal affiliation, and was therefore dependent on the hospitality and justice of the Israelites. God's law consistently commanded special care and protection for the _gêr_, reflecting Israel's own history as sojourners in Egypt.
* **Imagine (Hebrew, _châshab'_):** From H2803, this root means "to plait or interpenetrate," or "to weave," and figuratively, "to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense)." It indicates a deliberate mental effort to devise, plan, or scheme, not just a fleeting thought. When paired with "evil," it points to the premeditated formation of malevolent intentions.
* **Evil (Hebrew, _raʻ'_):** From H7451, this term is broad, encompassing "bad" or "evil" in both natural and moral senses. It can refer to adversity, calamity, harm, mischief, or wickedness. In the context of "imagining evil," it specifically denotes moral wickedness, malicious intent, or a plan to cause harm or distress to another.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor;":** This initial clause issues a direct, emphatic prohibition against the exploitation of society's most vulnerable members. "Oppress" (H6231) carries the weight of deliberate, unjust, and often violent exploitation. The list—widow, fatherless, stranger, poor—is a **merism**, representing all those who are marginalized, defenseless, and dependent on the justice and compassion of the community. It underscores God's deep concern for social equity and His identification with the disadvantaged, demanding that His people reflect His character by actively protecting rather than harming these groups.
* **"and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.":** This second clause shifts from external actions to internal intentions, revealing the depth of God's moral requirements. "Imagine evil" (H2803 H7451) means to plot, scheme, or devise malevolent plans. The phrase "against his brother" (H251) uses "brother" in a broad sense, referring to any fellow human being, particularly within the covenant community. The crucial addition "in your heart" (H3824) emphasizes that true righteousness is not merely about refraining from outward harmful acts, but about cultivating a pure inner life, free from malice, envy, or vengeful plotting. This command targets the very root of sin, highlighting that God judges intentions as much as actions.

#### Literary Devices
Zechariah 7:10 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. **Parallelism** is evident in the structure, contrasting outward actions ("oppress not") with inward intentions ("imagine evil"). This creates a comprehensive ethical demand, showing that God's law applies to both behavior and thought. The listing of "the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor" functions as a **merism**, a figure of speech in which a whole is represented by enumerating some of its parts. By naming these specific, archetypal vulnerable groups, the prophet implies a universal command to protect *all* who are disadvantaged or marginalized. Furthermore, the verse demonstrates **antithesis** by setting God's desired righteous conduct against the backdrop of the people's past disobedience, which led to the very fasts they were inquiring about. The command to not "imagine evil against his brother in your heart" also serves as a form of **hyperbole** or emphasis, pushing the ethical boundary beyond mere action to the very genesis of sin in the human mind, thereby demanding a profound level of moral integrity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Zechariah 7:10 profoundly articulates God's unchanging character and His covenant expectations for His people. It reveals a God who is not satisfied with superficial religious rituals but demands a genuine transformation of both outward conduct and inward disposition. This verse connects deeply to the broader biblical theme of divine justice and compassion, demonstrating that true worship of Yahweh is intrinsically linked to ethical living and the pursuit of righteousness in society. It underscores the principle that God's law is holistic, addressing not only actions but also the thoughts and intentions of the heart, laying the groundwork for a community that reflects His holiness and love.

* [Deuteronomy 10:18](/deuteronomy/10-18 "Deuteronomy 10:18 - God's Justice for the Vulnerable")
* [Micah 6:8](/micah/6-8 "Micah 6:8 - What the Lord Requires")
* [Proverbs 6:18](/proverbs/6-18 "Proverbs 6:18 - Things the Lord Hates")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Zechariah 7:10 remains powerfully relevant for believers today, serving as a timeless call to holistic righteousness. It challenges us to move beyond superficial religious observance and embrace a faith that actively seeks justice and cultivates purity of heart. In a world still marked by systemic oppression and interpersonal malice, this verse compels us to be advocates for the marginalized—the vulnerable, the voiceless, the exploited—in our communities and globally. This means not only refraining from causing harm but actively working to dismantle structures of injustice and extend practical compassion. Simultaneously, the command to guard our hearts against imagining evil reminds us that true spiritual formation begins within. It calls for constant self-examination, confession, and reliance on the Holy Spirit to transform our thoughts, motives, and intentions, ensuring that our inner life aligns with the outward expression of God's love and justice. It is a call to live with integrity, where our actions are rooted in a heart free from malice and filled with genuine love for our neighbor.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, or my community, be inadvertently or directly oppressing the vulnerable today, even in subtle forms?**
* **How does the command to "imagine no evil against his brother in your heart" challenge my daily thoughts and interactions?**
* **What practical steps can I take to advocate for justice and show compassion to the "widow, fatherless, stranger, and poor" in my sphere of influence?**
* **How does prioritizing inner purity and outward justice align with or challenge my current understanding and practice of faith?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of God listing specific vulnerable groups like "widow, fatherless, stranger, and poor"?**

Answer: The listing of "the widow, the fatherless, the stranger, and the poor" is highly significant because these groups consistently represented the most vulnerable and marginalized in ancient Israelite society, lacking the familial, legal, or economic protections that others enjoyed. God's repeated emphasis on their protection throughout the Mosaic Law (e.g., [Deuteronomy 24:17-22](/deuteronomy/24-17-22 "Deuteronomy 24:17-22 - Justice for the Marginalized")) highlights His own character as a just and compassionate defender of the defenseless. By specifically naming them, Zechariah underscores that true piety is not abstract but manifests in concrete acts of justice and mercy towards those most susceptible to exploitation, serving as a test of the community's faithfulness to God's covenant.

**Why does God emphasize "imagining evil in your heart" in addition to outward oppression?**

Answer: God emphasizes "imagining evil in your heart" because true righteousness extends beyond mere external actions to the very intentions and thoughts of the human mind. This command reveals God's holistic standard, where He judges not only what we do but also what we plot, scheme, or desire in our inner being. It teaches that the root of sin often lies in the heart's malicious intentions, even if they never materialize into outward acts. This principle anticipates Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, where He equates anger with murder and lust with adultery, demonstrating that sin originates in the heart ([Matthew 5:21-28](/matthew/5-21-28 "Matthew 5:21-28 - Jesus' Teaching on Anger and Lust")). This emphasis calls for a profound level of moral integrity and inner transformation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Zechariah 7:10 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. As the embodiment of God's righteousness and compassion, Jesus perfectly exemplified the commands given through Zechariah. He consistently demonstrated radical care for the marginalized and vulnerable, ministering to the sick, the poor, the outcasts, and those society deemed "strangers" or "sinners," as seen in His interactions throughout the Gospels (e.g., [Luke 4:18-19](/luke/4-18-19 "Luke 4:18-19 - Jesus' Mission Statement")). More profoundly, Jesus addressed the very root of the problem: the human heart. In His Sermon on the Mount, He taught that sin originates not just in outward acts but in the inner thoughts and intentions, warning against anger, lust, and malice (e.g., [Matthew 5:21-22](/matthew/5-21-22 "Matthew 5:21-22 - Jesus on Anger")). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Christ provides the means for true inner transformation, enabling believers to receive a new heart and a new spirit ([Ezekiel 36:26-27](/ezekiel/36-26-27 "Ezekiel 36:26-27 - A New Heart and Spirit")), empowering them by the Holy Spirit to live out the commands of justice and love, not merely as external obligations but as expressions of a renewed nature that genuinely seeks the good of others and imagines no evil against their brother ([Romans 13:10](/romans/13-10 "Romans 13:10 - Love Fulfills the Law")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 5:28

They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

Proverbs 22:22

¶ Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:

Proverbs 22:23

For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.

Psalms 21:11

For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, [which] they are not able [to perform].

1 John 3:15

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

Isaiah 1:23

Thy princes [are] rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

Psalms 72:4

He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.