Zechariah 7:12

Yea, they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

Yea, they made {H7760} their hearts {H3820} as an adamant stone {H8068}, lest they should hear {H8085} the law {H8451}, and the words {H1697} which the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635} hath sent {H7971} in his spirit {H7307} by {H3027} the former {H7223} prophets {H5030}: therefore came a great {H1419} wrath {H7110} from the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}.

Yes, they made their hearts as hard as a diamond, so that they wouldn't hear the Torah and the messages that ADONAI-Tzva'ot had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. This is why great anger came from ADONAI-Tzva'ot;

They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.

Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which Jehovah of hosts had sent by his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore there came great wrath from Jehovah of hosts.

Commentary

Zechariah 7:12 describes the profound stubbornness of the Israelites in the generations leading up to the Babylonian exile, highlighting their refusal to heed God's divine instructions and prophetic warnings. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of persistent disobedience.

Context of Zechariah 7:12

The prophet Zechariah delivered his messages after the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon, around 520-518 BC. The people were engaged in rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. In Zechariah chapter 7, a delegation from Bethel comes to inquire whether they should continue observing the fasts instituted during the exile to mourn the Temple's destruction. In response, the LORD, through Zechariah, redirects their focus from mere ritual to the true spiritual condition and actions He desires. He reminds them that their ancestors' actions, specifically their hard-heartedness and failure to practice justice and mercy, were the very reasons for the exile and the destruction they were now mourning. Verse 12 is a direct indictment of that past generation's spiritual rebellion.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Stubborn Disobedience: The core message is the extreme hardness of heart, likened to an "adamant stone," which prevented them from hearing and obeying God's commands. This was not ignorance, but willful rejection.
  • Divine Authority of God's Word: The verse emphasizes that the "law" and "words" were sent by the "LORD of hosts" through "his spirit by the former prophets." This highlights the divine origin and infallible authority of the messages delivered by earlier prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.
  • Consequences of Rebellion: The ultimate outcome of this persistent spiritual resistance was "a great wrath from the LORD of hosts." This demonstrates God's justice in holding His people accountable for their deliberate rejection of His will.
  • Importance of Hearing and Obeying: The verse implicitly underscores the necessity of a receptive heart to God's word, contrasting it with the destructive path of those who refuse to listen and obey, as seen in Jeremiah 7:24.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "adamant stone" translates from the Hebrew word shamir (ืฉึธืืžึดื™ืจ), which refers to a very hard, impenetrable substance, often identified as flint or diamond. This vivid imagery powerfully conveys the unyielding, unchangeable nature of their hearts. They had intentionally made themselves impervious to divine influence. The title "LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth, ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื” ืฆึฐื‘ึธืื•ึนืช) emphasizes God's supreme power and authority as the commander of heavenly armies, underscoring the gravity of defying such a sovereign God.

Practical Application

Zechariah 7:12 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual stubbornness. For believers today, it is a call to cultivate a soft and receptive heart to God's Word, rather than allowing pride or self-will to harden us. We are reminded that God's truth, whether found in the Scriptures or illuminated by the Holy Spirit, is for our good, and rejecting it carries serious spiritual consequences. Just as God's wrath came upon the disobedient in the past, so too does persistent rebellion against His will invite His righteous judgment. This verse encourages us to actively listen, learn, and apply God's law to our lives, seeking to please Him rather than clinging to our own ways.

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Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 36:16 (6 votes)

    But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till [there was] no remedy.

  • Nehemiah 9:29 (6 votes)

    And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

  • Nehemiah 9:30 (6 votes)

    Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands.

  • Ezekiel 11:19 (6 votes)

    And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

  • Ezekiel 36:26 (5 votes)

    A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

  • Acts 28:27 (5 votes)

    For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

  • Psalms 50:17 (4 votes)

    Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.