TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Zechariah 8:9–17. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
God, by the prophet, here gives further assurances of the mercy he had in store for Judah and Jerusalem. Here is line upon line for their comfort, as before there was for their conviction. These verses contain strong encouragements with reference to the difficulties they now laboured under. And we may observe,
I.Who they were to whom these encouragements did belong - to those who, in obedience to the call of God by his prophets, applied in good earnest to the building of the temple (Zac 8:9): "Let your hands be strong, that are busy at work for God, you that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, and are not disobedient to them as your fathers were, in the former days, to the words of those prophets that were sent to them. You may take the comfort of the promises, and shall have the benefit of them, who have obeyed the precepts given you in the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, when you were told that, having begun with it, you must go on, that the temple might be built; God told you that you must go on with it, and you have laboured hard at it for some time, in obedience to the heavenly vision. Now you are those whose hands must be strengthened and whose hearts must be comforted, with these precious promises; to you is the word of this consolation sent." Note, Those, and those only, that are employed for God, may expect to be encouraged by him; those who lay their hands to the plough of duty shall have them strengthened with the promises of mercy; and those who avoid their fathers' faults, not only cut off the entail of the curse, but have it turned into a blessing.
II.What the discouragements were which they had hitherto laboured under, Zac 8:10.
These are mentioned as a foil to the blessings God was now about to bestow upon them, to make them appear the more strange, to the glory of God, and the more sweet, to their comfort. The truth was the times had long been very bad, and the calamities and difficulties of them were many and great.
1.Trade was dead; there was nothing to be done and therefore nothing to be got. Before these days of reformation began there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beasts. The fruits of the earth (though it had long lain fallow, and therefore, one would think, should have been the more fertile) were thin and poor, so that the husbandman had no occasion to hire harvest people to reap his corn, nor teams to carry it home, for he could be scarcely said to have any. Merchants had no goods to import or export, so that they needed not to hire either men or beasts; hence the poor people, who lived by their labour, had no way of getting bread for themselves and their families.
2.Travelling was dangerous, so that all commerce both by sea and land was cut off; nay, none durst stir abroad so much as to visit their friends, for their was no peace to him that went out, or came in, because of the affliction. The Samaritans, and Ammonites, and their other evil neighbours, made inroads upon them in small parties, and seized all they could lay their hands on; the roads were infested with highwaymen, and both city and country with housebreakers; so that neither men's persons nor their goods were safe at home or abroad.
3.There was no such thing as friendship or good neighbourship among them: I set all men every one against his neighbour. In this there was a great deal of sin, for these wars and fightings came from men's lust, and this God was not the author of; but there was in it a great deal of misery also, and so God was in it a just avenger of their disobedience to him; because they were of an evil spirit towards him, a spirit of contradiction to his laws, God sent among them an evil spirit, to make them vexatious one to another. Those that throw off the love of God forfeit the comfort of brotherly love.
III.What encouragement they shall now have to proceed in the good work they are about, and to hope that it shall yet be well with them:
"Thus and thus you have been harassed and afflicted, but now God will change his way towards you, Zac 8:11. Now that you return to your duty God will comfort you according to the time that he has afflicted you; the ebbing tide shall flow again." 1. God will not proceed in his controversy with them; I will not be to them as in the former days. Note, It is with us well or ill according as God is to us; for every creature is that to us which he makes it to be. And, if we walk not contrary to God as in the former days, he will not walk contrary to us as in the former days; for it is only with the froward that he will wrestle. 2. They shall have great plenty and abundance of all goods things (Zac 8:12): The seed sown shall be prosperous, and yield a great increase; the vine shall give her fruit, which makes glad the heart, and the ground its products, which strengthen the heart; they shall have all they can desire, not only for necessity, but for ornament and delight. The heavens shall give their dew, without which the earth would not yield her increase, which is a constant intimation to us of the beneficence of the God of heaven to men on earth and of their dependence on him. It is said of a sweeping rain that it leaves no food (Pro 28:3); but here the gentle dew waters the earth, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. And thus God will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. They are but a remnant, a residue, very few, one would think scarcely worth looking after; but, now that they are at work for God, he will take care that they shall want nothing which is fit for them. This confirms what the prophet's colleague had said, a little before (Hag 2:16, Hag 2:19), From this day will I bless you. Note, God's people, that serve him faithfully, have great possessions. "All is yours, for you are Christ's." 3. They shall recover their credit among their neighbours (Zac 8:13): You were a curse among the heathen. Every one censured and condemned them, spoke ill of them, and wished ill to them, upon the account of the great disgrace that they were under; some think that they were made a form of execration, so that if a man would load his enemy with the heaviest curse he would say, God make thee like a Jew! "But now, I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Your restoration shall be as much taken notice of to your honour as ever your desolation and dispersion were to your reproach; you shall be applauded and admired as much as ever you were vilified and run down, shall be courted and caressed as much as ever you were slighted and abandoned." Most men smile or frown upon their neighbours according as Providence smiles or frowns upon them; but those whom God plainly blesses as his own, shows favour to and puts honour upon, we ought also to respect and be kind to. The blessed of the Lord are the blessing of the land, and should be so accounted by us. This is here promised to the house both of Israel and Judah; for many of the ten tribes returned out of captivity with the two tribes, and shared with them in those blessings; and, it is probable, besides what came at first, many, very many, flocked to them afterwards, when they saw their affairs take this turn. 4. God himself will determine to do them good, Zac 8:14, Zac 8:15. All their comforts take rise from the thoughts of the love that God had towards them, Jer 29:11. Compare these promises with the former threatenings. (1.) When they provoked him to anger with their sins, he said that he would punish them, and so he did; it was his declared purpose to bring destroying judgments upon them, and, because they repented not of their rebellions against him, he repented not of his threatenings against them, but let the sentence of the law take its course. 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? No doubt he will: "So again have I thought to do well to Jerusalem in those days, when you begin to hearken to the voice of God speaking to you by his prophets; and these thoughts also shall be performed."
IV.The use they are to make of these encouragements.
1.Let them take the comfort which these promises give to them: Fear you not (Zac 8:15); let your hands be strong (Zac 8:9); and both together (Zac 8:13), Fear not, but let your hands be strong.
(1.)The difficulties they met with in their work must not drive them from it, nor make them go on heavily in it, for the issue would be good and the reward great. Let this therefore animate them to proceed with vigour and cheerfulness.
(2.)The dangers they were exposed to from their enemies must not terrify them; those that have God for them, engaged to do them good, need not fear what man can do against them.
2.Let them do the duty which those promises call for from them, Zac 8:16, Zac 8:17. The very same duties which the former prophets pressed upon their fathers from the consideration of the wrath threatened (Zac 7:9, Zac 7:10) this prophet presses upon them from the consideration of the mercy promised: "Leave it to God, to perform for you what he has promised, in his own way and time, but upon condition that you make conscience of your duty. These are the things then that you shall do; this is your part of the covenant; these are the articles which you are to perform, fulfil, and keep, that you may not put a bar in your own door and stop the current of God's favours." (1.) "You must never tell a lie, but always speak as you think, and as the matter is, to the best of your knowledge: Speak you every man the truth to his neighbour, both in bargains and in common converse; dread every word that looks like a lie." This precept the apostle quotes (Eph 4:25), and backs it with this reason, We are members one of another. (2.) Those that are entrusted with the administration of public justice must see to it, not only that none be wronged by it, but that those who are wronged be righted by it: Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates. Let the judges that sit in the gates in all their judicial proceedings have regard both to truth and to peace; let them take care to do justice, to accommodate differences, and to prevent vexatious suits. it must be a judgment of truth in order to peace, and making those friends that were at variance, and a judgment of peace as far as is consistent with truth, and no further. (3.) No man must bear malice against his neighbour upon any account; this is the same with what we had Zac 7:10. We must not only keep our hands from doing evil, but we must watch over our hearts, that they imagine not any evil against our neighbour, Pro 3:29. Injury and mischief must be crushed in the thought, in the embryo. (4.) Great reverence must be had for an oath, and conscience made of it: "Never take a false oath, nay, love no false oath; that is, hate it, dread it, keep at a distance from it. Love not to impose oaths upon others, lest they swear falsely; love not that any should take a false oath for your benefit, and forswear themselves to do you a kindness." A very good reason is annexed against all these corrupt and wicked practices: "For all these are things that I hate, and therefore you must hate them if you expect to have God your friend." These things here forbidden are all of them found among the seven things which the Lord hates, Pro 6:16-19. Note, We must forbear sin, not only because God is angry at it, and therefore it is dangerous to us, but because he hates it, and therefore it ill becomes us and is a very ungrateful thing.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
(Verse 10.) Indeed, before those days there was no wages for humans, nor wages for animals, nor peace to the one entering and leaving because of the affliction. And I will send forth all people against their neighbors. They have all been reported to the future time, but better to the past, as it is in Hebrew, and the truth of the exposition will approve. Before the house of the Lord was founded, and the temple of the Lord was built, all your labor was in vain. And both men and animals in agriculture, in trade, and in various works, were frustrated in their empty efforts: outside there were adversaries, at home sedition disturbed the peace, and everywhere there was injustice due to the frequency of wars and domestic plots, while brother did not show faith to brother, and every kinship was hostile. Understanding this meaning, the prophet Haggai says: And now set your hearts from this day and beyond: before the stone was placed upon the stone in the temple of the Lord. When you approached a heap of twenty measures, there were ten; and you entered the winepress to press out fifty jugs, and there were twenty. I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of your hands, and there was no one among you who returned to me, says the Lord (Hag. 2:16-17): which we can also understand in the Church and in each of the believers. Indeed, before the house of God is laid as a foundation within us, and we are built up as a temple to God, and we hear from the Apostle; You are the temple of God: and the Holy Spirit dwells within you (II Cor. VI, 16), whatever good work we seemed to have, either rational, who are called humans, or simple, who are called beasts (for you will save humans and beasts, Lord (Ps. XXXV, 7)), it has no reward from God, and there are battles and conflicts within us, and everywhere there is tribulation without the peace of Christ, which he left with the apostles as he went to the Father (John XIV), and the Lord's saying is fulfilled in us: The enemies of a man are those of his own house (Micah VII, 6). For every brother supplants with supplanting; and every friend walks deceitfully, and a man mocks his brother, and does not speak the truth, their tongue has learned to speak lies. (Jeremiah IX, 4). But if we turn to Christ, and become his temple, immediately we will hear the Apostle proclaiming: Each one will receive their own reward according to their work. (I Corinthians III, 8).
Continue studying Zechariah 8:10 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
Zechariah 8:10 vividly portrays the desolate conditions experienced by the post-exilic community in Judah prior to God's promised restoration. It describes a period marked by severe economic hardship, a complete absence of security and societal peace, and pervasive internal strife, all attributed to divine judgment for their past disobedience and broken covenant relationship.
Context
Literary Context
Zechariah 8:10 stands within a remarkable chapter that pivots from past judgment to future blessing. The preceding verses (Zechariah 8:1-8) announce God's zealous return to Zion, promising to dwell among His people, gather them from exile, and restore Jerusalem. Verse 9 then introduces a call to action, urging the people to be strong in rebuilding the temple, reminding them that the foundation has been laid. Verse 10, therefore, serves as a stark contrast, recalling the grim reality of the recent past—the period before these new promises began to unfold and before the temple rebuilding gained momentum. It sets the stage for the glorious promises of peace, prosperity, and spiritual renewal that follow in Zechariah 8:11-17, emphasizing the profound transformation God is about to bring.
Historical & Cultural Context
The historical backdrop for Zechariah 8:10 is the challenging early post-exilic period, specifically the time between the return from Babylonian captivity (around 538 BC) and the renewed efforts to rebuild the Second Temple (around 520 BC). During this interim, the returned exiles faced immense difficulties. Economically, their land was unproductive, harvests failed, and there was little opportunity for gainful employment or trade, leading to widespread poverty. Culturally, the community was fragmented, facing internal disputes and external opposition from surrounding peoples who hindered their rebuilding efforts. The phrase "went out or came in" reflects the daily movement for work, trade, or travel, which was fraught with danger due to banditry, lack of governmental protection, and general lawlessness. This period of "affliction" was understood by the prophets as a consequence of God's disciplinary hand upon His people for their unfaithfulness, particularly their neglect of the temple and their continued sin, as seen in the complaints in Haggai 1:6.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Zechariah and the broader prophetic literature. It highlights the theme of Divine Judgment and its Consequences, demonstrating how God's discipline for disobedience manifests as economic barrenness, societal breakdown, and a pervasive lack of peace. It underscores the theme of Covenant Faithfulness and Unfaithfulness, showing the severe repercussions when Israel deviates from its covenant obligations, contrasting with the blessings promised for obedience in Deuteronomy 28. Furthermore, it sets a crucial Contrast between Desolation and Restoration, serving as a bleak "before" picture that magnifies the "after" picture of God's promised future blessings of peace, prosperity, and security described in Zechariah 8:11-12. The verse also implicitly touches on the theme of Sovereignty of God, as He declares, "I set all men every one against his neighbour," indicating His active role in both judgment and eventual restoration.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This term refers to wages, payment for labor, or gain. Its absence signifies severe economic stagnation and a lack of productive activity. The land was not yielding its produce, and there was no profitable work available for people or animals, leading to widespread poverty and destitution. It speaks to a complete breakdown of economic viability.
More than just the absence of conflict, shalom encompasses wholeness, well-being, prosperity, health, security, and harmonious relationships. The declaration "no peace" therefore indicates a total lack of these vital components of a flourishing society. It implies a state of pervasive insecurity, internal discord, and a general absence of the blessings of God.
This word denotes a narrow, tight place, often used figuratively to describe distress, trouble, anguish, or tribulation. It implies a state of being hemmed in, under pressure, and experiencing great difficulty. The "affliction" here is the overarching condition of hardship and distress that pervaded their lives, directly linked to God's judgment.
Verse Breakdown
"For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast;"
This opening clause establishes the economic desolation of the past period. "Before these days" refers to the time prior to the current prophetic word and the renewed temple building efforts. The lack of "hire" (wages or gain) for both humans and animals underscores a profound agricultural and economic depression. People could not earn a living, and even their working animals were unproductive, signifying a complete breakdown of the societal and economic infrastructure necessary for sustenance and prosperity.
"neither [was there any] peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction:"
This clause elaborates on the social and security dimensions of their distress. The phrase "went out or came in" is a merism, signifying all daily activities and movements. There was no "peace" (shalom) for anyone engaging in normal life, indicating a pervasive state of insecurity, danger, and unrest. This lack of shalom was directly "because of the affliction," the overarching tribulation and distress that God had brought upon them as a consequence of their sin.
"for I set all men every one against his neighbour."
This final clause reveals the ultimate cause and nature of the "affliction" and lack of peace: divine judgment. God explicitly states His active role in orchestrating the internal strife and animosity within the community. The phrase "I set all men every one against his neighbour" paints a picture of a society plagued by distrust, conflict, and disunity, where individuals were at odds with those closest to them. This internal division was a direct manifestation of God's disciplinary hand, intensifying their suffering and preventing any collective progress or peace.
Literary Devices
Zechariah 8:10 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of past desolation. The most prominent is Contrast, as this verse serves as a bleak "before" picture, sharply contrasting with the glorious "after" promises of peace, prosperity, and divine favor found in the subsequent verses of Zechariah 8. The phrase "no hire for man, nor any hire for beast" uses Hyperbole to emphasize the extreme economic barrenness, suggesting a near-total absence of productive labor and gain. Similarly, "no peace to him that went out or came in" utilizes Merism, where two opposing parts ("went out" and "came in") represent the whole of daily life and movement, underscoring the pervasive and utter lack of security. Finally, the declaration "I set all men every one against his neighbour" highlights Divine Agency, portraying God not as a passive observer but as the active orchestrator of their judgment, a powerful theological statement about His sovereignty over human affairs and the consequences of disobedience.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Zechariah 8:10 powerfully illustrates the theological principle that disobedience to God's covenant leads to severe consequences, including economic hardship, societal breakdown, and a loss of peace. This verse attributes the past suffering of the post-exilic community directly to God's disciplinary hand, emphasizing His sovereignty over both blessing and judgment. It serves as a stark reminder that true prosperity and security are not merely economic or political achievements but are ultimately gifts from God, contingent upon a right relationship with Him. The internal strife described ("every one against his neighbour") further highlights how a broken relationship with God inevitably leads to broken relationships among people, demonstrating the interconnectedness of spiritual and social well-being.
Reflection and Application
Zechariah 8:10 provides a sobering mirror for individuals and communities today. It reminds us that when we neglect our relationship with God, prioritize our own desires over His commands, or allow spiritual apathy to take root, the consequences can be profound and far-reaching. Just as the ancient Israelites experienced economic stagnation, a lack of peace, and internal conflict, so too can modern societies and personal lives suffer when divine principles are disregarded. This verse challenges us to examine the "hire" in our lives—are our labors truly fruitful, or are we experiencing a sense of emptiness and futility? Do we experience true "peace" in our homes, communities, and inner lives, or are we plagued by anxiety, division, and strife? The ultimate lesson is that genuine peace, prosperity, and harmonious relationships flow from a right standing with God. It calls us to repentance, to re-prioritize our spiritual foundations, and to actively seek reconciliation with God and with one another, trusting that His restoration brings true blessing.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "no hire for man, nor any hire for beast" mean in this context?
This phrase describes a severe economic depression and agricultural barrenness. "Hire" refers to wages, payment, or gain from labor. The verse indicates that there was no profitable work for people, and even their working animals were unproductive, meaning the land was not yielding its produce. This led to widespread poverty and a complete lack of economic opportunity for the post-exilic Jewish community before God's promised restoration, serving as a consequence of their disobedience and neglect of the temple rebuilding, as also lamented in Haggai 1:6.
How does "no peace to him that went out or came in" relate to the overall message?
This signifies a pervasive state of insecurity, danger, and social unrest. The phrase "went out or came in" is a common idiom representing all daily activities and movements. It means that daily life, travel, and commerce were fraught with peril. There was no safety or well-being (shalom) for anyone, whether they were leaving their homes for work or returning. This lack of peace was a direct result of the "affliction" (distress, tribulation) that God had brought upon them, highlighting a breakdown of law, order, and communal harmony.
Why did God "set all men every one against his neighbour"?
This statement reveals God's active role in their judgment. It indicates that the internal strife, distrust, and animosity within the community were not random occurrences but were divinely orchestrated as a consequence of their unfaithfulness and disobedience. God used this societal breakdown as a form of discipline, intensifying their suffering and demonstrating the severe repercussions of a broken covenant relationship. It underscores God's sovereignty over human affairs, including the consequences of sin, as also seen in other instances of divine judgment leading to internal conflict, such as Judges 7:22.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
While Zechariah 8:10 vividly depicts the consequences of Israel's unfaithfulness and the resulting desolation, it implicitly points to the ultimate need for a divine solution that only Christ can provide. The lack of "hire" and "peace" and the pervasive conflict among neighbors highlight humanity's inability to achieve true flourishing apart from God's intervention. Christ, as the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6), is the embodiment of the shalom that was so desperately absent in Zechariah's time. His coming brought not just the promise of peace with God through His atoning sacrifice (Romans 5:1), but also the means to achieve peace among people (Ephesians 2:14-16). Where human efforts failed to bring prosperity and harmonious relationships, Christ offers true spiritual "hire"—the abundant life and eternal reward for those who follow Him (John 10:10). The societal breakdown where "every one against his neighbour" finds its ultimate reversal in the new community of believers, the Church, where Christ breaks down dividing walls and calls His followers to love one another (John 13:34-35). Thus, Zechariah 8:10, in its portrayal of utter brokenness, serves as a powerful backdrop, magnifying the transformative and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who alone can bring true peace, reconciliation, and lasting prosperity to a fallen world.