Zechariah 8:11

KJV

But now I [will] not [be] unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.

KJV (with Strong's)

But now I will not be unto the residue {H7611} of this people {H5971} as in the former {H7223} days {H3117}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But from now on, I will not treat the remnant of this people as I did before,' says ADONAI-Tzva'ot.

Berean Standard Bible

But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as I did in the past,” declares the LORD of Hosts.

American Standard Version

But now I will not be unto the remnant of this people as in the former days, saith Jehovah of hosts.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Zechariah 8:11 proclaims a pivotal shift in God's disposition towards the post-exilic remnant of Judah, declaring an end to the severe discipline and hardship of "former days" and inaugurating a new era of divine favor and blessing. This verse serves as a powerful oracle of hope, assuring the returned exiles that the Lord of hosts will no longer treat them with the punitive measures experienced during their captivity and initial struggles, but rather with mercy and restoration, signaling a profound reversal of their fortunes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Zechariah 8:11 is nestled within a larger block of prophecies (Zechariah 7-8) that address the people's questions about fasting and their future. Specifically, it follows a series of pronouncements in [Zechariah 8:9-10](/zechariah/8-9-10 "Zechariah 8:9-10 - Hardship in Former Days") which vividly describe the difficulties faced by the returned exiles: a lack of wages, insecurity from adversaries, and general hardship. Verse 11 introduces a stark contrast with the preceding verses, marked by the emphatic "But now," signaling a divine reversal of these adverse conditions. This verse begins a section (Zechariah 8:11-17) that outlines the specific blessings and moral imperatives accompanying God's renewed favor, culminating in a vision of Jerusalem as a city of truth and peace.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting for Zechariah 8:11 is the post-exilic period, roughly 520 BC, about 16 years after the first wave of Jewish exiles returned from Babylon under Zerubbabel and Joshua. They had begun rebuilding the Temple (as seen in [Ezra 3](/ezra/3 "Ezra 3 - Rebuilding the Temple Foundation")), but progress was slow due to opposition, economic hardship, and spiritual apathy. The "former days" refer to the seventy-year Babylonian captivity, a period of divine judgment for Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience, as prophesied by Jeremiah (e.g., [Jeremiah 25:11-12](/jeremiah/25-11-12 "Jeremiah 25:11-12 - Seventy Years of Desolation")). The returned remnant, though back in their land, still faced significant challenges, including crop failures, fear of enemies, and a sense of God's continued displeasure. This verse speaks directly into that context of lingering fear and hardship, offering a radical promise of change.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes within Zechariah and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Reversal and Restoration**. God, who brought judgment, now promises to bring unparalleled blessing, demonstrating His sovereign power to transform circumstances from scarcity and fear to prosperity and peace. It also highlights **Covenant Faithfulness**, as God, despite Israel's past failures and present struggles, chooses to honor His covenant promises to the "residue" or remnant—those who survived the exile and returned to rebuild. This concept of a **Faithful Remnant** is crucial, as God's blessings are specifically directed towards this group who are striving to obey Him and rebuild His house. This promise of a new era of favor contrasts sharply with the "former days" of divine discipline, offering profound **Hope** to a people weary from suffering and striving. The prophetic message assures them that God's ultimate plan for His people is one of blessing, not perpetual judgment, echoing the sentiment found in [Lamentations 3:32](/lamentations/3-32 "Lamentations 3:32 - God's Compassion Endures").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Residue (Hebrew, _shᵉʼêrîyth'_):** H7611, meaning "a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion." This term is highly significant, referring specifically to the faithful remnant of Israel who survived the Babylonian exile and returned to Judah. It emphasizes that God's promise of restoration is not for the entire nation indiscriminately, but for those who have endured the discipline and are now present to rebuild. This "residue" represents the continuity of God's covenant people, through whom His promises will be fulfilled.
* **Former (Hebrew, _riʼshôwn'_):** H7223, meaning "first, in place, time or rank; ancestor, before(-time), beginning, eldest, former." This word, paired with "days" (H3117), clearly delineates a past period. In this context, "former days" refers to the era of God's judgment and discipline, specifically the seventy years of Babylonian captivity and the subsequent difficult years immediately following the return, characterized by divine displeasure and hardship.
* **Saith the LORD of hosts (Hebrew, _nᵉʼum Yᵉhôvâh tsâbâʼ'_):** H5002 (oracle), H3068 (Jehovah), H6635 (hosts/armies). This phrase is a powerful divine declaration. _Nᵉʼum_ (oracle) signifies a direct, authoritative pronouncement from God. _Yᵉhôvâh_ (Jehovah/LORD) emphasizes God's self-existent, covenant-keeping nature. _Tsâbâʼ_ (hosts) highlights His supreme authority and power over all heavenly and earthly armies and events. Together, "Saith the LORD of hosts" underscores the absolute certainty, omnipotence, and unwavering commitment behind this promise of reversal and restoration. It is an unchangeable decree from the Sovereign of the universe.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But now I will not be unto the residue of this people":** This opening clause marks a dramatic turning point, indicated by the emphatic "But now." It signifies a decisive break from past patterns of divine interaction. The phrase "I will not be unto" indicates a change in God's disposition and active involvement. His previous posture of judgment and withdrawal of blessing will cease. The focus on "the residue of this people" highlights God's specific attention to the faithful remnant who have returned from exile, distinguishing them from the broader, disobedient nation of the past.
* **"as in the former days":** This phrase directly contrasts the future with the past. "The former days" unequivocally refers to the period of God's severe discipline, including the Babylonian exile and the subsequent years of hardship and struggle faced by the returned exiles. During this time, God's presence was experienced as punitive, and His blessings were withheld. This clause promises an end to that punitive relationship and the beginning of a new, benevolent one.
* **"saith the LORD of hosts":** This concluding declaration authenticates the entire promise. It is not merely a human hope or a prophet's wish, but a solemn, authoritative pronouncement directly from God Himself. The title "LORD of hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth) emphasizes God's omnipotence and His absolute control over all creation, ensuring that His word will be fulfilled with irresistible power. This divine signature guarantees the certainty and immutability of the promised reversal of fortune.

#### Literary Devices
Zechariah 8:11 employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is **Contrast**, specifically a temporal contrast, highlighted by the phrase "But now" juxtaposed with "as in the former days." This sharp distinction signals a dramatic shift in God's relationship with His people, moving from a past of judgment and hardship to a future of favor and blessing. This contrast serves to emphasize the radical nature of God's mercy and His power to reverse circumstances. The verse also functions as a **Divine Oracle**, explicitly marked by the concluding phrase "saith the LORD of hosts." This formulaic expression lends absolute authority and certainty to the prophecy, indicating that the words are a direct, infallible pronouncement from God Himself, not merely human speculation. Furthermore, there is an element of **Remnant Theology**, as the promise is specifically directed to "the residue of this people," underscoring the biblical concept that God preserves a faithful portion of His people through whom His redemptive purposes continue.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Zechariah 8:11 powerfully articulates the theological truth of God's redemptive mercy and His unwavering covenant faithfulness, even in the face of His people's past disobedience. It demonstrates that divine discipline, though severe, is not God's final word; rather, His ultimate intention for His repentant remnant is restoration and blessing. This verse reveals a God who is sovereign over historical circumstances, capable of reversing fortunes and initiating new seasons of favor. It underscores the principle that while sin brings judgment, repentance and a return to God's ways open the door for His compassionate intervention and the outpouring of His promised blessings. This profound shift from judgment to grace is a testament to God's enduring love and His commitment to His chosen people, ensuring that His ultimate purposes for them will prevail.

* [Jeremiah 29:10](/jeremiah/29-10 "Jeremiah 29:10 - God's Plans for Restoration After Exile")
* [Zechariah 8:12](/zechariah/8-12 "Zechariah 8:12 - Promised Blessings of Prosperity")
* [Isaiah 43:18-19](/isaiah/43-18-19 "Isaiah 43:18-19 - Forget the Former Things, Behold the New")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Zechariah 8:11 offers profound encouragement for believers today, reminding us that God is a God of new beginnings and radical turnarounds. Just as He reversed the fortunes of the weary Jewish remnant, He is capable of transforming our personal circumstances, our communities, and even our nations. This verse calls us to trust in God's sovereign power to change what seems unchangeable and to believe in His merciful heart to bring blessing out of barrenness. It challenges us to look beyond our "former days" of struggle, failure, or discipline, and to embrace the "now" of God's present and future favor. It teaches us that obedience and faithfulness, even in hardship, position us to receive God's promised restoration. For those who feel stuck in a cycle of difficulty or consequences, Zechariah 8:11 is a powerful reminder that God's grace can inaugurate a new season where His presence is experienced not in judgment, but in abundant blessing and peace, truly working all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, as affirmed in [Romans 8:28](/romans/8-28 "Romans 8:28 - God Works All Things for Good").

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "former days" in your life or the life of your community might God be promising to reverse "now"?**
* **How does the title "LORD of hosts" strengthen your confidence in God's ability to fulfill His promises of restoration?**
* **In what areas do you need to trust God for a new season of favor and blessing, moving beyond past hardships or disappointments?**
* **How does being part of God's "residue" or faithful remnant encourage you in your walk with Him?**

### FAQ
**What does "the residue of this people" mean in Zechariah 8:11?**

Answer: "The residue of this people" (Hebrew: *shᵉʼêrîyth*) refers to the faithful remnant of the Jewish people who survived the Babylonian exile and returned to Jerusalem and Judah. This group, though small and struggling, represented the continuation of God's covenant people. God's promise of a new era of blessing and favor is specifically directed towards them, distinguishing them from the broader, disobedient nation that had faced severe judgment in the "former days." It underscores the biblical concept that God always preserves a faithful core through whom His redemptive plan continues, as seen throughout prophetic literature, such as in [Isaiah 10:20-22](/isaiah/10-20-22 "Isaiah 10:20-22 - The Remnant Will Return").

**How does Zechariah 8:11 relate to the rebuilding of the Temple?**

Answer: Zechariah 8:11 is deeply intertwined with the rebuilding of the Temple. The prophecies in Zechariah (and Haggai) were given to encourage the returned exiles to complete the Temple, which had stalled due to opposition and apathy. The "former days" described in [Zechariah 8:9-10](/zechariah/8-9-10 "Zechariah 8:9-10 - Hardship During Temple Rebuilding") explicitly mention the hardship they faced "before these days of the laying of the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts." God's promise in verse 11 to reverse their fortunes was a direct incentive and assurance that their labor in rebuilding the Temple would now be met with divine favor and prosperity, rather than continued hardship. It was a promise that God's presence would return and bless their efforts.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Zechariah 8:11, with its promise of a divine reversal from judgment to blessing for the faithful remnant, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the immediate context points to the physical restoration of Israel after the exile, the deeper theological trajectory of God's new covenant of grace is fully realized in Him. The "former days" of the Old Covenant, characterized by the Law's inability to bring perfect righteousness and the constant cycle of sin and judgment, are superseded by the "now" of Christ's finished work. Through His atoning sacrifice, Jesus became the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), ushering in a new era where believers are no longer under the condemnation of the Law but under grace ([Romans 6:14](/romans/6-14 "Romans 6:14 - Not Under Law, But Under Grace")). The "residue of this people" expands to include all who, by faith, become part of the spiritual remnant, the church, whether Jew or Gentile ([Romans 9:6-8](/romans/9-6-8 "Romans 9:6-8 - Not All Israel Is Israel")). In Christ, God's disposition towards His people is eternally fixed in favor, not based on their fluctuating obedience but on Christ's perfect righteousness ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")). The blessings promised in Zechariah, though initially temporal, foreshadow the spiritual abundance, peace, and eternal life that believers possess in Christ, the ultimate "LORD of hosts" who guarantees the fulfillment of every divine promise ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "2 Corinthians 1:20 - All God's Promises Are Yes in Christ")).

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

Isaiah 12:1

¶ And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

Haggai 2:19

Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless [you].

Psalms 103:9

He will not always chide: neither will he keep [his anger] for ever.

Zechariah 8:8

And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

Zechariah 8:9

¶ Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which [were] in the day [that] the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

Malachi 3:9

Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.

Malachi 3:11

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.