TRV
- English
- King James KJV
- Complete Jewish CJB
- World English WEBM
- Berean Standard BSB
- American Standard ASV
- Geneva GNV
- Young's Literal YLT
- Douay-Rheims DRC
- International
- Shqip ALB
- العربية SVD
- বাংলা BN-IRV
- မြန်မာ Judson
- 简体文 CUV-S
- 繁體中文 CUV-T
- Čeština BKR
- Nederlands STVE
- Français LSG
- Deutsch SCH
- Ελληνικά Vamvas
- ગુજરાતી GU-IRV
- Hausa HCB
- עברית Hebrew
- हिन्दी HCV
- Magyar KAROLI
- Bahasa Indonesia INDO-TB
- Italiano Diodati
- 日本語 Kougo
- 한국어 Korean
- മലയാളം MAL
- मराठी MRCV
- Norsk DNB
- فارسی OPV
- Polski BG
- Português Almeida
- Română Cornilescu
- Русский Synodal
- Español RVG
- Kiswahili Neno
- Svenska SV1917
- Tagalog TAG-ADB
- தமிழ் TCV
- తెలుగు TSA
- ภาษาไทย THAI-KJV
- Українська Ohienko
- Tiếng Việt CADMAN
- Yorùbá YCB
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 16, 17) These are the words you shall do: Speak truth, each one with his neighbor. Give judgment of truth and peace in your gates. And let none of you think evil in your hearts against his neighbor. And love not a false oath. For all these are the things that I hate, says the Lord. LXX: These are the words you shall do: Speak truth, each one with his neighbor. Give judgment of peace and justice in your gates. And let none of you think evil against his neighbor in your hearts. And love not a false oath. For I hate all these things, says the Almighty Lord. I have promised that I will not abandon the remnants of the captive people and I will not act as I did in the past days. Just as I had planned to afflict them when their fathers provoked me to anger and I showed no mercy, now I have turned my thoughts to doing good to Jerusalem and the house of Judah. Therefore, in order to fulfill my purpose and not make my promises void, do these things that I command: Speak the truth with your neighbors. Let us embrace, as our nearest kin, the entire human race, for we are all descended from a single parent. Otherwise, whoever is the next closest relative should be considered, and one must lie to strangers and foreigners. The Apostle speaks of the same thing: 'Putting away lying, speak ye the truth every man with his neighbour' (Ephesians IV, 25). 'Judge ye the truth and the judgment of peace in your gates.' In judgment let truth and justice come first, and then mercy follows. For this is the judgment of peace, that the judge has the intention to reconcile the discordant, according to that Gospel: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God (Matthew 5:9). And what follows 'In your gates' is in agreement with that prophetic passage: They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth (Amos 5:10). And in another place: They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate (Psalm 129:6). David also judged in the gates, when Absalom, promising the truth of judgment, laid snares for his father (2 Samuel 19). And it is asked why among the Jews in the city gates there was a place for judgment. So that farmers would not be forced to enter the cities and incur any expense, judges would reside in the city gates in order to hear both urban and rural people entering and leaving the city, and once the matter was finished, each person would immediately return to their own homes. And the evil, he says, do not contemplate against your friends in your hearts: Raah (), which all voice consonant κακίαν, that is, malice, can be understood in two ways, both as affliction and as evil. Regarding affliction: If there is wickedness in a city that the Lord has not made (Amos III, 6). And: Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew VI, 34). Concerning evil, God speaks through the prophet Jonah: The outcry of their wickedness has come to me (Jonah I, 2). And in the Apostle, we read: They were filled with all unrighteousness and wickedness (Romans I, 29). Therefore, in both ways, one who is holy does not afflict his friend nor does he think of bringing harm upon him in his heart. And he said, 'Do not love a false oath: according to the commandment of the Lord in the Gospel: 'But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool...' (Matt. V, 34). For whoever does not swear, will never be able to perjure. Let the one who swears, hear what is written: 'You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain' (Exod. XX, 7). These are all the things that I hate,' says the Lord, according to the words of Malachi: 'And you have done all the things that I hate' (Mal. II, 13; sec. LXX). In the precepts pertaining to life, which are clear, we should not seek allegory, lest, in accordance with the Comic, we seek a knot in a reed.
Continue studying Zechariah 8:17 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 8:17 delivers a divine mandate to the restored community in Jerusalem, urging them to cultivate inner integrity and truthfulness as foundational elements for a blessed society. The LORD explicitly forbids the malicious plotting of evil against one's neighbor and the practice of false swearing, declaring these actions to be utterly detestable to His righteous character. This verse underscores that genuine faithfulness extends beyond outward observance to the purity of one's heart and the veracity of one's words, establishing the moral prerequisites for God's continued favor and the flourishing of His people.
Context
Literary Context
Zechariah 8:17 is situated within a pivotal section of the book (chapters 7-8) that transitions from the people's questions about fasting (chapter 7) to a series of glorious promises for Jerusalem's restoration and future prosperity (chapter 8). Following the exiles' return from Babylon, they were rebuilding the temple and their society amidst challenges and spiritual apathy. Chapter 7 recounts the LORD's rebuke for their past disobedience, emphasizing that their fasting was self-serving, not truly honoring God. Chapter 8 then offers a stark contrast, presenting ten specific promises of blessing and restoration for Zion, contingent upon their obedience. Verse 17 is part of a cluster of ethical commands (Zechariah 8:16-17) that immediately precede the promise that their fasts will be turned into joyful feasts (Zechariah 8:19), indicating that true spiritual revival and divine blessing are inextricably linked to moral uprightness and genuine righteousness in daily life.
Historical & Cultural Context
The post-exilic community in Jerusalem faced the immense task of re-establishing a society after decades of displacement and the destruction of their homeland. The commands in Zechariah 8:17 directly address issues critical for social cohesion and divine favor in ancient Israel. "Imagining evil in your hearts against his neighbour" speaks to the pervasive danger of internal malice and conspiracy within a vulnerable community, which could lead to strife and injustice. The prohibition against "false oath" was particularly significant in a society where oaths were solemn, legally binding declarations, often invoked in God's name. Perjury undermined the judicial system, destroyed trust, and defiled the divine name, a grave offense under the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 19:12). The LORD's strong declaration of hatred for these actions reflects the high value placed on truth, justice, and community harmony in the covenant relationship.
Key Themes
Zechariah 8:17 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Zechariah and the broader prophetic tradition. Firstly, it emphasizes the theme of Inward Purity and Heart Integrity. God's demand for righteousness extends beyond outward actions to the very intentions of the heart, a recurring motif throughout Scripture, as seen in the call to guard one's heart above all else. Secondly, the verse highlights the critical importance of Truthfulness and Justice in communal life. False oaths and malicious intent directly undermine the fabric of a just society, echoing the Mosaic Law's emphasis on honesty and fair dealings (e.g., Exodus 20:16). Thirdly, it powerfully reveals God's Moral Character. The declaration "for all these [are things] that I hate, saith the LORD" underscores God's active opposition to sin and His unwavering commitment to righteousness, truth, and love. This divine aversion to evil is a consistent theme, as articulated in passages like Proverbs 6:16-19. Finally, the verse contributes to the theme of Covenant Obedience as a Prerequisite for Blessing. The promised restoration and prosperity are not automatic but are contingent upon the people's adherence to God's moral standards, demonstrating that true national flourishing is rooted in spiritual and ethical faithfulness.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root means "to plait or interpenetrate," and figuratively, "to plot or contrive (usually in a malicious sense)." It implies a deliberate, premeditated mental activity, not merely a fleeting thought. In this context, it refers to the intentional formulation of harmful schemes or malevolent designs within the heart against another person.
This word denotes "an untruth," "deceit," or "falsehood." When applied to an oath, it signifies perjury – a deliberate lie made under a solemn vow, often invoking God's name. It emphasizes the intentional deception and betrayal of trust inherent in such an act.
This primitive root means "to hate (personally)." It conveys a strong, active aversion or detestation. When attributed to the LORD, it signifies His absolute moral opposition and abhorrence for the specified actions, revealing a fundamental aspect of His righteous nature.
Verse Breakdown
"And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour;"
This clause issues a direct, prohibitive command, targeting the very source of sin – the human heart. The emphasis is on the internal disposition, warning against the deliberate plotting or conceiving of malicious intentions, schemes, or harm towards one's fellow community member. It underscores that God's moral demands extend beyond outward actions to the inner thoughts and motives.
"and love no false oath:"
This second prohibition addresses the realm of speech and commitment. It forbids not merely the act of swearing falsely, but the very "love" or affinity for such deceitful practices. A false oath, or perjury, was a grave offense that violated truth, undermined justice, and profaned God's name, destroying trust within the community. The command implies a call to uphold absolute truthfulness and integrity in all declarations, especially those made under solemn vow.
"for all these [are things] that I hate, saith the LORD."
This concluding declaration provides the divine rationale and ultimate authority for the preceding commands. The LORD Himself explicitly states His profound detestation for malicious intent and deceitful swearing. This powerful statement reveals God's righteous character as one who is utterly opposed to injustice, falsehood, and malice, serving as a solemn warning and a clear standard for His people. The phrase "saith the LORD" (Hebrew: nᵉʼum_ _Yᵉhôvâh') underscores the divine origin and unchangeable nature of this pronouncement.
Literary Devices
Zechariah 8:17 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. The primary device is Imperative Mood, expressed through the prohibitions "let none of you imagine" and "love no," which convey direct, authoritative commands from God to His people. This creates a sense of urgency and non-negotiability regarding the ethical behavior required. Parallelism is evident in the two distinct but related prohibitions: imagining evil in the heart and loving false oaths. Both deal with internal disposition and external expression that violate truth and community harmony. The verse also features Divine Declaration ("saith the LORD"), which functions as an authoritative pronouncement, lending ultimate weight and solemnity to the commands and the divine hatred expressed. Finally, there is a subtle Metonymy or Synecdoche in the phrase "in your hearts," where the "heart" represents the totality of one's inner being, including thoughts, intentions, and moral character, emphasizing that true righteousness originates from within.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Zechariah 8:17 profoundly reveals God's unwavering moral character, emphasizing His absolute commitment to truth, justice, and the sanctity of human relationships. It teaches that true righteousness is not merely external conformity but stems from an inner purity of heart. God's declaration that He "hates" malicious thoughts and false oaths underscores His active opposition to all forms of sin that corrode trust and sow discord. This divine standard calls His people to reflect His character, fostering a community built on integrity, honesty, and genuine care for one another, which is essential for experiencing His promised blessings and dwelling in His presence.
Reflection and Application
Zechariah 8:17 serves as a timeless mirror for self-examination, challenging us to look beyond outward appearances to the hidden recesses of our hearts. In a world often characterized by superficiality and deceit, this verse reminds us that genuine faith demands integrity from the inside out. It calls us to actively resist the temptation to harbor ill will, resentment, or any form of malicious plotting against our neighbors, recognizing that such thoughts are anathema to God. Furthermore, it compels us to uphold an uncompromising commitment to truthfulness in all our words and commitments, understanding that our integrity reflects God's own character. By shunning falsehood and cultivating sincere intentions, we not only honor the LORD but also contribute to the building of trust, peace, and genuine community, embodying the righteousness that God desires for His people.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does God "hate" these specific actions?
God's "hatred" (H8130, sânêʼ) is not an emotional outburst akin to human malice, but rather a righteous, moral abhorrence. He hates these actions because they are antithetical to His very nature, which is characterized by truth, justice, and love. Imagining evil in the heart (H2803, châshab') against a neighbor undermines the love and unity He desires for His people, fostering discord and injustice. Loving a false oath (H8267, sheqer') directly violates truth and trust, profanes His holy name when invoked in a lie, and destroys the fabric of a just society. These actions are destructive to both individuals and communities, standing in direct opposition to God's good and perfect will. His hatred is a holy rejection of all that is evil and a fervent commitment to all that is righteous, as seen in other passages detailing the things the LORD detests.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Zechariah 8:17 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied the righteousness and truthfulness that God demands. Unlike humanity, who often struggles with malicious thoughts and deceitful words, Jesus' heart was pure, and His words were always true. He taught that true defilement comes not from what enters a person, but from what comes out of the heart, revealing the evil intentions that originate within. Jesus Himself never imagined evil against His neighbor; instead, He commanded His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, demonstrating the radical purity of heart Zechariah anticipates. Furthermore, as the embodiment of truth, Jesus declared, "I am the way, the truth, and the life", and His "yes" was always "yes" (2 Corinthians 1:20). He perfectly fulfilled the law's demands for integrity and truth, even to the point of His death on the cross, where He bore the hatred and falsehood of humanity. Through His atoning sacrifice and the indwelling Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to put off the old self, which is corrupted by deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of their minds, enabling them to live lives marked by genuine love, truth, and integrity, reflecting the very character of God that Zechariah 8:17 proclaims.