Zechariah 8

1 Again the word [message, utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] came to me, saying [to speak, to command]: word study 2 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people or things] says: “I am jealous [feel envious or resentful, zealous] for Zion [a mountain in Jerusalem, the city of God] with great [intense, abundant] zeal [passion, fervor]; I am jealous [protective, watchful] for her with great [intense, powerful] fervor [wrath, rage, intense anger].” word study 3 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “I will return [to turn back, to come again] to Zion [the mountain in Jerusalem] and dwell [to live, to reside] in Jerusalem [the city of peace]. Then Jerusalem [the city of peace] will be called [to be named, to be known as] the City of Truth [a city of faithfulness, a city of integrity], and the mountain [a hill] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [the Commander of the armies of angels] will be called [to be named, to be known as] the Holy Mountain [a sacred and set-apart place].” word study 4 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army] says: “Old men [elderly, advanced in years] and old women [elderly, advanced in years] will again [continue or happen again] sit along the streets [public areas or open spaces] of Jerusalem [the city of peace], each with a staff [support or walking stick] in hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] because of great age [abundance of days, a long life]. word study 5 And the streets [broad places, public areas] of the city [town, settlement] will be filled [made full, completed] with boys [youth, children] and girls [maidens, young women] playing [laughing, rejoicing] there [in its streets, openly].” word study 6 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army] says: “If this [what is happening] is impossible [a wonder, marvelous] in the eyes [the source of something] of the remnant [what is left after something has been destroyed] of this people [a nation, the Israelites] in these days [a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time], should it also be impossible [a wonder, marvelous] in My eyes [the source of something]?” declares [an utterance, a declaration from God] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army]. word study 7 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people or things] says: “I will save [deliver, rescue] My people [a nation, a group of individuals] from the land [country, territory] of the east [the direction of the sunrise] and from the land [country, territory] of the west [the direction of the sunset, the entrance of the sun]. word study 8 I will bring them back [from exile, to their homeland] to dwell [to live, to reside] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Israel], where they will be My people [My nation, My community], and I will be their faithful [trustworthy, loyal] and righteous [just, virtuous] God [Elohim, the one supreme God, in truth] [in truth and righteousness, with integrity and justice].” word study 9 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army] says: “Let your hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] be strong [to seize or conquer, courageous], you who now hear [listen and obey] these words [messages or things] spoken by the prophets [those who speak for God] who were present when the foundations [the base or starting point] were laid to rebuild [to establish or repair] the temple [a large public building, God’s dwelling place], the house [a dwelling place, including a family home or the human body] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army]. word study 10 For before those days [prior to this period, in earlier times] neither man [human, Adam] nor beast [animal, livestock] received wages [payment, hire], nor was there safety [peace, protection] from the enemy [adversary, affliction] for anyone who came [went out, traveled] or went [came in, arrived], for I had turned [caused to be, set] every man [individual, person] against his neighbor [fellow, companion, friend]. word study 11 But now [at this time, in these days] I will not treat [deal with, interact with] the remnant [what is left, the surviving ones] of this people [nation, community] as I did [as in the past, formerly] in the past [former days, previous times],” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. word study 12 “For the seed [of peace, planted in prosperity] will be prosperous, the vine [a grapevine] will yield its fruit, the ground [the land, the earth] will yield its produce, and the skies [heaven, the celestial realm] will give their dew [moisture, refreshing the land]. To the remnant [what is left, the surviving ones] of this people I will give [bestow, grant as an inheritance] all these things as an inheritance [a gift, a possession]. word study 13 As you have been a curse [a wish for harm, evil, or punishment] among the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples], O house of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah] and house of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], so I will save [deliver, rescue, set free] you, and you will be a blessing [a gift from God, bringing prosperity and praise]. Do not [in no way, never] be afraid [fearful, anxious]; let your hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] be strong [courageous, steadfast, empowered].” word study 14 For this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [army, a large group of people or things] says: “Just as I [purposed, planned with intention] resolved to bring disaster [evil, affliction] upon you when your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] provoked Me to anger [wrath, intense rage], and I did not relent [change My mind, show pity],” says the LORD of Hosts, word study 15 “so now [in these days, at this time] I have resolved [turned back, had a change of heart] to do good [to be pleasing, joyful] again to Jerusalem [the city of peace] and Judah [the tribe descended from Judah]. Do not [let not be] be afraid [fear, revere]. word study 16 These [specific, particular] are the things you must do: Speak [declare, communicate] truth [faithfulness, stability] to one another [each other, neighbors], render [execute, carry out] true [faithful, accurate] and sound [just, righteous] judgments [decisions, verdicts] in your gates [city entrances, places of judgment], word study 17 do not [devise, plan, or imagine] plot evil [bad, wicked, or morally wrong] in your hearts [the innermost part of a person, including their mind, will, and emotions] against your neighbor [a close friend, companion, or fellow human], and do not love [have affection for, or cherish] to swear falsely [make a false oath, or promise deceitfully], for I hate [intensely dislike, or despise] all these things [every one of these actions, or behaviors],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 18 Then the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] came [was given, existed] to me, saying [to speak, to command], word study 19 “This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army] says: The fasts [times of going without food, often for spiritual reasons] of the fourth, the fifth [referring to something in the fifth position], the seventh [describing something in the seventh position], and the tenth months will become times of joy [great happiness or celebration] and gladness [a feeling of great joy or celebration], cheerful [pleasant and enjoyable] feasts [appointed times for celebration] for the house [a dwelling place, including a family home or the people of Judah] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob]. Therefore you are to love [have affection for] both truth [faithfulness, stability, or God’s character] and peace [completeness, wellness, and friendship, or God’s reconciliation].” word study 20 This is what [thus, in this manner] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people] says: “Peoples [nations, a people or nation] will yet come [again, still, to approach]—the residents [inhabitants, those who dwell] of many [great, numerous] cities [towns, a place with a wall or a watchman]— word study 21 and the residents [inhabitants, dwellers] of one city will go [walk, proceed] to another, saying: ‘Let us go [speedily] at once to plead [entreat, pray] before the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] and to seek [search for, inquire of] the LORD of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. I myself [even I, also] am going [walking, proceeding].’ word study 22 And many [numerous, great] peoples [nations, Gentiles] and strong [mighty, powerful] nations [Gentile nations, large groups] will come [approach, enter] to seek [search for, entreat] the LORD [Yehovah, God] of Hosts [armies, large groups] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Palestine] and to plead [beg, entreat] before [in the presence of] the LORD [Yehovah, God].” word study 23 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army] says: “In those days [a figurative space of time] ten men [a group of male individuals] from the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew or non-Israeli people] of every tongue [language] will tightly grasp [take hold, seize] the robe [the skirt or edge] of a Jew [a person from the tribe of Judah], saying, ‘Let us go [walk, move] with you [together, in accompaniment], for we have heard [listened, given attention] that God [Elohim, the supreme God] is with you [in your presence, accompanying you].’” word study