Focused Passage

Zechariah 1:7-17

Return to Me and the Comfort of Zion

From covenant summons, to night-vision intercession, to the LORD's promise of mercy, rebuilt worship, renewed comfort for Zion, and judgment on the powers that scattered Judah.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo.

8 I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.

9 “What are these, my lord?” I asked. And the angel who was speaking with me replied, “I will show you what they are.”

10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”

11 And the riders answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and tranquil.”

12 Then the angel of the LORD said, “How long, O LORD of Hosts, will You withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been angry these seventy years?”

13 So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me.

14 Then the angel who was speaking with me said, “Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion,

15 but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have added to the calamity.’

16 Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My house will be rebuilt, declares the LORD of Hosts, and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.’

17 Proclaim further that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘My cities will again overflow with prosperity; the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.’”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Original words

On the twenty-fourth עֶשְׂרִ֨ים H6242 Number - common plural . . . וְאַרְבָּעָ֜ה H702 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular day בְּיוֹם֩ H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of the eleventh לְעַשְׁתֵּֽי־ H6249 Preposition-l | Number - common singular construct . . . עָשָׂ֥ר H6240 Number - masculine singular construct month חֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ H2320 Noun - masculine singular - הוּא־ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular the month חֹ֣דֶשׁ H2320 Noun - masculine singular construct of Shebat שְׁבָ֔ט H7627 Noun - proper - feminine singular in the second שְׁתַּ֖יִם H8147 Number - fd year בִּשְׁנַ֥ת H8141 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of Darius לְדָרְיָ֑וֶשׁ H1867 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular the word דְבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular came הָיָ֣ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to אֶל־ H413 Preposition the prophet הַנָּבִ֖יא H5030 Article | Noun - masculine singular Zechariah זְכַרְיָה֙ H2148 Noun - proper - masculine singular son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Berechiah בֶּ֣רֶכְיָ֔הוּ H1296 Noun - proper - masculine singular the son בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct of Iddo עִדּ֥וֹא H5714 Noun - proper - masculine singular לֵאמֹֽר׃ לֵאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

BSB notes

  • Shebat is the eleventh month of the Hebrew lunar calendar, usually occurring within the months of January and February.
Verse 8

Original words

I looked out רָאִ֣יתִי׀ H7200 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular into the night הַלַּ֗יְלָה H3915 Article | Noun - masculine singular and saw וְהִנֵּה־ H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection a man אִישׁ֙ H376 Noun - masculine singular riding רֹכֵב֙ H7392 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition a red אָדֹ֔ם H122 Adjective - masculine singular horse ס֣וּס H5483 Noun - masculine singular He וְה֣וּא H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular was standing עֹמֵ֔ד H5975 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular among בֵּ֥ין H996 Preposition the myrtle trees הַהֲדַסִּ֖ים H1918 Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative in the hollow בַּמְּצֻלָ֑ה H4699 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular and behind him וְאַחֲרָיו֙ H310 Conjunctive waw | Preposition | third person masculine singular were red אֲדֻמִּ֔ים H122 Adjective - masculine plural sorrel שְׂרֻקִּ֖ים H8320 Adjective - masculine plural and white וּלְבָנִֽים׃ H3836 Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural horses סוּסִ֣ים H5483 Noun - masculine plural
Verse 9

Original words

What מָה־ H4100 Interrogative are these אֵ֣לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural my lord אֲדֹנִ֑י H113 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular I asked וָאֹמַ֖ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular And the angel הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ H4397 Article | Noun - masculine singular who was speaking הַדֹּבֵ֣ר H1696 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with me בִּ֔י Preposition | first person common singular replied וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֵלַ֗י H413 Preposition | first person common singular I אֲנִ֥י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular will show אַרְאֶ֖ךָּ H7200 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular you what מָה־ H4100 Interrogative they are הֵ֥מָּה H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural . . . אֵֽלֶּה׃ H428 Pronoun - common plural
Verse 10

Original words

Then the man הָאִ֛ישׁ H376 Article | Noun - masculine singular standing הָעֹמֵ֥ד H5975 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular among בֵּין־ H996 Preposition the myrtle trees הַהַדַסִּ֖ים H1918 Article | Noun - masculine plural . . . וַיֹּאמַ֑ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular explained וַיַּ֗עַן H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular They אֵ֚לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural are the ones אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular has sent שָׁלַ֣ח H7971 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to patrol לְהִתְהַלֵּ֖ךְ H1980 Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct the earth בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 11

Original words

And [the riders] answered וַֽיַּעֲנ֞וּ H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the angel מַלְאַ֣ךְ H4397 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular who was standing הָֽעֹמֵד֙ H5975 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular among בֵּ֣ין H996 Preposition the myrtle trees הַהֲדַסִּ֔ים H1918 Article | Noun - masculine plural . . . וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural We have patrolled הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּ H1980 Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - first person common plural the earth בָאָ֑רֶץ H776 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular and behold וְהִנֵּ֥ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection all כָל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the earth הָאָ֖רֶץ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular is at rest יֹשֶׁ֥בֶת H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular and tranquil וְשֹׁקָֽטֶת׃ H8252 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Verse 12

Original words

Then the angel מַלְאַךְ־ H4397 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָה֮ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said וַיֹּאמַר֒ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . וַיַּ֣עַן H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular How long עַד־ H5704 Preposition . . . מָתַ֗י H4970 Interrogative O LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֔וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural will You אַתָּה֙ H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular withhold mercy לֹֽא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle . . . תְרַחֵ֣ם H7355 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker from Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular - וְאֵ֖ת H853 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker and the cities עָרֵ֣י H5892 Noun - feminine plural construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֑ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular with which אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative You have been angry זָעַ֔מְתָּה H2194 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular these זֶ֖ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular seventy שִׁבְעִ֥ים H7657 Number - common plural years שָׁנָֽה׃ H8141 Noun - feminine singular
Verse 13

Original words

So the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker spoke וַיַּ֣עַן H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular kind טוֹבִ֑ים H2896 Adjective - masculine plural - דְּבָרִ֖ים H1697 Noun - masculine plural and comforting נִחֻמִֽים׃ H5150 Noun - masculine plural words דְּבָרִ֣ים H1697 Noun - masculine plural to the angel הַמַּלְאָ֛ךְ H4397 Article | Noun - masculine singular who was speaking הַדֹּבֵ֥ר H1696 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with me בִּ֖י Preposition | first person common singular
Verse 14

Original words

Then the angel הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ H4397 Article | Noun - masculine singular who was speaking הַדֹּבֵ֣ר H1696 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with me בִּ֔י Preposition | first person common singular said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֵלַ֗י H413 Preposition | first person common singular Proclaim קְרָ֣א H7121 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular this word לֵאמֹ֔ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct This is what כֹּ֥ה H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֑וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural says אָמַ֖ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular I am very גְדוֹלָֽה׃ H1419 Adjective - feminine singular jealous קִנֵּ֧אתִי H7065 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular . . . קִנְאָ֥ה H7068 Noun - feminine singular for Jerusalem לִירוּשָׁלִַ֛ם H3389 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular and Zion וּלְצִיּ֖וֹן H6726 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 15

Original words

but I אֲנִ֣י H589 Pronoun - first person common singular am fiercely angry וְקֶ֤צֶף H7110 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular . . . גָּדוֹל֙ H1419 Adjective - masculine singular . . . קֹצֵ֔ף H7107 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with עַל־ H5921 Preposition the nations הַגּוֹיִ֖ם H1471 Article | Noun - masculine plural that are at ease הַשַּֽׁאֲנַנִּ֑ים H7600 Article | Adjective - masculine plural For אֲשֶׁ֤ר H834 Pronoun - relative I אֲנִי֙ H589 Pronoun - first person common singular was a little מְּעָ֔ט H4592 Adjective - masculine singular angry קָצַ֣פְתִּי H7107 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular but they וְהֵ֖מָּה H1992 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural have added to עָזְר֥וּ H5826 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural the calamity לְרָעָֽה׃ H7451 Preposition-l | Adjective - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Or they have overdone the punishment
Verse 16

Original words

Therefore לָכֵ֞ן H3651 Adverb this is what כֹּֽה־ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֗ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular I will return שַׁ֤בְתִּי H7725 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular to Jerusalem לִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ H3389 Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular with mercy בְּֽרַחֲמִ֔ים H7356 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural and there בָּ֔הּ Preposition | third person feminine singular My house בֵּיתִי֙ H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular will be rebuilt יִבָּ֣נֶה H1129 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular declares נְאֻ֖ם H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֑וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural and a measuring line וְקָוָה H6961 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular will be stretched out יִנָּטֶ֖ה H5186 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular over עַל־ H5921 Preposition Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 17

Original words

Proclaim קְרָ֣א H7121 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular further [that] ע֣וֹד׀ H5750 Adverb this is what כֹּ֤ה H3541 Adverb . . . אָמַר֙ H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֔וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural says לֵאמֹ֗ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct My cities עָרַ֖י H5892 Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular will again ע֛וֹד H5750 Adverb overflow תְּפוּצֶ֥ינָה H6327 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural with prosperity מִטּ֑וֹב H2896 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular will again עוֹד֙ H5750 Adverb - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker comfort וְנִחַ֨ם H5162 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Zion צִיּ֔וֹן H6726 Noun - proper - feminine singular [and] ע֖וֹד H5750 Adverb choose וּבָחַ֥ר H977 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Jerusalem בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ס H3389 Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.