5 And the streets H7339 of the city H5892 shall be full H4390 of boys H3206 and girls H3207 playing H7832 in the streets H7339 thereof.
And out of them shall proceed H3318 thanksgiving H8426 and the voice H6963 of them that make merry: H7832 and I will multiply H7235 them, and they shall not be few; H4591 I will also glorify H3513 them, and they shall not be small. H6819 Their children H1121 also shall be as aforetime, H6924 and their congregation H5712 shall be established H3559 before H6440 me, and I will punish H6485 all that oppress H3905 them.
Then shall the virgin H1330 rejoice H8055 in the dance, H4234 both young men H970 and old H2205 together: H3162 for I will turn H2015 their mourning H60 into joy, H8342 and will comfort H5162 them, and make them rejoice H8055 from their sorrow. H3015
That our sons H1121 may be as plants H5195 grown up H1431 in their youth; H5271 that our daughters H1323 may be as corner stones, H2106 polished H2404 after the similitude H8403 of a palace: H1964 That our garners H4200 may be full, H4392 affording H6329 all manner of store: H2177 H2177 that our sheep H6629 may bring forth thousands H503 and ten thousands H7231 in our streets: H2351 That our oxen H441 may be strong to labour; H5445 that there be no breaking in, H6556 nor going out; H3318 that there be no complaining H6682 in our streets. H7339 Happy H835 is that people, H5971 that is in such a case: H3602 yea, happy H835 is that people, H5971 whose God H430 is the LORD. H3068
Behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will sow H2232 the house H1004 of Israel H3478 and the house H1004 of Judah H3063 with the seed H2233 of man, H120 and with the seed H2233 of beast. H929
The voice H6963 of joy, H8342 and the voice H6963 of gladness, H8057 the voice H6963 of the bridegroom, H2860 and the voice H6963 of the bride, H3618 the voice H6963 of them that shall say, H559 Praise H3034 the LORD H3068 of hosts: H6635 for the LORD H3068 is good; H2896 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever: H5769 and of them that shall bring H935 the sacrifice of praise H8426 into the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 For I will cause to return H7725 the captivity H7622 of the land, H776 as at the first, H7223 saith H559 the LORD. H3068
Arise, H6965 cry out H7442 in the night: H3915 in the beginning H7218 of the watches H821 pour out H8210 thine heart H3820 like water H4325 before H5227 the face H6440 of the Lord: H136 lift up H5375 thy hands H3709 toward him for the life H5315 of thy young children, H5768 that faint H5848 for hunger H7458 in the top H7218 of every street. H2351
And said H559 unto him, Run, H7323 speak H1696 to this H1975 young man, H5288 saying, H559 Jerusalem H3389 shall be inhabited H3427 as towns without walls H6519 for the multitude H7230 of men H120 and cattle H929 therein: H8432
But G1161 whereunto G5101 shall I liken G3666 this G5026 generation? G1074 It is G2076 like G3664 unto children G3808 sitting G2521 in G1722 the markets, G58 and G2532 calling G4377 unto their G846 fellows, G2083 And G2532 saying, G3004 We have piped G832 unto you, G5213 and G2532 ye have G3738 not G3756 danced; G3738 we have mourned G2354 unto you, G5213 and G2532 ye have G2875 not G3756 lamented. G2875
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Zechariah 8
Commentary on Zechariah 8 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 8
The work of ministers is rightly to divide the word of truth and to give every one his portion. So the prophet is here instructed to do, in the further answer he gives to the case of conscience proposed about continuing the public fasts. His answer, in the foregoing chapter, is by way of reproof to those that were disobedient and would not obey the truth. But here he is ordered to change his voice, and to speak by way of encouragement to the willing and obedient. Here are two words from the Lord of hosts, and they are both good words and comfortable words. In the former of these messages (v. 1) God promises that Jerusalem shall be restored, reformed, replenished (v. 2-8), that the country shall be rich, and the affairs of the nation shall be successful, their reputation retrieved, and their state in all respects the reverse of what it had been for many years past (v. 9-15); he then exhorts them to reform what was amiss among them, that they might be ready for these favours designed them (v. 16, 17). In the latter of these messages (v. 18) he promises that their fasts should be superseded by the return of mercy (v. 19), and that thereupon they should be replenished, enriched, and strengthened, by the accession of foreigners to them (v. 20-23).
Zec 8:1-8
The prophet, in his foregoing discourses, had left his hearers under a high charge of guilt and a deep sense of wrath; he had left them in a melancholy view of the desolations of their pleasant land, which was the effect of their fathers' disobedience; but because he designed to bring them to repentance, not to drive them to despair, he here sets before them the great things God had in store for them, encouraging them hereby to hope that their case of conscience would shortly determine itself and that God's providence would as loudly call them to joy and gladness as ever it called them to fasting and mourning. It is here promised,
All these precious promises are here ratified, and the doubts of God's people silenced, with that question (v. 6): "If it be marvellous in the eyes of this people, should it be marvellous in my eyes? If it seem unlikely to you that ever Jerusalem should be thus repaired, should be thus replenished, is it therefore impossible with God?' The remnant of this people (and God's people in this world are but a remnant), being few and feeble, thought all this was too good news to be true, especially in these days, these difficult days, these cloudy and dark days. Considering how bad the times are, it is highly improbable, it is morally impossible, they should ever come to be so good as the prophet speaks. How can these things be? How can dry bones live? But should it therefore appear so in the eyes of God? Note, We do both God and ourselves a deal of wrong if we think that, when we are nonplussed, he is so, and that he cannot get over the difficulties which to us seem insuperable. With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible; so far are God's thoughts and ways above ours.
Zec 8:9-17
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,
Zec 8:18-23
These verses contain two precious promises, for the further encouragement of those pious Jews that were hearty in building the temple.