New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Zechariah 8
1
Another message came to me from the Lord who rules over all. He said,
2
"I am very jealous for my people in Zion. In fact, I am burning with jealousy for them."
Reference
3
He continued, "I will return to Zion. I will live among my people in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called The City of Truth. And my mountain will be called The Holy Mountain."
Reference
Holy
Isaiah 66:20
Jeremiah 31:23
Parallel theme
Revelation 21:3
Isaiah 1:26
Colossians 2:9
John 14:23
2 Corinthians 6:16
References Lord
Zechariah 1:16
Jeremiah 33:16
Truth
John 1:14
4
He continued, "Once again old men and women will sit in the streets of Jerusalem. All of them will be using canes because they are old.
5
The city streets will be filled with boys and girls. They will be playing there."
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 31:13
6
He continued, "All of that might seem wonderful to the people who are living at that time. But it will not seem wonderful to me."
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 1:20
Luke 1:37
Luke 18:27
References Lord
Jeremiah 32:27
Jeremiah 32:17
Genesis 18:14
2 Kings 7:2
Psalm 118:23
7
He continued, "I will save my people. I will gather them from the countries of the east and the west.
Reference
8
I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people. I will be their faithful God. I will keep my promises to them."
Reference
Parallel theme
Ezekiel 37:25
References God
Ezekiel 36:28
Ezekiel 11:20
Jeremiah 31:33
Revelation 21:3
Zechariah 13:9
Revelation 21:7
Jeremiah 30:22
Ezekiel 37:27
Righteousness
Jeremiah 4:2
9
The Lord who rules over all says to his people, "Listen to the words that were spoken by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. They spoke to you when the work on my temple started up again. Let your hands be strong so that you can rebuild the temple.
Reference
10
"Before the work was started again, there was no pay for the people or food for the animals. People could not go about their business safely because of their enemies. I had turned all of them against one another.
Reference
11
But now I will not punish you who are living at this time. I will not treat you as I treated your people before you," announces the Lord who rules over all.
Reference
12
"Your seeds will grow well. Your vines will bear fruit. The ground will produce crops for you. And the heavens will drop their dew on your land. I will give all of those things to those who are still left alive here.
Reference
13
"Judah and Israel, in the past the nations called down curses on you. But now I will save you. You will be a blessing to others. Do not be afraid. Let your hands be strong so that you can do my work."
Reference
Blessing
Psalm 72:17
Curse
Jeremiah 24:9
Jeremiah 42:18
Parallel theme
Zechariah 8:9
Zephaniah 3:20
Ezekiel 5:15
1 Corinthians 16:13
Psalm 79:4
Sin
Jeremiah 29:18
Daniel 9:11
14
The Lord who rules over all says, "Years ago your people made me angry. So I decided to bring trouble on them. I did not show them any pity.
Reference
16
"Here is what you must do. Speak the truth to one another. Make true and wise decisions in your courts.
Reference
Judgment
Zechariah 7:9
Isaiah 9:7
Amos 5:24
Peace
Zechariah 8:19
Truth
Ephesians 4:25
Psalm 15:2
Proverbs 12:17
Proverbs 12:19
17
Do not make evil plans against your neighbors. When you take an oath to tell the truth, do not lie. Many people love to do that. But I hate all of those things," announces the Lord.
Reference
Evil
Zechariah 7:10
Psalm 10:3
Proverbs 3:29
Jeremiah 4:14
Matthew 12:35
Matthew 15:19
Habakkuk 1:13
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 44:4
References Lord
Malachi 3:5
18
Another message came to me from the Lord who rules over all. He said,
19
"You have established special times to go without eating. They are your fasts in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months. They will become days of joy. They will be happy times for Judah. It will happen if you take delight in telling the truth and bringing about peace."
Reference
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 39:2
Jeremiah 52:4
Zechariah 7:5
2 Kings 25:25
Psalm 30:11
Esther 9:22
Peace
Zechariah 8:16
References Lord
Zechariah 7:3
Isaiah 12:1
Isaiah 35:10
20
He continued, "Many nations will still come to you. And those who live in many cities will also come.
Reference
21
The people who live in one city will go to another city. They will say, 'Let's go right away to ask the Lord to show us his favor. Let's look to him as our God. We ourselves are going.'
Reference
22
Large numbers of people and nations will come to Jerusalem. They will look to me. They will ask me to show them my favor."
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 21:24
Isaiah 25:7
Galatians 3:8
Prayer
Zechariah 8:21
References Lord
Revelation 15:4
23
He continued, "At that time many men from all nations and languages will take hold of one Jew. They will grab hold of the hem of his robe. And they will say, 'We want to go to Jerusalem with you. We've heard that God is with you.' "
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 60:3
Isaiah 66:18
Isaiah 4:1
Isaiah 3:6
Acts 19:12
Job 19:3
References God
Isaiah 45:14
Isaiah 55:5
1 Corinthians 14:25
Genesis 31:7
Chapter Summary
Zechariah 8 presents a comprehensive vision of Jerusalem's restoration, in which God's return to Zion transforms the city from a place marked by destruction and insecurity into a community characterized by truth, peace, prosperity, joyful families, and God's visible presence, while the restoration of Judah ultimately becomes a blessing that draws people from many nations toward the Lord.
God promises that Jerusalem will again be known as a city of truth and holiness, where elderly people can sit safely in the streets and children can play without fear, creating a vivid picture of social stability and ordinary human happiness that would have seemed remarkable to a generation whose city had been destroyed and whose people had experienced exile.
The chapter also emphasizes that the restoration may appear impossible to the small post-exilic community, yet God declares that what seems impossible to human beings is not beyond His power, as He intends to gather His scattered people, make their land productive, turn their former curse into blessing, and replace the mourning associated with the destruction of Jerusalem with joyful festivals.
At the same time, this promised restoration requires a transformed society in which people speak truth, practice justice, reject schemes against one another, and actively pursue peace, demonstrating that God's blessing is inseparable from the moral character of the community receiving it.
The central message is that Zechariah 8 portrays God's restoration of Jerusalem as a complete transformation from judgment to blessing, from fear to security, from mourning to celebration, and from isolation to international significance, with God's presence at the center of this renewed future.
The chapter ultimately presents Jerusalem as a place where God's people experience peace and prosperity while becoming a witness to the nations, so that people from many languages and countries will recognize that God is with His people and will seek Him there.
God promises that Jerusalem will again be known as a city of truth and holiness, where elderly people can sit safely in the streets and children can play without fear, creating a vivid picture of social stability and ordinary human happiness that would have seemed remarkable to a generation whose city had been destroyed and whose people had experienced exile.
The chapter also emphasizes that the restoration may appear impossible to the small post-exilic community, yet God declares that what seems impossible to human beings is not beyond His power, as He intends to gather His scattered people, make their land productive, turn their former curse into blessing, and replace the mourning associated with the destruction of Jerusalem with joyful festivals.
At the same time, this promised restoration requires a transformed society in which people speak truth, practice justice, reject schemes against one another, and actively pursue peace, demonstrating that God's blessing is inseparable from the moral character of the community receiving it.
The central message is that Zechariah 8 portrays God's restoration of Jerusalem as a complete transformation from judgment to blessing, from fear to security, from mourning to celebration, and from isolation to international significance, with God's presence at the center of this renewed future.
The chapter ultimately presents Jerusalem as a place where God's people experience peace and prosperity while becoming a witness to the nations, so that people from many languages and countries will recognize that God is with His people and will seek Him there.