Zechariah 1 17

Zechariah 1:17 kjv

Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

Zechariah 1:17 nkjv

"Again proclaim, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; The LORD will again comfort Zion, And will again choose Jerusalem." ' "

Zechariah 1:17 niv

"Proclaim further: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'My towns will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem.'?"

Zechariah 1:17 esv

Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.'"

Zechariah 1:17 nlt

"Say this also: 'This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: The towns of Israel will again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem as his own.'"

Zechariah 1 verses

Zechariah 1 17 Meaning

Zechariah 1:17 proclaims God's unchanging intention to restore and expand the cities of Judah and comfort Zion, explicitly reaffirming His covenant choice of Jerusalem. The verse commands continued prophetic declaration of God's powerful promises, reassuring the post-exilic community that despite current desolation, a future of great prosperity, widespread population, divine consolation, and re-election for their sacred city is guaranteed by the Lord of Hosts.

Zechariah 1 17 Context

Zechariah 1:17 falls within the introductory visions of the prophet Zechariah (chapters 1-6). Zechariah prophesied to the returned exiles from Babylon, alongside Haggai, urging them to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This was a time of great discouragement and apathy; the Temple reconstruction efforts had stalled, the people were few, the land was desolate, and political circumstances seemed unpromising. The visions conveyed a message of hope, assurance, and divine intervention. This specific verse, Zechariah 1:17, concludes the first vision (of the horsemen) by reaffirming God's ultimate plan for Jerusalem and Judah, contrasting the current bleak reality with a glorious future state. It emphasizes God's faithfulness despite the people's failures and the prevailing despair.

Zechariah 1 17 Word analysis

• Cry yet (עוֹד קְרָא֙ - 'od q'ra):
  • Yet (עוֹד - 'od): An adverb meaning "again, still, besides, more." Here, it signifies persistence and continuation of the message. The prophet must not cease proclaiming, emphasizing God's unwavering resolve and the certainty of His promise. It suggests a renewed, perhaps more urgent, declaration.
  • Cry (קְרָא֙ - q'ra): The imperative verb "proclaim, call out." It indicates a solemn and authoritative public announcement, typical of prophetic utterance. It signifies that the message is for wide dissemination and attention.
• saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts (כֹּֽה־אָמַר֙ יְהוָה֙ צְבָא֔וֹת - koh amar YHWH Tzeva'ot):
  • Thus saith (כֹּֽה־אָמַר֙ - koh amar): The standard prophetic formula, asserting that the message directly originates from God, granting it divine authority and infallibility.
  • The LORD of hosts (יְהוָה֙ צְבָא֔וֹת - YHWH Tzeva'ot): A powerful divine title, especially prevalent in the post-exilic prophets (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi). YHWH is the covenant name of God. Tzeva'ot means "armies, hosts, heavenly bodies." This title emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty, omnipotence, and His command over all celestial and earthly forces. It reassures a vulnerable people that the powerful God of armies is on their side.
• My cities (עָרַי֙ - 'arai):
  • Literally "My cities," referring to the towns and urban centers throughout Judah, including Jerusalem. The possessive "My" highlights God's ownership and covenant relationship with these places, affirming His protective and restorative interest in them, not just Jerusalem alone.
• through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad (עֽוֹד־תְּפוּצֶ֜נָה מֵרֹ֛ב - 'od t'futzenah merov):
  • Yet (עֽוֹד - 'od): Reaffirms the future aspect and persistence of God's action, counteracting the present lack.
  • Be spread abroad (תְּפוּצֶ֜נָה - t'futzenah): From the root פּוּץ (puts), meaning "to scatter, spread, disperse." In this context, it implies expansion, breaking forth beyond existing boundaries, becoming populous and numerous. It suggests repopulation and reconstruction leading to growth.
  • Through prosperity (מֵרֹ֛ב - merov): Literally "from abundance" or "by reason of multitude/plenty." This signifies not just territorial expansion but also population growth and material well-being, suggesting a future marked by economic and demographic flourishing. This prosperity is divinely ordained.
• and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion (וְנִחַ֥ם יְהוָה֙ עוֹד֙ צִיּ֔וֹן - v'nicham YHWH 'od Tziyon):
  • And the LORD shall yet comfort (וְנִחַ֥ם יְהוָה֙ עוֹד֙ - v'nicham YHWH 'od): Nicham (נִחַם) implies to "console, relieve, have compassion, repent." Here, it signifies God bringing solace, alleviation from distress, and active restoration to His people. It refers to God's tender and compassionate action to reverse their suffering and bring joy. The "yet" signifies that this comfort, despite their suffering, is assured.
  • Zion (צִיּ֔וֹן - Tziyon): The specific hill in Jerusalem where the Temple was located, often used as a metonym for the city of Jerusalem itself, and sometimes for the people of Israel as a whole. It symbolizes God's dwelling place and His chosen spiritual center.
• and shall yet choose Jerusalem (וּבָחַ֥ר עוֹד֙ בִּירוּשָׁלָֽם׃ - u'vachar 'od b'Yerushalayim):
  • And shall yet choose (וּבָחַ֥ר עוֹד֙ - u'vachar 'od): Bachar (בָחַר) means "to choose, elect, select." The "yet" (עוֹד) here emphasizes a renewed or reaffirmed divine election, suggesting that despite Jerusalem's destruction and the exile, God has not abandoned His covenantal choice. He will re-assert His special relationship with Jerusalem as His holy city and dwelling place.
  • Jerusalem (בִּירוּשָׁלָֽם - b'Yerushalayim): The literal name of the city, serving as the geopolitical and spiritual heart of the Jewish people. Its naming alongside Zion highlights both its physical reality and its symbolic importance as God's chosen place.

• Word-groups/Phrases:
• "Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts": This powerful opening serves as an imperative to the prophet Zechariah, stressing the urgency and divine authority of the message. The repetition of "yet" ("'od") across the verse underscores the certainty and persistence of God's promises in contrast to current realities, reinforcing that His plans are ongoing. The title "LORD of hosts" grounds the promise in omnipotent power, capable of fulfilling all declarations regardless of human limitations or opposition.
• "My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad": This phrase speaks to the physical, demographic, and economic restoration of Judah. "My cities" emphasizes divine ownership and care. The "spreading abroad through prosperity" indicates a burgeoning population and flourishing economy that leads to the expansion of existing urban centers and possibly the establishment of new ones, effectively reversing the desolation wrought by the Babylonian conquest.
• "the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem": This core promise encapsulates God's compassionate and covenantal faithfulness. "Comfort Zion" speaks to emotional and spiritual restoration, relieving the people's grief and despair from exile. "Choose Jerusalem" is a profound theological statement reaffirming God's special, enduring, and irrevocable election of Jerusalem as His holy city, the place where He desires to dwell and make His name known. The repeated "yet" confirms that this divine preference remains strong despite historical chastisements and present conditions.

Zechariah 1 17 Bonus section

The threefold use of "yet" (עוֹד - 'od) in Zechariah 1:17 is a significant rhetorical and theological marker. It punctuates the verse, powerfully conveying persistence, a future certainty, and the continuity of God's purpose despite past judgments or current delays. This "yet" acts as a strong contrast to the present reality of the post-exilic community—small, struggling, and surrounded by desolate ruins. It underscores that what God will still do overrides what the people currently experience. This principle is crucial for understanding God's faithfulness throughout biblical history. It teaches reliance on God's unwavering character and promises even when circumstances appear contrary.

Zechariah 1 17 Commentary

Zechariah 1:17 functions as a divine antidote to the pervasive discouragement felt by the returned exiles. The prophet is commanded to persist in proclaiming a message of incredible hope, directly from "the LORD of hosts," highlighting God's absolute power and authority. The core promise is twofold: a material and demographic resurgence for "My cities" (meaning the towns of Judah, encompassing Jerusalem), which "shall yet be spread abroad through prosperity," indicating repopulation, expansion, and economic flourishing. Concurrently, there is a profound spiritual and relational restoration as the LORD "shall yet comfort Zion" and "shall yet choose Jerusalem." This means God will personally intervene to bring solace to His distressed people and emphatically reaffirm His sacred, covenantal choice of Jerusalem as His special dwelling place. This promise reassures the people that their God has not forsaken them; His covenant with Zion remains immutable. It provides motivation to continue rebuilding the Temple, as the ultimate divine favor and glory await Jerusalem. The verse emphasizes that the future glory and blessing come from God's initiative, not human effort alone, thereby countering despair and fostering reliance on divine faithfulness.