Zechariah 1 7

Zechariah 1:7 kjv

Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

Zechariah 1:7 nkjv

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

Zechariah 1:7 niv

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 Berekiah, the son of Iddo.

Zechariah 1:7 esv

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

Zechariah 1:7 nlt

Three months later, on February 15, the LORD sent another message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo.

Zechariah 1 verses

Zechariah 1 7 Meaning

Zechariah 1:7 meticulously dates the initiation of the prophet's first cycle of visions. It specifies the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, called Sebat (corresponding to late January/early February), in the second year of Darius Hystaspes' reign (520 BC). This verse declares that "the word of the LORD" came to Zechariah, precisely identifying him as the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, affirming his prophetic lineage and divine authorization for the message that follows. It underscores the precision of God's divine activity within human history and establishes the historical credibility and specific timing of these revelatory encounters.

Zechariah 1 7 Context

Zechariah 1:7 marks a crucial shift in the book of Zechariah. The preceding verses (1:1-6) serve as an introduction and a foundational call to repentance, exhorting the post-exilic community not to repeat the sins of their ancestors who suffered God's judgment and exile for disobedience. This general call prepares the people for the specific divine messages that follow.

Verse 7 specifically initiates the first cycle of visions (extending through 6:8). The precise dating of this particular prophetic event is key. Historically, it situates the message firmly within the reign of Darius I (520 BC), shortly after the Jewish community's initial return from Babylonian exile under Zerubbabel and Joshua. This was a period of both hopeful return and disheartening challenges, particularly the slow progress and opposition to rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. God's message through Zechariah thus serves as divine encouragement, comfort, and a promise of future restoration and blessings for a people struggling with their identity and mission. The precision of the date emphasizes God's active involvement and timing within human history, reassuring the people that their plight and future were very much under His sovereign hand, challenging any fatalistic or pagan beliefs that deities were capricious or uninvolved.

Zechariah 1 7 Word analysis

• Upon the four and twentieth day (בְּיוֹם עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה, bə-yôm ‘eśrîm wə’arbā‘â):

  • "Upon the": Emphasizes the exact moment the event occurred.
  • "four and twentieth day": Signifies precise chronology. This meticulous dating is characteristic of prophetic books (like Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Haggai) and serves to authenticate the revelation, grounding God's action within verifiable human history. It underlines God's intentionality and providential control over time and events, showing His direct intervention in the affairs of His people.

• of the eleventh month (לַחֹדֶשׁ הָאֶחָד עָשָׂר, laḥōdeš hā’eḥāḏ ‘āśār):

  • "eleventh month": Refers to the month in the Hebrew lunisolar calendar. The specified month, along with the day and year, removes any ambiguity about when the revelation took place, emphasizing divine clarity.

• which is the month Sebat (הוּא שְׁבָט, hū šəbāṭ):

  • "Sebat": The Babylonian name adopted by the post-exilic Jews for the eleventh month, corresponding to parts of January and February in the Gregorian calendar. The inclusion of both the numerical month and its common name ensures precision and broadens understanding for the original audience. This reflects the cultural shift post-exile where Babylonian names for months became standard.

• in the second year of Darius (בִּשְׁנַת שְׁתַּיִם לְדָרְיָוֶשׁ, bišnaṯ štayim ləḏārǝyāweš):

  • "second year of Darius": Refers to Darius I Hystaspes, the Persian king, dating the vision to 520 BC. This specific regnal year is the same as when Haggai's prophecies began (Hag 1:1). It highlights God's sovereignty over pagan rulers and empires (as seen in Daniel), using even a foreign king's reign as a marker for His divine activity among His covenant people. It historically anchors the prophetic work to the precise timeframe of the temple's rebuilding efforts in Jerusalem.

• came the word of the LORD (הָיָה דְבַר יְהוָה, hāyāh dəḇar YHVH):

  • "came" (הָיָה, hāyāh): The verb indicates the dynamic, active nature of divine revelation, it wasn't passively received but actively manifested.
  • "the word of the LORD" (דְבַר יְהוָה, dəḇar YHVH): A quintessential prophetic formula used over 200 times in the Old Testament. "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHVH) refers to God's covenant name, signifying His unchanging, self-existent nature, and His faithfulness to His covenant people. This phrase emphatically declares the divine origin and authority of the message; it is not human wisdom or speculation but God's authoritative communication, ensuring the message's trustworthiness.

• unto Zechariah (אֶל זְכַרְיָהוּ, ’el Zəḵaryahū):

  • "Zechariah": The prophet himself. His name, Zĕkaryahū, means "Yahweh remembers." This name is highly significant given Israel's exilic experience; it assures the people that despite their transgressions and God's discipline, He remembers His covenant and His promises to them, pointing to hope and future restoration.

• the son of Berechiah (בֶּן־בֶּרֶכְיָה, ben-Bereḵyāh):

  • "son of Berechiah": Berekyāh means "Yahweh blesses." This patronymic reinforces the message of God's continued favor and blessing on the lineage from which Zechariah came, and implicitly, on His people.

• the son of Iddo the prophet (בֶּן־עִדּוֹ הַנָּבִיא, ben-‘Iḏḏô han-nāḇî’):

  • "son of Iddo": Iddô may mean "His testimony" or "His timely one." Zechariah is specified as the grandson of Iddo, a prominent figure (possibly mentioned in Neh 12:4, 16).
  • "the prophet": Explicitly identifies Iddo as a prophet. This detail firmly places Zechariah within a prophetic lineage or family tradition, providing legitimacy and authority for his ministry among the returning exiles. It also suggests that God had been working through this family for generations, demonstrating His consistent engagement with His people.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Upon the four and twentieth day...came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah": This entire phrase underlines the precise, intentional, and sovereign timing of divine revelation. God is not distant or vague, but specific in His communication, ensuring His message reaches His chosen messenger at a definitive moment in history.
  • "Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet": This detailed lineage serves multiple purposes: it validates Zechariah's authority and call by tracing his heritage; it implies God's continuity of revelation through a chosen family line; and the names themselves ("Yahweh remembers," "Yahweh blesses," "His testimony/timely one") prophetically align with God's message of remembering His covenant, blessing His people, and delivering His timely testimony in the post-exilic period.

Zechariah 1 7 Bonus section

• Prophetic Parallel with Haggai: The precise dating of Zechariah's prophecies (second year of Darius) runs in parallel with those of his contemporary, Haggai (Hag 1:1, 2:10, 2:20). This overlapping chronology underscores that God was actively raising up prophets during the critical post-exilic rebuilding period to simultaneously encourage and challenge His people. Both prophets exhorted the Jews to rebuild the temple and trust in God's future promises, validating their cooperative divine mission.
• Emphasis on Divine Initiative: The repeated formula "the word of the LORD came" throughout Zechariah (and other prophetic books) always emphasizes God's initiative in revelation. The prophet is not merely a thoughtful person but a chosen vessel through whom God Himself speaks directly, conveying His specific messages, warnings, and promises. This underscores the power and origin of the prophecies as purely divine, rather than human.
• Significance of Names: The meaning of Zechariah's name, "Yahweh remembers," and his father's name, Berechiah, "Yahweh blesses," carries profound theological significance in the context of the return from exile. After generations of divine discipline, these names powerfully declare God's renewed focus on His covenant people – He remembers them and He intends to bless them, fulfilling His ancient promises for restoration and new beginnings. This subtly infused message of hope precedes and permeates the direct prophetic utterances.

Zechariah 1 7 Commentary

Zechariah 1:7 serves as the formal and highly precise introduction to the major prophetic visions in the book. Unlike the preceding six verses, which constitute a general call to repentance from an earlier date (Zechariah 1:1), this verse pins down the specific moment when Zechariah began to receive the distinct series of eight night visions that form the core of chapters 1-6. This meticulous dating (day, month, and specific year of Darius's reign) underscores the historical rootedness and divine authenticity of Zechariah's revelations.

The phrase "came the word of the LORD" is critical; it immediately identifies the source of Zechariah's message as God Himself, not human insight or opinion. This emphasizes the divine imperative and authority of the subsequent visions and prophecies for a weary and struggling community attempting to rebuild their temple and their nation. The explicit mention of Zechariah's lineage ("son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet") further legitimizes his role, potentially connecting him to a known priestly or prophetic family that returned from exile (e.g., Iddo might be related to the one mentioned in Nehemiah). The very name "Zechariah" meaning "Yahweh remembers" serves as a powerful message of hope to a people who might have felt forgotten in their desolation: God remembers His covenant, His promises, and His people, and He is acting purposefully in their midst. This divine remembrance is central to understanding the forthcoming visions, which primarily offer encouragement, promise future restoration, and point to the coming Messiah, all aimed at bolstering faith during challenging times of rebuilding. The precision shows God's control over time, history, and the affairs of kingdoms, providing an anchoring point for God's redemptive work.