Zechariah 10:1 kjv
Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
Zechariah 10:1 nkjv
Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.
Zechariah 10:1 niv
Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.
Zechariah 10:1 esv
Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain, from the LORD who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.
Zechariah 10:1 nlt
Ask the LORD for rain in the spring,
for he makes the storm clouds.
And he will send showers of rain
so every field becomes a lush pasture.
Zechariah 10 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 11:13-14 | And if you faithfully obey... I will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain... | Obedience linked to timely rain |
| Jer 14:22 | Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers?... Is it not you, O Lord our God? We hope in you, for you do all these things. | Rhetorical question affirming God's sole power |
| Ps 65:9-10 | You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water... You water its furrows abundantly... | God as the ultimate provider of rain |
| Joel 2:23-24 | Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain... | Promise of early and latter rain |
| Hos 6:3 | Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains to the earth. | God's faithfulness like spring rains |
| Acts 14:17 | Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness. | God's universal provision |
| Isa 30:23 | And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and bread, the produce of the ground, will be rich and plump... | God's provision for abundant crops |
| 1 Kings 18:41-45 | And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” ... and soon the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. | God answers prayer for rain |
| Job 5:10 | He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields. | God's universal dominion |
| Zech 14:17 | And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them. | Rain linked to obedience/worship |
| Ps 104:13-14 | From your lofty dwelling you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate... | God provides for all creation |
| Matt 7:7-8 | Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives... | Call to ask in prayer |
| James 5:17-18 | Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain... He prayed again, and heaven gave rain... | Prayer's power for physical provision |
| Ps 147:8 | He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. | God orchestrates natural cycles |
| 1 Kings 8:35-36 | When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you... then hear in heaven and forgive the sin... when you show them the good way... give rain upon your land... | Sin prevents rain, repentance restores |
| Ps 29:3 | The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders... | God's voice as thunder |
| Ps 135:7 | He makes the clouds rise from the ends of the earth, he makes lightning for the rain, he brings forth the wind from his storehouses. | God's control over weather |
| Isa 45:7-8 | I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things... Let the heavens above rain down righteousness... | God's sovereignty over creation and blessings |
| Deut 28:12 | The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands... | God's blessing of rain tied to obedience |
| Ps 84:6 | As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with blessings. | God's rain as a blessing |
| Zech 8:12 | For the seed shall have peace: the vine shall yield its fruit, and the ground shall give its increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. | God promises agricultural blessing to His remnant |
Zechariah 10 verses
Zechariah 10 1 Meaning
Zechariah 10:1 calls God's people to petition the Lord their God for rain, specifically at the critical time of the latter rain, emphasizing that only He, the Almighty God, has the power to bring forth thunderstorms, copious showers, and subsequent vegetation. This verse serves as a direct challenge to any reliance on pagan deities or human efforts for agricultural prosperity, asserting Yahweh's exclusive sovereignty over nature and His readiness to bless those who seek Him.
Zechariah 10 1 Context
Zechariah 10:1 stands at the beginning of a prophetic oracle (chapters 9-14) focusing on the future of God's people, the defeat of their enemies, the coming of their King, and ultimate restoration. Chapter 9 foreshadows the Messiah's humble entry and peace, while Chapter 10 sharply contrasts God's true sovereignty and provision with the futility of idolatry and false leaders. Historically, the post-exilic community was small, struggling, and susceptible to the spiritual pitfalls that had led to the exile, including reliance on local agricultural deities like Baal for rain. The call to "ask of the Lord" in Zechariah 10:1 directly addresses their physical and spiritual needs by affirming Yahweh as the sole source of all blessings, particularly the crucial agricultural productivity symbolized by rain, setting the stage for subsequent warnings against "false shepherds" who fail to provide.
Zechariah 10 1 Word analysis
Ask: (שָׁאֲלוּ, sha'alu) - A plural imperative, directing the people to actively and collectively petition God. It implies a humble and dependent seeking, rather than a demanding tone. This word often indicates requesting guidance, advice, or a favor, underscoring human reliance on divine provision.
of the Lord: (מֵיְהוָה, mYHVH) - Specifies the recipient of the request as YHWH, the covenant-keeping God of Israel. This is a critical distinction, especially in a context challenging pagan deities. It underscores that only He possesses the power and authority.
rain: (מָטָר, māṭār) - Literal precipitation, essential for agricultural societies. In prophetic literature, rain often carries a double meaning, also symbolizing spiritual blessings, revival, or the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
in the time of the latter rain: (בְּעֵת מַלְקוֹשׁ, bĕʻēt malqōsh) - "Latter rain" (מַלְקוֹשׁ, malqōsh) refers to the vital spring rains (March-April) that swelled crops before harvest. This specific timing was critical for the year's yield. Its mention highlights God's perfect timing and crucial provision for physical sustenance, but can also metaphorically point to significant spiritual outpouring or a final eschatological blessing before the 'harvest' of the end times.
the Lord who makes: (יְהוָה עֹשֶׂה, YHWH ʻōśeh) - Emphasizes Yahweh's exclusive role as the active creator and orchestrator. It directly refutes the claims of any pagan rain-gods (like Baal).
thunderstorms: (חֲזִיזִים, ḥăzīzīm) - Lit. "lightnings" or "thunderclouds." It indicates God's powerful, dramatic intervention, demonstrating His omnipotent control over elemental forces, not just gentle showers.
and He will give them: (וְנֹתֵן לָהֶם, wĕnōtēn lāhem) - Affirmation of God's promise to respond to the request, showing His benevolent nature and readiness to bless His people when they turn to Him.
showers of rain: (גֶּשֶׁם מָטָר, geshem māṭār) - "Geshem" often denotes heavy or abundant rain, reinforcing the idea of a generous, full provision.
to everyone vegetation in the field: (אִישׁ עֵשֶׂב בַּשָּׂדֶה, ʾîš ʻēśeḇ bassādeh) - "Vegetation" (`ēśeḇ) refers to green herbage and fodder, vital for both humans and livestock. "In the field" emphasizes widespread provision for the land's sustenance, impacting all living things and all individuals, implying a holistic blessing affecting the entire community and its livelihood.
"Ask of the Lord rain": This phrase directly confronts the prevalent Canaanite worship of Baal, the storm god believed to bring rain. It insists that the post-exilic community should not resort to syncretistic practices but instead turn exclusively to YHWH for their most fundamental needs, asserting theological purity.
"the Lord who makes thunderstorms and will give them showers of rain": This emphasizes God's comprehensive control over all atmospheric phenomena, from powerful storms (thunderstorms/lightning) to gentle, abundant showers. It removes any room for doubt about His full capacity as the ultimate source of water.
Zechariah 10 1 Bonus section
This verse initiates a significant shift from the future glory of Jerusalem in chapter 9 to a renewed emphasis on the immediate responsibility of the remnant to live righteously and depend solely on God. It sets a theological standard against which the unfaithful leaders and idolatrous practices mentioned in the subsequent verses of chapter 10 are condemned. The "latter rain" concept also holds eschatological significance in some interpretations, pointing to a final spiritual outpouring or revival prior to the Day of the Lord, making this verse not just a historical instruction but a forward-looking promise of God's future activity among His people.
Zechariah 10 1 Commentary
Zechariah 10:1 serves as both a command and an invitation. It commands God's people to actively pray for what is fundamentally His to give – rain, essential for their very survival in an agrarian society. This specific call for "latter rain" underscores its critical timing for a successful harvest and challenges the deep-seated pagan belief systems, particularly the worship of Baal, which attributed rain and fertility to false gods. The verse explicitly states that it is "the Lord" (Yahweh) alone who "makes thunderstorms" and "gives showers of rain." This truth proclaims His unique and exclusive sovereignty over creation and His intimate involvement in the mundane aspects of life, directly counteracting idolatry. Beyond its literal agricultural significance, the "latter rain" is often understood as a metaphorical representation of spiritual blessing, such as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the New Covenant era (e.g., Pentecost) or the great revival preceding the Lord's return. Thus, the verse calls for utter dependence on God for both physical and spiritual provision, encouraging faithful petition rather than reliance on human ingenuity or false gods. It’s a call to genuine worship expressed through active trust and prayer, showing that divine blessings flow from a relationship rooted in faith.