Zechariah 10 8

Zechariah 10:8 kjv

I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.

Zechariah 10:8 nkjv

I will whistle for them and gather them, For I will redeem them; And they shall increase as they once increased.

Zechariah 10:8 niv

I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before.

Zechariah 10:8 esv

"I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them, and they shall be as many as they were before.

Zechariah 10:8 nlt

When I whistle to them, they will come running,
for I have redeemed them.
From the few who are left,
they will grow as numerous as they were before.

Zechariah 10 verses

Zechariah 10 8 Meaning

Zechariah 10:8 reveals God's active and joyful initiative to gather His scattered people, both Judah and Israel, by His powerful call. This regathering is rooted in His redemptive act, which enables them to multiply abundantly and achieve a numerous state reminiscent of their rapid growth in earlier periods of their history, specifically referring to their multiplication in Egypt before the Exodus. The verse underscores God's personal involvement, His covenant faithfulness, and His commitment to restore His people to prosperity and vastness.

Zechariah 10 8 Context

Zechariah 10 is part of the book of Zechariah's larger message of hope and restoration for the post-exilic community. Following a severe condemnation of the "worthless shepherds" (false leaders) in Chapter 10:2-3, this verse shifts abruptly to God's direct, merciful intervention. The broader context envisions a future restoration where the dispersed remnant of Judah and Israel will be gathered from all lands where they have been scattered due to their sins and the Assyrian/Babylonian exiles. This chapter specifically highlights the Lord's initiative in bringing rain (blessing), defeating oppressors, and assembling His people for a period of immense fruitfulness, which the previous leadership (the 'teraphim' and diviners of Zech 10:2) had failed to provide. The historical context is a people who have returned from exile but still struggle with rebuilding and national identity, longing for the full realization of God's covenant promises, a longing which this prophecy addresses directly.

Zechariah 10 8 Word analysis

• "I will whistle" (אֶשְׁרְקָה - ʾeshrēqâh): From the verb שָׁרַק (shāraq), meaning "to whistle," "to hiss," "to pipe," "to call." In other biblical contexts, this word can denote judgment (Isa 5:26 - a signal for distant nations to come and destroy; Isa 7:18 - calling flies and bees to devastate), but here, its connotation is unequivocally benevolent and invitational. It implies an easy, effortless, compelling, and rapid summoning by God, like a shepherd calling his flock or a master summoning his servants. It's a personal, direct call of intimate familiarity and authority. This emphasizes God's personal agency in the gathering, not relying on human intermediaries.
• "for them": Refers to the scattered people of Judah and Israel mentioned or implied in the preceding context of Zechariah 9 and 10, specifically the "flock" mentioned in Zech 10:2.
• "and gather them" (וַאֲקַבְּצֵם - vaʾaqaḇeṣēm): From the verb קָבַץ (qāvats), meaning "to gather," "to collect," "to assemble." This is the standard Hebrew word for physical assembly, implying a comprehensive drawing together of the dispersed. It suggests a movement from scattering to unity, restoring the corporate identity of God's people.
• "for I have redeemed them" (כִּי פְדִיתִם - kî pədîtîm): From the verb פָּדָה (pādâh), meaning "to redeem," "to ransom," "to buy back." This clause provides the divine ground and motivation for the gathering. The act of redemption, whether from Egyptian slavery (Exod 15:13), Babylonian exile (Isa 43:1), or a broader spiritual bondage, is the basis of God's right and commitment to gather them. Redemption here precedes and enables the regathering; it's the foundation of their covenant relationship with God. It highlights God's sovereignty and His unwavering covenant love as the underlying reason for His action.
• "and they shall increase" (וְרָבוּ - vērāḇû): From the verb רָבָה (rāḇâh), meaning "to be many," "to multiply," "to increase." This speaks of demographic growth and prosperity. It echoes the foundational blessings of fruitfulness from creation (Gen 1:28) and the promises made to Abraham about his numerous descendants (Gen 12:2; 15:5).
• "as they increased in former times" (כְּרָבָם לִפְנָשָׁנִיּוֹת - kērāḇām lipnôshānîyyôt): This sets a high benchmark for the promised future increase. "Former times" (qadmônîyôt) refers particularly to the phenomenal multiplication of Israel during their stay in Egypt (Exod 1:7, 12) or in the wilderness. It suggests an unprecedented, divinely enabled exponential growth, overcoming any prior period of scarcity or diminished numbers. It's a restoration not just to original numbers, but to a vast, overflowing multitude that reflects God's abundant blessing.

Zechariah 10 8 Bonus section

The image of "whistling" (šāraq) is distinctive, distinguishing God's active, joyful call from other types of divine signals for judgment found elsewhere in scripture (e.g., calling enemies for destruction). Here, it conveys an intimate, almost pastoral summons, like a shepherd whistling for his sheep. This illustrates God's tender yet powerful reclaiming of His scattered flock. The promise of increase "as in former times" implies a revival not just in quantity but in the miraculous quality of their growth, a reminder of how God enabled their multiplication despite oppressive conditions in Egypt, a foreshadowing of supernatural growth in their eschatological restoration. This verse underscores the complete reversal of fortune and a total restoration that extends beyond the immediate post-exilic period, pointing to a glorious future under the leadership of the divine Shepherd-King.

Zechariah 10 8 Commentary

Zechariah 10:8 powerfully showcases God's personal and sovereign involvement in the ultimate restoration of His people. The "whistle" signifies a compelling, immediate, and irresistible call from the Lord Himself, bypassing the need for human leaders who often prove unreliable. This active call is specifically for gathering, reversing the long period of scattering caused by sin and judgment. The divine basis for this regathering is "redemption"—God has paid the price, liberated His people, and established His claim over them, enabling their future. The promise of increase, mirroring the remarkable multiplication in Egypt, guarantees not just survival but thriving and overwhelming numerical growth. This verse therefore promises a restoration that is divinely initiated, redemptively secured, and abundantly fruitful, leading to a vibrant and numerous community under God's direct oversight. It shifts the focus from human inability to divine power and purpose.