Zechariah 7:13 kjv
Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:
Zechariah 7:13 nkjv
Therefore it happened, that just as He proclaimed and they would not hear, so they called out and I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 7:13 niv
"?'When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,' says the LORD Almighty.
Zechariah 7:13 esv
"As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear," says the LORD of hosts,
Zechariah 7:13 nlt
"Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.
Zechariah 7 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 1:15 | When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you multiply prayer, I will not hear. | Unanswered Prayer |
| Jer 11:11 | Therefore, thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am bringing evil upon them which they will not be able to escape; and they will cry out to Me, but I will not listen to them.” | Divine Judgment |
| Ezek 8:18 | Even though I also act in wrath, my eye will not spare nor will I show pity; and though they cry out in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them. | God's Rejection of Prayer |
| Prov 1:28-29 | Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, | Consequences of Sin |
| Luke 13:25 | once the householder puts on his armor and opens the door for you, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, you say, ‘Master, open for us,’ and he will answer you, ‘I do not know you, from where you are.’ | Missed Opportunity |
| Rev 6:10 | They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" | Plea for Justice |
| Deut 28:23-24 | Your heavens above your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron. The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from the heavens it shall come down on you until you are destroyed. | Consequences of Disobedience |
| Ps 18:41 | They cry for help but there is no one to save them; even to the LORD, but he does not answer them. | Cries Unanswered |
| Matt 25:10-12 | And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. | Closing the Door |
| James 4:3 | You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. | Wrong Motives |
| Zech 7:11 | But they refused to listen and turned their backs and stopped their ears so that they might not hear. | Rejection of God's Word |
| 2 Chron 36:16 | But they constantly mocked the messengers of God, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. | Persistent Sin |
| Prov 29:1 | Whoever is stiff-necked, after a rebuke, will suddenly be broken beyond recovery. | Stubbornness |
| Isa 65:12 | I will destine you for the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because when I called, you did not answer, when I spoke, you did not listen, but did what was evil in my eyes, and chose what displeased me.” | Disobedience |
| Jer 7:13 | and now, because you have done all these works, declares the LORD, and I have spoken to you again and again, but you did not listen, and I have called you, but you did not answer, | Unheeded Warnings |
| Ezek 18:24 | But if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and does what is evil and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? All his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin that he has committed, for them he shall die. | Reversal of Righteousness |
| Luke 11:9-10 | And I tell you, 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, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. | Promise of Answering |
| Jer 15:1 | Then the LORD said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go! | Intercessors Rejected |
| John 9:31 | We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. | Conditions for Hearing |
| Ps 66:18 | If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. | Sin and Prayer |
Zechariah 7 verses
Zechariah 7 13 Meaning
Because they had cried out, but no one answered, they will cry out to Me, but I will not answer, says the LORD of Hosts.
Zechariah 7 13 Context
This verse is part of a larger discourse in Zechariah chapter 7 and 8 where the prophet addresses questions from the people of Bethel regarding the continued observance of mourning fasts after the return from Babylonian exile. In the previous verses (Zechariah 7:11-12), God explains that the people and their ancestors had repeatedly refused to listen to His prophets, turning their backs and stopping their ears. This hardened attitude and consistent disobedience led to God's anger and abandonment of the Temple, causing great distress. Zechariah 7:13 directly follows this explanation, revealing the consequence of their persistent rejection of God's word: their own cries for help would go unanswered. The historical context is the post-exilic period, when the remnants of Judah were struggling to rebuild their nation and spiritual life. The people were seeking divine guidance, but their own past rebellion created a barrier to receiving it.
Zechariah 7 13 Word analysis
- וּמִכְבָּר (u'mikhbar): "And because." This introduces the reason for the divine response. It connects the subsequent pronouncement to the preceding behavior.
- הֵבֶאתִי (hevéti): "I brought." This refers to the severe judgment and scattering that befell Judah. The exile itself was a form of bringing distress.
- וַיִּצְעֲקוּ (vaytiz'akú): "And they cried out." This signifies their distress and appeal to God. It highlights their desperate situation.
- וְאֵין (v'ein): "And there is." Emphasizes the absence of a rescuer or any positive response.
- מְשׁוּעָה (meshu'ah): "Deliverance," "Salvation." The lack of this was the core of their suffering.
- אֲנִי (ani): "I." God speaking directly, emphasizing His personal involvement and the direct cause of their plight.
- אֶצְעָק (etz'ak): "I will cry out." This verb (piel stem) indicates a fervent or loud crying, a strong appeal.
- וְלֹא (v'lo): "And not." A definitive negation.
- אֶעֱנֶה (e'ené): "I will answer." The refusal to respond, the shutting of God's ears.
- יְהוָה (YHVH): "The LORD" (LORD of Hosts). This is God's covenant name and title indicating His supreme power and authority, underscoring the seriousness of His declaration.
- צְבָאוֹת (tzeva'ot): "of Hosts" (Armies). This title emphasizes God's omnipotence and sovereignty over all heavenly and earthly powers.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Because they refused to listen and turned their backs..." (Zechariah 7:11) sets the stage for Zechariah 7:13. The "turning their backs" is a symbolic gesture of defiance and rejection, leading to God "stopping His ears" in verse 12.
- "Because they had cried out, but no one answered..." directly reflects their prior pleas for help during their suffering in exile. The mention of "no one answered" implies their attempts to gain favor or assistance failed.
- "...they will cry out to Me, but I will not answer..." This is the core of the consequence. God, in turn, will reject their subsequent appeals. The repetition of "cry out" highlights the mirroring of their action and God's reaction.
- "Says the LORD of Hosts" serves as the authoritative stamp on this pronouncement of judgment, reminding the people of who they are dealing with.
Zechariah 7 13 Bonus Section
The concept of God "hardening" the heart or "stopping His ears" is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. It is often presented not as God initiating sin, but as His response to persistent sin, withdrawing His grace and allowing the natural consequences of rebellion to take hold. This verse serves as a stark reminder that access to God is dependent on obedience and a willingness to listen. It highlights the reciprocal nature of the relationship between God and His people. The "crying out" without "deliverance" mirrors instances where God withdrew His presence from Israel due to their sin, as seen with the Philistine capture of the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 4). The title "LORD of Hosts" here carries particular weight, emphasizing His unmatched power to deliver or withhold salvation.
Zechariah 7 13 Commentary
This verse delivers a severe consequence for prolonged disobedience. God's silence in response to their cries is a direct result of their consistent refusal to listen to His prophets and His Word. They had ignored His guidance and warnings for generations, essentially shutting themselves off from His help. Now, when they face distress and appeal to Him, God reciprocates by refusing to listen. This is not a capricious act, but a just response to their persistent rebellion. It underscores the importance of heeding God's word and the grave repercussions of ignoring it. The people’s current suffering, and their inability to find solace, stems from their past actions. The divine silence emphasizes the broken covenantal relationship due to their unfaithfulness.