Zechariah 7 7

Zechariah 7:7 kjv

Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?

Zechariah 7:7 nkjv

Should you not have obeyed the words which the LORD proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?' "

Zechariah 7:7 niv

Are these not the words the LORD proclaimed through the earlier prophets when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were at rest and prosperous, and the Negev and the western foothills were settled?'?"

Zechariah 7:7 esv

Were not these the words that the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, with her cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?'"

Zechariah 7:7 nlt

Isn't this the same message the LORD proclaimed through the prophets in years past when Jerusalem and the towns of Judah were bustling with people, and the Negev and the foothills of Judah were well populated?'"

Zechariah 7 verses

Zechariah 7 7 Meaning

Zechariah 7:7 is a rhetorical question that sharply reminds the post-exilic generation of the enduring divine messages spoken by God through earlier prophets. It emphasizes that the very words leading to their ancestors' exile were proclaimed when the land, particularly Jerusalem, was flourishing and densely populated, enjoying peace and prosperity. The verse challenges their forgetfulness and implies that their current subdued state is a direct consequence of their forefathers' disregard for these clear warnings from the Lord. It serves as a stark reminder of past obedience failure and the consistency of God's truth.

Zechariah 7 7 Context

Zechariah 7 is set in the fourth year of King Darius's reign (around 518 BC), two years after Zechariah began his prophetic ministry. A delegation from Bethel sent Regem-Melech and Sharezer to Jerusalem to inquire whether they should continue their traditional fasts commemorating the destruction of the Temple (fasts in the fifth and seventh months, established during the exile). This question likely stemmed from the ongoing work on the second Temple, wondering if its progress negated the need for these mourning rituals. Zechariah, speaking for the Lord, shifts the focus from ritual observance to the underlying issues of obedience, justice, and mercy. Instead of directly answering their fast question in verse 7, God reminds them of why they endured exile, recalling the unheeded words of "the former prophets" who warned of judgment when Judah was prosperous. This powerfully sets up God's indictment against their past superficial religious practice (verses 4-6) and lays the groundwork for His call to true righteousness in verses 9-10. The historical context is crucial: they are a generation returned from exile, struggling to rebuild their lives and Temple, haunted by their history, yet possibly falling into similar patterns of ritualism over heartfelt obedience.

Zechariah 7 7 Word analysis

• Are not these: A potent rhetorical question (Ha-lo elah ha-devarim). It expects an affirmative answer, subtly accusing the hearers of knowing the truth but possibly ignoring its implications. It highlights God's consistency and humanity's failure.
• the words: (Heb. devarim, דברים) - Signifies divine utterances, not merely human advice. These words carried the authority of YHWH. This term is foundational for prophetic messages throughout Scripture, often beginning with "the word of the Lord came to me."
• which the LORD proclaimed: (Heb. asher qara' YHWH, אשר קרא יהוה) - Qara' means "to call," "to proclaim aloud," or "to read." It denotes an open, public, and unmistakable declaration, not a secret whisper. The subject, YHWH, emphasizes the divine source and unchangeable nature of the message. This stresses the ultimate authority behind the prophetic warnings.
• by the former prophets: (Heb. b'yad ha-nevi'im ha-rishonim, ביד הנביאים הראשנים) - B'yad means "by the hand of" or "by means of." This explicitly refers to the pre-exilic prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, and others who prophesied before the Babylonian exile. It grounds Zechariah's message in the long-standing tradition of God's warnings. Their messages were clear, consistent, and documented.
• when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous: (Heb. k'hayot Yerushalayim yoshevet v'shalvah, כהיות ירושלים יושבת ושלוה) -
  • Yoshevet (יושבת) means "dwelling," "inhabited."
  • Shalvah (שלוה) means "tranquil," "at ease," "prosperous," or "secure." This phrase describes a time of national well-being, peace, and material blessings, emphasizing the contrast with their present post-exilic struggles. The point is, they ignored God's word during times of ease, not just hardship.
• along with her surrounding cities: Expands the scope beyond just the capital, indicating a widespread prosperity across the land, and thus, widespread responsibility and disobedience.
• and the South and the lowland were inhabited: (Heb. ve-ha-negev v'ha-sh'felah yoshevim, והנגב והשפלה יושבים) - Specific geographical regions of Judea.
  • The South (Negev, נגב): The arid southern region of Judah, suggesting it too was settled and productive, not just empty desert.
  • The lowland (Shephelah, שפלה): The western foothills of Judah, known for its fertility. Mentioning these specific, once-fertile and populous areas reinforces the scale of past blessing and widespread apostasy that led to widespread judgment and desolation.

Words-group analysis

• "Are not these the words which the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets": This phrase highlights the divine origin and authoritative continuity of God's message across generations. There's no new information; it's a reiteration of timeless truth. This serves as an indirect polemic against any notion that their suffering was random or that God's current demands were arbitrary; instead, it demonstrates the just unfolding of long-declared divine consequences. It also challenges any selective memory regarding the past.
• "when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous... and the South and the lowland were inhabited": This section draws a stark contrast between a glorious, settled past and the current reality of a struggling, recently resettled community. The pre-exilic people had every reason to listen—God's blessings were evident—yet they rebelled. This historical irony intensifies the message; disobedience led to the forfeiture of the very prosperity they once enjoyed. It underlines the extent of the blessings God had bestowed before judgment, making the rebellion even more grievous.

Zechariah 7 7 Bonus section

The rhetorical question in Zech 7:7 functions not just to remind, but to strip away any potential excuses or ignorance on the part of the people. It assumes they do know, or should know, the history and the message. This places a heavy burden of responsibility on the listeners – they cannot claim ignorance. Furthermore, the divine authority "by the former prophets" reinforces the unified voice of God's revelation across time. It demonstrates the enduring relevance of pre-exilic prophetic messages for a post-exilic audience, serving as a warning against spiritual amnesia. This concept underscores the timelessness of God's moral and ethical requirements, linking justice, mercy, and humility from one dispensation to the next, proving that God's call to righteousness is immutable, regardless of Israel's external circumstances (prosperity or exile).

Zechariah 7 7 Commentary

Zechariah 7:7 is a profound historical pivot, directing the attention of the returning exiles away from ritualistic questions about fasting towards the foundational issue of obedience to God's eternal word. It's not merely a history lesson but a challenge to introspection. God, through Zechariah, effectively says, "Don't you remember why you are in this predicament?" The prosperous past—when God's people enjoyed a bountiful land with Jerusalem and its regions flourishing—is juxtaposed against the warnings that were consistently sounded. The pre-exilic prophets' words were not abstract theories but urgent calls to repentance given amid tangible blessings. The fact that these warnings went unheeded when life was "easy" made the subsequent exile an unavoidable, just consequence. This verse thus clarifies that God's character is consistent, His warnings are real, and their past suffering was not an accident but a direct outcome of national disobedience. For the post-exilic community, this means that merely observing fasts or rebuilding the Temple without addressing the heart-level issues of justice and mercy (which Zechariah addresses in the subsequent verses) would repeat their ancestors' fatal errors.

Practical examples:

• Like a child being reminded of a repeated warning from a parent, "Didn't I tell you not to touch that stove, and look what happened?" after a burn.
• A nation recalling the wisdom of founding documents or past leaders to address present challenges, recognizing historical patterns of success or failure.
• Individuals realizing that consistent biblical principles regarding stewardship or relationships, though proclaimed long ago, still bear consequences if ignored today.