Zechariah 7:9 kjv
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
Zechariah 7:9 nkjv
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother.
Zechariah 7:9 niv
"This is what the LORD Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.
Zechariah 7:9 esv
"Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,
Zechariah 7:9 nlt
"This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another.
Zechariah 7 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 16:20 | Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live... | Pursuit of true justice. |
| Psa 82:3 | Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted... | Duty to protect the vulnerable. |
| Prov 21:3 | To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. | Justice over ritual. |
| Isa 1:17 | Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression... | Call to active, ethical living. |
| Jer 22:3 | Thus says the LORD: Do justice and righteousness... do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, or the widow... | Justice and compassion for the marginalized. |
| Amos 5:24 | But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! | God's demand for pervasive justice. |
| Mic 6:8 | He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? | Summary of God's core requirements. |
| Zech 8:16 | These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts... | Reinforces true judgment within the community. |
| Matt 5:7 | Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. | New Testament emphasis on mercy. |
| Matt 9:13 | Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ | Jesus quoting Hos 6:6, prioritizing mercy over ritual. |
| Matt 23:23 | Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith... | Condemnation of superficial righteousness. |
| Luke 11:42 | But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. | Justice and love of God as core tenets. |
| Exod 34:6-7 | The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness... | God's own character of mercy and faithfulness. |
| Psa 103:8 | The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. | God's compassionate nature. |
| Hos 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love (hesed) and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | Divine preference for inner virtue over external rite. |
| Col 3:12 | Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. | New Testament command for compassionate living. |
| Lev 19:18 | ...but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. | Foundation for inter-personal mercy and compassion. |
| Rom 12:8 | ...the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. | Exhortation to cheerful mercy in the church. |
| Rom 13:8 | Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. | Love as fulfilling the law, implying justice and mercy. |
| Gal 5:14 | For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” | Love for neighbor, encapsulating justice and mercy. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice... | Emphasizing obedience over mere ritual. |
| Jer 7:5-7 | If you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow... then I will let you dwell in this place. | Connects ethical behavior with God's blessing and presence. |
| Amos 5:21-23 | I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies... But let justice roll on like a river... | Rejection of empty religious ritual without justice. |
| Zech 7:10 | do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the sojourner or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart. | Direct follow-up to Zech 7:9, providing specific applications. |
Zechariah 7 verses
Zechariah 7 9 Meaning
Zechariah 7:9 conveys a direct and authoritative command from God to His people. It calls for active participation in upholding true, impartial justice and for consistently demonstrating kindness, compassion, and covenant loyalty in their interactions with one another. This verse prioritizes ethical conduct and inter-personal righteousness over mere ritualistic observances.
Zechariah 7 9 Context
Zechariah 7 opens with a delegation from Bethel sending people to the priests and prophets in Jerusalem to inquire if they should continue observing the fasts commemorating the destruction of the Temple, now that the Temple reconstruction was underway (Zech 7:1-3). This verse is part of God's response through the prophet Zechariah, which critiques their superficial approach to religion. Instead of answering the fast question directly in verse 5-6, the Lord challenges their motivations, asking if their fasts were truly for Him. Verse 7 reminds them that these are the same ethical requirements preached by earlier prophets to their forefathers who were disobedient, leading to the Babylonian exile. Zechariah 7:9, therefore, re-states these foundational commands of justice, mercy, and compassion, highlighting that true worship involves right conduct and relationships, not merely external rites. Historically, the post-exilic community was rebuilding physical structures but still needed to restore their spiritual and ethical foundations as a covenant people.
Zechariah 7 9 Word analysis
This is what the LORD Almighty said (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת - Koh amar YHWH Tzeva'ot):
- כֹּה אָמַר (Koh amar): "Thus says," "This is what said." A standard prophetic formula indicating a direct, authoritative message from God. It leaves no room for human interpretation or dilution of the command.
- יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת (YHWH Tzeva'ot): "The LORD Almighty" or "The LORD of Hosts." This divine title emphasizes God's sovereign power and universal authority, reinforcing the gravity and inescapability of the command.
Administer true justice (שִׁפְטוּ מִשְׁפַּט אֱמֶת - shoftu mishpat emet):
- שִׁפְטוּ (shoftu): "Administer," "judge," "render judgment." This is an imperative verb, a direct command. It signifies active execution of judgment, implying not only legal rulings but also discerning and implementing fairness in all spheres of life.
- מִשְׁפַּט (mishpat): "Justice," "judgment," "custom," "ordinance." Refers to the fair application of law, righteous legal decisions, and also extends to general righteous conduct and societal equity.
- אֱמֶת (emet): "True," "truth," "faithfulness," "reliability." Qualifies mishpat, demanding not just any justice, but genuine, honest, and unwavering justice, devoid of partiality, corruption, or self-interest. It demands integrity at its core.
Show mercy and compassion (חֶסֶד וְרַחֲמִים עֲשׂוּ - ḥesed veraḥamim asu):
- חֶסֶד (ḥesed): "Mercy," "steadfast love," "covenant loyalty," "kindness." This word encapsulates faithful, active love, especially within a covenant relationship. It signifies enduring and loyal kindness beyond strict obligation.
- רַחֲמִים (raḥamim): "Compassion," "tender mercy," "pity." Derived from the root meaning "womb," it conveys a deep, visceral, empathetic pity and loving concern, often extended towards the vulnerable.
- עֲשׂוּ (asu): "Show," "do," "make," "practice." Another imperative, demanding active demonstration. Mercy and compassion are not just internal feelings but must be put into practice through deeds.
to one another (אִישׁ אֶת־אָחִיו - ish et aḥiw):
- Literally, "a man to his brother" or "each man to his brother." This phrase highlights the communal and relational aspect of these commands. Justice, mercy, and compassion are to be practiced universally within the community, extending to all fellow members, irrespective of their status. It is about reciprocal care and responsibility.
Zechariah 7 9 Bonus section
The injunction to "administer true justice" holds particular significance for those in positions of authority, such as judges and leaders, but its application extends to every individual within the community. Each person is called to uphold truth and fairness in their personal sphere of influence. Similarly, "mercy and compassion" are not selective acts but a consistent posture towards all. This prophetic word from Zechariah directly challenged the post-exilic community, reminding them that their return to the land and rebuilding of the Temple required more than just physical restoration; it demanded a spiritual and ethical rebuilding aligned with God's character. This verse forms part of a broader prophetic continuum where outward religious forms are consistently critiqued if divorced from inward, ethical righteousness and compassion towards others, particularly the vulnerable.
Zechariah 7 9 Commentary
Zechariah 7:9 powerfully articulates God's timeless priorities for His people. Through the direct word of the LORD Almighty, it emphasizes that genuine religion is not found in external observances, like fasting, but in the internal transformation that manifests in ethical and loving actions. "Administer true justice" calls for an uncompromising commitment to fairness, honesty, and impartiality in all legal and social interactions. This goes beyond mere legalism, demanding justice rooted in truth. Hand-in-hand with justice, God commands His people to actively "show mercy and compassion." Hesed (steadfast love/covenant loyalty) and raḥamim (tender compassion) are core attributes of God Himself, which He expects to be mirrored in His people's conduct. These are not passive sentiments but active virtues that drive kindness, support for the vulnerable, and forgiveness. The phrase "to one another" underscores the communal nature of these ethics. These principles are for daily, relational living within the community of faith, ensuring a society built on integrity and mutual care, reflecting God's character in the world. This verse stands as a crucial prophetic summary, echoing throughout the Old Testament and finding resonance in the teachings of Jesus, who often called for mercy and justice as the "weightier matters" of the law.