Zechariah 8 13

Zechariah 8:13 kjv

And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.

Zechariah 8:13 nkjv

And it shall come to pass That just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, So I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, Let your hands be strong.'

Zechariah 8:13 niv

Just as you, Judah and Israel, have been a curse among the nations, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong."

Zechariah 8:13 esv

And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong."

Zechariah 8:13 nlt

Among the other nations, Judah and Israel became symbols of a cursed nation. But no longer! Now I will rescue you and make you both a symbol and a source of blessing. So don't be afraid. Be strong, and get on with rebuilding the Temple!

Zechariah 8 verses

Zechariah 8 13 Meaning

Zechariah 8:13 declares a profound reversal of fortune for the returned exiles of Judah and the dispersed remnants of Israel. Just as their past suffering and national judgment made them an example of divine curse among the surrounding nations, so too will God act to deliver them and transform their status. He promises to save them from this state of condemnation, enabling them to become a symbol and source of blessing to the nations. This divine declaration also carries an imperative, commanding the people not to give in to fear or discouragement but to courageously persevere in the work God has called them to do.

Zechariah 8 13 Context

Zechariah 8:13 is a central part of a series of promises (chapters 7-8) delivered by the prophet Zechariah around 518 BC, during the reign of Darius I. This period marks approximately two decades after the initial return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon. The people had inquired of Zechariah about the continuing practice of fasting established during the exile. Instead of a direct answer about fasting, God uses the opportunity to issue a profound series of exhortations and promises regarding the future of Jerusalem and Judah.

Chapter 8 details ten distinct promises, painting a picture of a glorious, blessed, and populous Jerusalem where God will dwell and His people will flourish. This particular verse comes after promises of divine presence, an end to mourning fasts, security, and agricultural prosperity. The immediate audience for Zechariah 8:13 consisted of the returned remnant, disheartened and struggling amidst the rebuilding of the temple and city walls, facing both external opposition and internal spiritual apathy. They were acutely aware of their recent history—the devastation, exile, and dispersion that had made them a proverbial curse among their Gentile neighbors. They carried the shame and burden of their ancestors' disobedience. Zechariah's message provides divine assurance that God remembers His covenant and is faithful to His promises, even when the people feel their weakest. It sets the stage for a spiritual and physical transformation, emphasizing divine grace and human responsibility.

Zechariah 8 13 Word analysis

• And it shall come to pass: (וְהָיָה, ve-hayah)

  • Word Level: A common prophetic formula, often signifying a divinely ordained event in the future, marking a significant transition or fulfillment. It underscores the certainty of what is being declared.
  • Significance: This isn't just a hopeful wish but a definitive statement from God about an assured future outcome, often contrasted with a past state.

• that as you were a curse: (כַּאֲשֶׁר הֱיִיתֶם קְלָלָה, ka'asher hayitem q'lalah)

  • קְלָלָה (q'lalah): "curse." In the Old Testament, a curse is often the pronouncement of judgment or severe malediction, signifying the withdrawal of divine favor, leading to adverse circumstances, destruction, or ostracism.
  • Original Context: This refers to Israel's historical experience of judgment, particularly the Babylonian exile and dispersion, as foretold in the covenant curses (Lev 26; Deut 28). They became a byword and an object of scorn and dismay among the nations, a living testimony to the consequences of disobedience to God.
  • Significance: It highlights the depth of their prior fallen state and the gravity of the judgment they endured, setting up a powerful antithesis to the promise that follows.

• among the nations: (בַּגּוֹיִם, ba'goyim)

  • Word Level: Refers to the Gentile peoples, often those surrounding Israel.
  • Significance: The judgment was public and observable, affirming God's justice to the wider world. Their fallen state was not hidden but displayed as an example.

• O house of Judah and house of Israel: (בֵּית יְהוּדָה וּבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל, beit Yehudah u'veit Yisra'el)

  • Words-group: This is crucial. "House of Judah" refers to the Southern Kingdom, whose remnant had returned from Babylonian exile and were rebuilding. "House of Israel" refers to the Northern Kingdom, which had been taken into Assyrian captivity much earlier and largely dispersed, often considered "lost."
  • Significance: The prophecy explicitly includes both houses, indicating a comprehensive and eventual reunification and restoration of all of Israel, a theme common in post-exilic prophecy. It speaks to a restoration beyond the immediate returnees, looking towards a more complete national restoration and unity. This reunification negates the long-standing political and spiritual schism.

• so will I save you: (כֵּן אוֹשִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם, ken o'shi'a et'khem)

  • אוֹשִׁיעַ (o'shi'a): "I will save/deliver." From the root יָשַׁע (yasha'), meaning to be wide, free, to deliver, rescue, or grant victory.
  • Significance: The deliverance is divinely initiated ("I will save"). This salvation is not just physical rescue but a transformation from their state of "curse" and suffering. It's a restoration to God's favor and protection.

• and you shall be a blessing: (וִהְיִיתֶם בְּרָכָה, vihyitem b'rakhah)

  • בְּרָכָה (b'rakhah): "blessing." The opposite of q'lalah. It refers to a state of divine favor, prosperity, and spiritual flourishing, making one an instrument or source of good for others.
  • Original Context: Reversal of Deut 28, a fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12:2-3) where Israel was meant to be a blessing to all nations.
  • Significance: Their identity and impact on the world will be radically transformed. Instead of exemplifying divine wrath, they will exemplify divine grace and goodness, radiating God's favor to the nations.

• Fear not: (אַל תִּירָאוּ, al tir'au)

  • Word Level: An imperative command, frequent in the Bible, especially when God is about to perform a great work or make an extraordinary promise.
  • Significance: This addresses the pervasive discouragement and apprehension of the remnant. They were a small, vulnerable group; God's promises would have seemed overwhelming. This command calls them to trust in God's faithfulness despite daunting circumstances.

• but let your hands be strong: (יֶחְזְקוּ יְדֵיכֶם, yehch'z'ku y'deichem)

  • Words-group: An imperative exhortation for active effort, diligence, and courage. Literally "may your hands be strong" or "strengthen your hands."
  • Original Context: A direct call to the returnees to continue the work of rebuilding the temple and city, which they had previously started but paused due to opposition and weariness (Hag 1:2-11; Ezr 4:1-5, 24).
  • Significance: Divine promises do not negate human responsibility. God's act of salvation is guaranteed, but the people are still called to active faith, courage, and perseverance in their practical duties. It combines assurance of future glory with a present call to faithful labor, reflecting God's sovereignty and human agency.

Zechariah 8 13 Bonus section

• Polemic against Pagan Fatalism: In a world where national fortunes were often attributed to the fickle will of numerous deities or immutable fate, this prophecy from the LORD (Yahweh) asserts His absolute sovereignty over history. He is the one who both administered the "curse" due to covenant infidelity and orchestrates the "blessing" as part of His redemptive plan, demonstrating His justice and faithfulness far surpassing any localized pagan deity. He changes the "lot" of the nations.
• The Nature of Biblical Blessing: A "blessing" in the biblical sense is not merely material prosperity, though that can be a component. Fundamentally, it signifies the experience of God's favor, presence, and shalom, leading to a state of flourishing that often spills over to impact others positively.
• Gradual and Ultimate Fulfillment: While some aspects of this prophecy found partial fulfillment in the post-exilic period with the rebuilding of Jerusalem and renewed life, the full scope of Israel's complete unification, worldwide blessing, and the absence of fear or weakness points towards a greater, eschatological fulfillment through the Messiah, often associated with the millennial kingdom where Christ reigns.
• Practical Application: For believers, this verse offers a powerful model for overcoming past failures and present discouragement. Just as Israel moved from "curse" to "blessing" by God's grace, those who were once alienated from God and under judgment are, in Christ, saved and become a channel of God's blessing to the world (Gal 3:13-14). We are similarly called to "fear not" and "be strong" in our service, confident in God's faithfulness to complete the work He has begun in us and through us.

Zechariah 8 13 Commentary

Zechariah 8:13 offers a magnificent promise of divine reversal, a pivot from historical suffering to future glory for Israel. Having endured the "curse" of exile and dispersion, publicly demonstrating the severe consequences of disobedience among the Gentile nations, God declares His intent to "save" them. This salvation goes beyond mere physical return; it signifies a complete transformation of their identity and influence. From a proverb of judgment, Israel—both the Southern (Judah) and Northern (Israel) kingdoms, signifying a complete and unified nation—will become a "blessing." This fulfillment harks back to Abrahamic promises (Gen 12:3), indicating that Israel's restoration will ultimately facilitate a channel of blessing for all humanity, particularly realized in the coming of the Messiah. The passage isn't just a prophecy but also an exhortation. Knowing this grand future, the people are commanded to "fear not" and to "let their hands be strong." This dispels the despondency prevalent among the struggling post-exilic community and charges them with renewed courage and diligent effort in the ongoing work of rebuilding, knowing their labor is undergirded by divine promise and empowered by God's salvific purpose. This verse powerfully intertwines God's sovereign act of redemption with human responsibility in faithful obedience.