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 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zechariah 8:13 | "And it shall come to pass that as I was 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, but let your hands be strong." | Direct promise of transformation from curse to blessing |
| Jeremiah 24:7 | "I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart." | Reciprocal relationship and divine enabling |
| Ezekiel 11:19 | "Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh." | New heart and spirit for obedience |
| Deuteronomy 28:37 | "And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all the nations where the LORD will drive you." | Contrast with previous curse of being a byword |
| Genesis 12:2 | "I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing." | God’s initial promise to Abraham; fulfilled in a new way here |
| Isaiah 19:24-25 | "In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed are You, O people, My people, and My handiwork, the work of My hands, Israel.” | Israel as a source of blessing to nations |
| Jeremiah 42:6 | "Whatever the LORD your God says to us, we will hear it, and obey the voice of the LORD our God, that it may be well with us." | The condition for blessings: obedience |
| Romans 11:15 | "For if their being cast away is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" | Gentile inclusion in God's plan, connected to Israel's restoration |
| Galatians 3:14 | "that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." | Abrahamic blessing extending to believers in Christ |
| Philippians 2:14-15 | "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." | Believers reflecting God's light among nations |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you might proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." | Identity of God’s people as a testimony |
| Matthew 5:16 | "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." | Practical outworking of being a blessing |
| Jeremiah 30:10-11 | "‘For I am with you,’ says the LORD, ‘to save you; though I make a full end of all nations where I scatter you, yet I will not make a full end of you, but I will correct you in measure; I will not utterly destroy you or leave you unpunished.’" | God’s unwavering faithfulness and conditional discipline |
| Amos 9:14-15 | "I will bring back from captivity my people Israel; they will rebuild ruined cities and live in them, they will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant them in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the LORD your God." | Restoration and security |
| Isaiah 60:3 | "The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." | Nations drawn to Israel's restored glory |
| Luke 2:32 | "A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” | Christ fulfilling the role of light for Israel and Gentiles |
| Acts 3:25 | "You are the sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’" | Fulfillment of Abrahamic covenant in Christ |
| Romans 15:10 | "And again He says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” | Call for Gentiles to rejoice with the redeemed people of God |
| John 4:22 | "You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews." | Salvation originates from the Jewish people, through Christ |
| Psalm 118:22 | "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone." | Christ, rejected by His people, becomes the foundation |
| Isaiah 54:3 | "For you shall expand to the right and to the left; Your descendants will inherit the nations, and make desolate cities inhabited." | Future expansion and dominion |
Zechariah 8 verses
Zechariah 8 13 Meaning
This verse is a divine promise of blessing and protection upon Israel. It signifies a shift from curses to blessings, a reversal of former calamities. The Lord assures them that their prosperity and safety will be so evident that it will serve as a testimony to other nations. This assurance aims to encourage them to remain faithful and courageous in rebuilding and repopulating Jerusalem.
Zechariah 8 13 Context
Zechariah 8:13 is situated within a broader prophecy of restoration for post-exilic Judah. Following the return from Babylonian captivity, Jerusalem was still in a precarious state, and the returned exiles faced numerous challenges in rebuilding their community and religious life. This chapter offers a message of hope and assurance from the Lord, addressing their fears and encouraging them to continue the rebuilding process with renewed strength.
The prophecy speaks of a future time when Jerusalem and Judah, which had previously experienced divine judgment and had been scattered among the nations as a curse and a subject of mockery, would be restored and become a source of blessing. This restoration is not merely national but spiritual, involving a new covenant relationship and widespread prosperity. Zechariah's message aims to re-establish their identity as God’s chosen people and to encourage their faith in God's promises, contrasting the past curses with future blessings. This vision extends beyond the immediate post-exilic period to the messianic era, highlighting a complete transformation of their status before God and the world.
Zechariah 8 13 Word Analysis
וְהָיָה (vehāyâ): "And it shall come to pass" or "And it will be". This is a common conjunctive phrase introducing future events or pronouncements. It signifies a continuation of the narrative and introduces a certainty.
כַּאֲשֶׁר (ka’ăšer): "as" or "like". This introduces a comparison or a former state.
הָיִיתִי (hāyîṯî): "I was" or "I have been". Refers to God's past action or the state of His people as seen through His interaction with them.
לְקְלָלָה (leqelālâ): "for a curse" or "as a curse". This word comes from the root קָלַל (qālal), meaning to be light, trivial, or cursed. In this context, it refers to the curse of judgment that fell upon Israel due to disobedience.
בַּגּוֹיִם (baggôyîm): "among the nations" or "in the nations". The preposition בְּ (bə) here denotes "among" or "in the midst of". גּוֹי (gôy) refers to a nation or a people. It signifies that Israel's cursed state was visible to and even experienced among other peoples.
בֵּית יְהוּדָה (bêṯ yəhûḏâ): "house of Judah". Refers to the Southern Kingdom, Judah, and its people.
וּבֵית יִשְׂרָאֵל (ûḇêṯ yiśərā’ēl): "and house of Israel". Refers to the Northern Kingdom, Israel, and its people, often used here in a comprehensive sense for all God’s people.
כֵּן (kēn): "so" or "thus". This word directly links the previous condition ("as") to the future outcome.
אוֹשִׁיעַ (ôšîaʿ): "I will save" or "I will deliver". From the root יָשַׁע (yāšaʿ), meaning to save, help, deliver, rescue. This verb denotes divine intervention and deliverance.
אֶתְכֶם (’eṯkem): "you" (plural masculine). Refers directly to the people of Judah and Israel.
וִהְיִיתֶם (wîhîyîṯem): "and you shall be" or "and you will be".
לִבְרָכָה (livrākâ): "for a blessing" or "a blessing". From the root בָּרַךְ (bārak), meaning to bless. It signifies conferring favor, prosperity, and divine approval. This is the direct opposite of "a curse."
לֹא תִירָאוּ (lō’ ṯîrā’û): "do not fear" or "you shall not fear". This is a direct command and reassurance.
וְתִהְיֶינָה (wəṯihyênâ): "and let them be" or "and they shall be" (feminine plural, likely referring to hands or actions). The context suggests a feminine plural, possibly implying hands or efforts.
יְדֵיכֶם (yəḏêkem): "your hands" (plural masculine). Represents human action, work, and ability.
חֲזָקוֹת (ḥăzāqôṯ): "strong" or "strengthened" (feminine plural adjective agreeing with יְדֵיכֶם implied, or perhaps abstractly referring to works). This describes the state of their hands – empowered and able to act decisively.
Groups of words:
- "as I was for a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel": This phrase encapsulates their past historical experience of being a judgment pronounced by God to the other nations. Their suffering and dispersion served as a warning.
- "so I will save you": This is the turning point, the divine promise of deliverance, directly countering the former curse.
- "and you shall be a blessing": This inverts their status from a source of warning/curse to a conduit of God's favor, impacting other nations positively.
- "Do not fear, but let your hands be strong": This is an imperative encouraging courage and diligent action in the face of their current difficulties, under the assurance of God's salvation and future blessing.
Zechariah 8 13 Bonus Section
The reversal from being a curse to a blessing has significant theological implications. It reflects God's redemptive plan, which ultimately finds its perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate "blessing" to all nations (Galatians 3:8, 16). For Israel, this prophecy speaks of a national restoration that will manifest God's glory. For believers today, it serves as a reminder that God’s faithfulness leads to ultimate transformation, turning setbacks into opportunities to witness His power and grace. The strength commanded for their hands signifies that God’s deliverance is often accompanied by human responsibility and effort. This isn't passive waiting, but active participation empowered by divine assurance. The dual mention of "house of Judah" and "house of Israel" points to the comprehensive restoration that would eventually include all descendants, highlighting God's desire for unity and wholeness among His people.
Zechariah 8 13 Commentary
This verse presents a powerful promise of transformation. God’s people had been cursed among the nations due to their sin and the consequent judgment. Now, God declares a reversal. Instead of being an object of reproach, they will become an object of blessing, and indeed, a blessing to others. This profound change underscores God’s faithfulness to His covenant promises. It's a future-oriented statement, pointing to a time of complete restoration and divine favor. The command to "not fear" and "let your hands be strong" is crucial; it means that despite past hardships and present challenges, they are to proceed with confidence and diligent effort in rebuilding and living out their restored identity, assured of God's enabling power. This speaks to both corporate restoration and individual encouragement.