Zechariah 8 15

Zechariah 8:15 kjv

So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.

Zechariah 8:15 nkjv

So again in these days I am determined to do good To Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear.

Zechariah 8:15 niv

"so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid.

Zechariah 8:15 esv

so again have I purposed in these days to bring good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear not.

Zechariah 8:15 nlt

But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don't be afraid.

Zechariah 8 verses

Zechariah 8 15 Meaning

Zechariah 8:15 proclaims a divine shift: just as God previously purposed hardship for Jerusalem and Judah, He now, in the present days of their repentance and rebuilding, determines to bring them profound good and blessings. This reversal of intention provides a powerful foundation for the people to dismiss their fears and embrace a future defined by God's renewed favor and active involvement in their lives, restoring their welfare and prosperity.

Zechariah 8 15 Context

Zechariah 8 stands as a profound message of hope and future restoration for the post-exilic community. This chapter is a part of a larger section (chapters 7-8) where the prophet addresses the people's fasting and inquires about its purpose. God, through Zechariah, reassures them of His renewed commitment to Jerusalem and Judah. The verses immediately preceding Zec 8:15 (Zec 8:9-14) explicitly contrast the previous period of divine displeasure and hardship with the forthcoming era of blessings. Zec 8:14 states that God had previously purposed evil upon them due to their disobedience. Therefore, Zec 8:15 acts as the crucial turning point, signaling God's reversal of that purpose from judgment to beneficence. Historically, the people were in the midst of rebuilding the Temple, facing economic struggles, opposition, and a lingering sense of discouragement and divine abandonment. This verse is a direct address to their spiritual and emotional state, intended to motivate, comfort, and establish unwavering faith in God's promises of good.

Zechariah 8 15 Word analysis

• So again (וְכֵן / v'khen): This phrase connects Zec 8:15 directly to the preceding verse. The "again" (וְכֵן - and thus, so) highlights a pattern: just as God previously purposed evil (Zec 8:14), so too He now purposed good. It indicates a significant reversal and continuation of God's decisive actions. It emphasizes divine intentionality in both judgment and blessing.

• in these days (בַּיָּמִים הָאֵלֶּה / bayyamim ha'elleh): Refers to the current period of the post-exilic community, a stark contrast to "the days" of past judgment. It grounds God's promise firmly in their present reality, not just a distant future, signaling the immediacy of His restorative work.

• I have purposed (זָמַמְתִּי / zamamti): The Hebrew verb zāmam is profound. It means "to devise," "to intend," "to plan," or "to determine." Its critical significance lies in its identical usage in Zec 8:14, where God purposed evil. This parallelism powerfully conveys God's sovereignty over history and destiny. What God purposed, He performs. This is a deliberate, unchangeable, divine resolve.

• to do good (לְהֵיטִיב / l'heytiv): The infinitive construct from yatav, meaning "to be good" or "to do good." This directly contrasts with "to bring disaster" or "to do evil" (לְהָרַע / l'hara') in Zec 8:14. It encompasses peace, prosperity, fruitfulness, safety, and divine favor—a comprehensive reversal of the former judgment.

• to Jerusalem (לִירוּשָׁלַם / l'yerushalayim): Refers to the literal city and symbolically to the spiritual heart and destiny of God's people. It signifies the place of His dwelling and focus of His redemptive plans.

• and to the house of Judah (וְאֶת בֵּית יְהוּדָה / v'et beyt yehudah): Encompasses the people, the wider tribal community. God's good intention is for both the holy city and its inhabitants, promising restoration to the entire covenant nation.

• do not fear (אַל תִּירָאוּ / 'al tira'u): A strong, immediate negative imperative. This is the direct implication of God's stated purpose to do good. Fear is an appropriate response to judgment, but with the divine turning to blessing, fear becomes unwarranted and counterproductive. It's an encouragement to trust fully in the Lord's declared favor and plans for welfare.

• "So again... I have purposed": This word group establishes the absolute divine sovereignty over destiny. God is the one who initiates and directs; events are not random but stem from His deliberate intention, whether for judgment or blessing. This declaration reaffirms God's covenant control and personal involvement.

• "to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah": This phrase group signifies comprehensive, nation-wide restoration. God's blessings are not merely spiritual but extend to the physical city and the entire community, impacting their social, economic, and political well-being.

• "I have purposed... do not fear": This core connection explicitly links God's deliberate decision to bless with the appropriate human response of trust and freedom from anxiety. The security of the future is grounded in the unchangeable will of a benevolent God.

Zechariah 8 15 Bonus section

The emphasis on God's deliberate "purposing" (zāmam) throughout Zechariah 8 (in both verses 14 and 15) presents a unique literary and theological device. It underscores the concept of God's direct agency and providential governance over all affairs. This contrasts sharply with any ancient Near Eastern notions of capricious gods or impersonal fate. Yahweh’s purposes are purposeful, calculated, and decisive. This also sets the stage for a strong ethical call in the subsequent verses (Zec 8:16-17), implying that their human purposes should now align with God's good purpose—speaking truth, administering justice, and hating evil. Thus, the divine reversal of purpose is meant to elicit a corresponding human reversal from past sins to covenant obedience, leading to sustained blessings.

Zechariah 8 15 Commentary

Zechariah 8:15 encapsulates a pivotal theological truth: God's sovereign power to determine the destiny of His people. The repeated use of the verb zāmam for "purposed" highlights that both the past judgment and the current blessing flow from the same intentional divine will. This isn't a passive shift but an active, determined turn from 'doing evil' to 'doing good'—a full reversal of His disciplinary actions. This change is rooted in the people's repentance and their turning back to Him (implied by the preceding context of temple rebuilding and obedience), activating His covenant faithfulness. For the post-exilic community, still grappling with the scars of exile and present hardships, this declaration served as a profound reassurance. It dispelled the fear and despondency that had plagued them, grounding their future hope and security squarely in God's explicit purpose of beneficence for them. The command "do not fear" becomes not merely encouragement but a logical conclusion to God's stated plan: if God is intentionally working good for them, then fear becomes obsolete.