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

This verse, Zechariah 8:15, is a divine declaration stating that the actions and intentions of God toward His people have shifted from past judgments to present and future favor. It emphasizes that God's wrath, previously directed at them, has been turned away, and He has determined to bring good and peace to Jerusalem and its inhabitants. It is a proclamation of restoration and renewed covenant relationship.

Zechariah 8 15 Context

This verse is situated within Zechariah chapter 8, a prophetic discourse concerning the future restoration of Jerusalem and the people of Judah following their Babylonian exile. The surrounding verses describe a period of peace, prosperity, and widespread recognition of God's presence among His people. Previous chapters (1-7) dealt with visions of judgment and the call to repentance. Chapter 8 marks a significant shift towards hope and the establishment of a new covenant. Historically, this message was delivered during the post-exilic period when the temple was being rebuilt and the community was struggling with discouragement and their identity as God's people. The assurance in verse 15 is a direct response to their fears and the memory of past divine displeasure that led to their chastisement. It reassures them that God's original intent for them was good, and the recent judgment was corrective, not destructive.

Zechariah 8 15 Word analysis

• "As": (Hebrew: כְּ - ke) A preposition indicating manner or comparison. It links God's past intention to His present determination.
• "I": (Hebrew: אֲנִי - ani) The first-person singular pronoun, emphasizing God's personal agency and decision-making.
• "intended": (Hebrew: הָפַךְ - hafakh) Lit. "to turn," but here signifies "to turn against" or "to devise" (evil). It implies a purposeful disposition towards them.
• "to do": (Hebrew: לַעֲשׂוֹת - la'asot) The infinitive form of the verb "to do" or "to make."
• "evil": (Hebrew: רָעָה - ra'ah) Misfortune, disaster, harm, or wickedness. Here, it refers to the judgments and calamities sent upon them.
• "to you": (Hebrew: לָכֶם - lakhem) Plural masculine pronoun, referring to the people of Israel.
• "when": (Hebrew: וּבְהִתְעוֹת - uvhit'ot) Lit. "and in their deviating" or "and when they turned away." Connects God's intention with the people's provocation.
• "your": (Hebrew: אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם - avoteikhem) Plural possessive, referring to the ancestors.
• "fathers": (Hebrew: אָבוֹת - abot) Ancestors. It points to the historical continuity of their disobedience.
• "provoked": (Hebrew: הִמְרִי - himri) To rebel, to be stubborn, to provoke to anger. This word encapsulates active defiance against God.
• "me": (Hebrew: בִּי - bi) The first-person singular pronoun, referring to God.
• "to wrath": (Hebrew: לְקֶצֶף - le'ketzef) To anger, indignation, or fury. Indicates a strong emotional response from God.
• "I": (Hebrew: אֲנִי - ani) First-person singular, God.
• "have determined": (Hebrew: שָׁמָרְתִּי - shamarti) Lit. "I have kept," but in this context implies a guarding or maintaining of a specific intention, now turned to good. It speaks of a resolved purpose.
• "to do": (Hebrew: לְהֵיטִיב - leheitiv) To do good, to bestow favor or kindness. The antithesis of "to do evil."
• "again": (Hebrew: שׁוּב - shuv) To return, to do again, to turn back. Suggests a reversal of His previous dealings.
• "to Jerusalem": (Hebrew: לִירוּשָׁלַיִם - liYerushalayim) To Jerusalem, the city that represents God's presence and chosen dwelling.
• "and": (Hebrew: וְ - ve) Conjunction.
• "to": (Hebrew: אֶל - el) Preposition indicating direction.
• "the house": (Hebrew: בֵּית - beit) The household or family.
• "of Judah": (Hebrew: יְהוּדָה - Yehudah) The tribe and kingdom of Judah, representing the remnant.
• "Fear": (Hebrew: אַל - al) A prohibitive particle, "do not."
• "not": (Hebrew: תִּירָאוּ - tir'u) You (plural) shall fear. An imperative in the negative.

Words group by words-group analysis:

• "As I intended to do evil to you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath": This phrase encapsulates the consequence of historical sin. "Intended" (hafakh) with "evil" (ra'ah) highlights God’s purposeful judgment. "Provoked" (himri) and "wrath" (ketzef) pinpoint the direct cause for this judgment, attributing it to ancestral disobedience.
• "I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Fear not.": This segment presents the decisive shift in God's disposition. "Determined" (shamarti, lit. kept) signifies God's resolute purpose for blessing. "Do good again" (leheitiv shuv) marks a reversal of His past actions. The concluding "Fear not" (al tir'u) is an authoritative command based on this new divine intention, assuring safety and well-being for Jerusalem and Judah.

Zechariah 8 15 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "determined" here (shamarti) has a nuance of "keeping" or "preserving." It suggests that God, in His faithfulness, has held onto His ultimate purposes of blessing for His people, even while implementing disciplinary measures. It's not that His resolve for blessing wavered, but rather that His disciplinary actions were carefully managed or "kept" until the right moment for restoration. This highlights a layered understanding of God's dealings: judgment served a purpose within a larger, overarching plan of redemption and blessing. The people's "fear not" is grounded in the unchanging nature of God's covenantal promises, which His corrective actions were ultimately meant to lead them back towards.

Zechariah 8 15 Commentary

This verse signifies a profound reversal in God's relationship with His people. For a period, God's disposition towards Israel was marked by a just, albeit severe, response to their persistent rebellion and the sins of their ancestors. This discipline, however, was never meant to be permanent nor reflective of His ultimate desire for them. The phrase "I intended to do evil to you" reflects His permissive will to allow calamity as a corrective measure, rooted in their provocation and His righteous anger.

However, the core of this prophetic declaration is the turning point. God has deliberately and resolutely changed His course of action. "I have determined to do good again" indicates a sovereign, intentional plan for their welfare and restoration. This isn't a conditional turning based on immediate repentance (though repentance is valued), but a declarative act of divine grace and mercy. His focus shifts to blessing Jerusalem and the house of Judah, signifying the re-establishment of His covenant favor. The final imperative, "Fear not," is the direct outcome of this assurance. It is an invitation to trust in His renewed benevolent intentions, freeing them from the paralyzing fear born from past judgments.

This transformation mirrors the broader biblical theme of God's steadfast love and faithfulness, even when His people fail. It foreshadows the ultimate reconciliation achieved through Jesus Christ, where God, in Christ, has reconciled the world to Himself, removing His wrath and offering peace to all who believe.

• Practical Application: Believers are encouraged to trust God’s good intentions even amidst trials, recognizing that current hardships do not equate to God’s abandonment but can be part of His refining process. The verse also calls for courage in facing the future, resting on the assurance of God’s covenantal faithfulness and redemptive work.