Zechariah 8:16 kjv
These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
Zechariah 8:16 nkjv
These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;
Zechariah 8:16 niv
These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts;
Zechariah 8:16 esv
These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;
Zechariah 8:16 nlt
But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace.
Zechariah 8 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zec 8:16 | Speak each one truth to his neighbor; render | Zec 8:16 (OT - Command) |
| Lev 19:11 | "Do not steal or deal falsely or lie to one | Lev 19:11 (OT - Prohibited actions) |
| Psa 15:1-5 | LORD, who shall abide in thy...neither | Psa 15:1-5 (OT - Characteristics) |
| Pro 12:22 | Lying lips are abomination to the LORD, but | Pro 12:22 (OT - Wisdom) |
| Pro 29:12 | If a ruler hearkens to falsehood, all his | Pro 29:12 (OT - Consequences) |
| Jer 7:5-6 | If ye do not…wrong an stranger, the widow,.. | Jer 7:5-6 (OT - Justice) |
| Col 3:9 | Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put | Col 3:9 (NT - Command) |
| Eph 4:25 | Wherefore putting away lying, speak ye truth | Eph 4:25 (NT - Christian conduct) |
| Eph 4:29 | Let no corrupt communication proceed out of | Eph 4:29 (NT - Speech) |
| 1 Pet 2:1 | Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all | 1 Pet 2:1 (NT - Attitude) |
| Heb 12:14 | Follow peace with all men, and holiness, | Heb 12:14 (NT - Pursuit of peace) |
| Matt 5:37 | But let your speech be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for | Matt 5:37 (NT - Jesus' teaching) |
| 1 Tim 6:12 | Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on | 1 Tim 6:12 (NT - Endurance) |
| James 1:22 | But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers | James 1:22 (NT - Obedience) |
| James 3:2 | For in many things we offend all. If any man | James 3:2 (NT - Control of tongue) |
| James 3:16 | For where envying and strife is, there is | James 3:16 (NT - Consequences) |
| 1 John 4:7-8 | Beloved, let us love one another: for love is | 1 John 4:7-8 (NT - Love foundation) |
| Acts 5:3-4 | But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan | Acts 5:3-4 (NT - Honesty to God) |
| Rom 12:14-17 | Bless them which persecute you: bless, and | Rom 12:14-17 (NT - Brotherly love) |
| Ps 89:33 | Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not | Ps 89:33 (OT - God's faithfulness) |
| Deut 18:20 | But the prophet which shall presume to speak | Deut 18:20 (OT - False prophets) |
| Prov 23:23 | Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, | Prov 23:23 (OT - Value of truth) |
| Zech 8:16 (Cont.) | justice and the works of your hands. | Zech 8:16 (OT - Hebrew connection) |
| Zec 8:17 | Let none of you compass the evil of his neighbor | Zec 8:17 (OT - Relationship to truth) |
Zechariah 8 verses
Zechariah 8 16 Meaning
"Speak each one truth to his neighbor." This verse emphasizes the vital importance of honesty and integrity in interpersonal relationships, fostering trust and community well-being within God's people. It’s a foundational principle for righteous living.
Zechariah 8 16 Context
Zechariah chapter 8 paints a picture of the restoration of Jerusalem and its people after the Babylonian exile. God promises to dwell among them, bringing peace, prosperity, and security. This specific verse, within this context of renewal and future blessing, provides a directive for how the covenant community should live. It’s a call to embody the justice and righteousness that God desires for His people. The broader theme is God's faithfulness and the renewed relationship between God and His people, a relationship characterized by truth and integrity.
Zechariah 8 16 Word Analysis
and (Hebrew: וְ - ve): Conjunction, often indicating a continuation or connection between clauses, emphasizing the linkage between God's restoration and the human responsibility.
speak (Hebrew: דִּבְּרוּ - dibbərū): Imperative, masculine plural verb from root דָּבַר (davar), meaning to speak, say, commune. It is a command to engage in communication.
each one (Hebrew: אִישׁ - 'ish): "Man," "each man," or "person." It signifies individual responsibility within the community.
truth (Hebrew: אֱמֶת - 'emet): "Truth," "faithfulness," "firmness," "stability." This is not just factual accuracy but also uprightness and integrity in one's dealings. It carries a covenantal weight of reliability.
to his neighbor (Hebrew: אֶל־רֵעֵהוּ - 'el-rē'ēhū): "To his fellow," "companion," "neighbor." Refers to fellow members of the community, the people of Israel.
and (Hebrew: וְ - ve): Conjunction, linking the command to speak truth with the preceding statement about administering justice.
judge (Hebrew: שִׁפְטוּ - shifṭū): Imperative, masculine plural verb from root שָׁפַט (shafat), meaning to judge, administer justice, govern. It denotes the process of legal and ethical decision-making.
truth (Hebrew: אֱמֶת - 'emet): "Truth," "justice," "rightness." Here, it is linked to judgment, meaning that judgment should be fair, equitable, and truthful.
in your gates (Hebrew: בִּשְׁעָרֵיכֶם - bish'āreykem): "In your gates." The city gates were centers of public life, commerce, and legal proceedings. This signifies practicing justice in the public sphere of the community.
Group of words: "Speak each one truth to his neighbor, and judge truth in your gates." This entire phrase is a covenantal instruction, reflecting God's desire for a just and honest society. It highlights both personal integrity in speech and the community's commitment to fair judgment.
Zechariah 8 16 Bonus Section
The Hebrew word 'emet (truth) also carries the meaning of "faithfulness" or "reliability." Therefore, speaking truth and judging truth are not merely about avoiding lies, but about living lives characterized by integrity and dependability. This connects deeply with God's own faithfulness to His people. This instruction anticipates the New Testament emphasis on truthfulness, particularly in passages like Ephesians 4:25 where believers are exhorted to "put away falsehood and speak truthfully to one another, for we are members of one another." The ideal presented here is a reflection of God's unchanging truthfulness.
Zechariah 8 16 Commentary
This verse, embedded within promises of national restoration and divine presence, serves as a crucial practical outworking of that relationship. The imperative to "speak truth to his neighbor" emphasizes the foundational role of honesty in fostering trust and genuine fellowship within the restored community. It’s a direct application of covenant faithfulness to daily interactions.
Furthermore, the command to "judge truth in your gates" extends this principle to the public square. The gates were the administrative and judicial hubs of ancient cities. This signifies that justice must be administered impartially, with truth as its bedrock, not favoritism or corruption. It’s about creating a society where righteousness is evident in all its dealings, both private and public.
This is a comprehensive call to live out the principles of God’s character in every facet of life, from interpersonal speech to the administration of justice.