Zechariah 8 18

Zechariah 8:18 kjv

And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,

Zechariah 8:18 nkjv

Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,

Zechariah 8:18 niv

The word of the LORD Almighty came to me.

Zechariah 8:18 esv

And the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,

Zechariah 8:18 nlt

Here is another message that came to me from the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

Zechariah 8 verses

Zechariah 8 18 Meaning

The voice of the Lord of hosts declared that religious observances like fasting and mourning, previously mandated during specific periods, would transform into joyful celebrations and festivals for the people of Judah and Israel. These times of former sorrow would become occasions of gladness and feasting.

Zechariah 8 18 Context

This verse from Zechariah 8:18 is part of a larger prophecy concerning the restoration and future glory of Jerusalem and its people after their return from Babylonian exile. Chapter 8 emphasizes a renewed covenant relationship between God and His people. Previous verses (8:14-17) highlight God's faithfulness and His desire to dwell among them, correcting the past reliance on idols. Verse 18 then directly addresses the significance of Israel's historically somber fast days. These fasts, likely commemorating events of sorrow like the breaching of Jerusalem's walls or the destruction of the Temple, were practiced as expressions of repentance and grief. Zechariah proclaims that God will transform these seasons of mourning into days of celebration. This transformation signifies God's complete reversal of His people's fortunes, indicating a time of abundant peace, security, and joy in His presence, as described in the subsequent verses about blessing and growth. The promise extends beyond mere cessation of sorrow; it speaks of an active replacement with gladness and festival.

Zechariah 8 18 Word Analysis

• "And" (וְ - ve): A conjunction connecting this verse to the preceding one, indicating a continuation of the prophecy of restoration.
• "the voice" (קוֹל - qol): Signifies the divine utterance or message from God.
• "of the Lord" (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His active involvement with His people.
• "of hosts" (צְבָאוֹת - tseva'ot): A title for God signifying His supreme power and authority as the Commander of celestial armies and earthly forces.
• "saith" (נְאֻם - ne'um): A formula indicating a pronouncement or declaration of God.
• "The fasts" (צוֹם - tsom): Refers to days of fasting, acts of self-denial and mourning.
• "of the fourth" (הָרִבְעִי - hariv'i): Indicates the fourth month of the Jewish calendar (Tammuz), associated with the breaching of Jerusalem's walls (Jer. 52:6-7).
• "and the fifth" (וְהַחֲמִישִׁי - v'hachamishi): Indicates the fifth month (Av), linked to the destruction of the First Temple by Nebuchadnezzar.
• "and the seventh" (וְהַשְּׁבִיעִי - v'hashvi'i): Refers to the seventh month (Tishri), connected to the assassination of Gedaliah, the Babylonian governor, which led to further scattering and exile.
• "and the tenth" (וְהָעֲשִׂירִי - v'ha'asiri): Denotes the tenth month (Tebeth), during which the siege of Jerusalem began.
• "shall be" (יִהְיוּ - yihyu): Future tense verb indicating a transformation.
• "for the house" (לְבֵית - levet): Pertains to the house of Judah.
• "of Judah" (יְהוּדָה - Yehudah): Represents the southern kingdom, which had suffered significantly during and after the exile.
• "seasons of joy" (לְשָׂשׂוֹן - lesason): A state of great delight and happiness.
• "and gladness" (וּלְשִׂמְחָה - u'lesimchah): A feeling of delight, happiness, and cheerfulness.
• "and to cheerful feasts" (וּלְמוֹעֲדִים - u'lemō'adīm): Designates appointed times for joyful gathering and celebration. This contrasts the solemn appointed times of mourning.
• "Therefore" (וְעַל־כֵּן - v'al-ken): Connects the proclamation to the ensuing call to action or affirmation.
• "love" (אהַב - aháv): Command to cherish and value.
• "the truth" (אֶת־הָאֱמֶת - et-ha'emet): The reality, faithfulness, and sincerity of God and His word.
• "and peace" (וְאֶת־הַשָּׁלוֹם - v'et-hashshalom): Refers to holistic well-being, prosperity, and harmony, encompassing both human relationships and one's relationship with God.

Words Group Analysis

• Fasts transformed: The grouping of specific months (fourth, fifth, seventh, tenth) and the "fasts" signifies the reinterpretation and ultimate replacement of practices rooted in sorrow and remembrance of national calamities with practices of celebration.
• Joy and gladness and cheerful feasts: This triad emphasizes the depth and totality of the positive transformation from grief to unadulterated festivity, encompassing inner disposition and outward expression.
• Love the truth and peace: This imperative serves as the practical and spiritual consequence of God's promised restoration. It calls for living in accordance with God's faithful character (truth) and experiencing the wholeness He provides (peace).

Zechariah 8 18 Bonus Section

This prophetic declaration anticipates not only the physical restoration of Jerusalem and the joyous return to temple worship but also the ultimate fulfillment in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The transformation of sorrowful fasts into joyful feasts finds its deepest meaning in Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. His sacrifice provides the atonement that makes true joy and reconciliation with God possible, turning humanity's grief over sin into gladness in salvation. The New Testament emphasizes that the spiritual reality of God's presence and the redeemed state of believers surpasses any Old Testament commemoration. Therefore, Christian observance, grounded in truth and peace, partakes in a continuous celebration of salvation, where "mourning turns to joy" in Christ (John 16:20). The fasts of the old covenant, by implication, are fulfilled and superseded by the perpetual celebration of Christ’s victory.

Zechariah 8 18 Commentary

Zechariah's prophecy vividly paints a picture of radical divine intervention, where sorrowful commemorations of past disasters will be transformed into jubilant festivals. This is not merely a superficial change but a profound shift in spiritual experience, reflecting the complete restoration of God's favor and the establishment of His reign. The specific fasts mentioned were tied to historical traumas—the breaking of Jerusalem's walls, the destruction of the Temple, the murder of Gedaliah, and the beginning of the Babylonian siege. God declares these markers of defeat and desolation will become opportunities for immense joy. This promise looks forward to the eschatological kingdom where suffering and mourning are permanently eradicated (Rev. 21:4). For the post-exilic community, it was an assurance of God's turning away from wrath toward blessing. The concluding command to "love truth and peace" is not incidental; it underscores that the resulting joy is rooted in a restored relationship with God, characterized by His faithful actions (truth) and the resulting harmony (peace). It’s a call to embrace this new era by living out its inherent values, reflecting God's character in their own lives.