Zechariah 8:19 kjv
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.
Zechariah 8:19 nkjv
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'The fast of the fourth month, The fast of the fifth, The fast of the seventh, And the fast of the tenth, Shall be joy and gladness and cheerful feasts For the house of Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.'
Zechariah 8:19 niv
This is what the LORD Almighty says: "The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace."
Zechariah 8:19 esv
"Thus says the LORD of hosts: The fast of the fourth month and the fast of the fifth and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall be to the house of Judah seasons of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.
Zechariah 8:19 nlt
"This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: The traditional fasts and times of mourning you have kept in early summer, midsummer, autumn, and winter are now ended. They will become festivals of joy and celebration for the people of Judah. So love truth and peace.
Zechariah 8 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zech 7:4-7 | "...When you fasted... did you really fast for Me?..." | Context for inquiry about fasts |
| Jer 52:6-7 | "...the city wall was broken through..." | Basis for the fast of the 4th month |
| 2 Kgs 25:8-9 | "...burned the house of the LORD and the king's house..." | Basis for the fast of the 5th month (Tisha B'Av) |
| 2 Kgs 25:25 | "...Ishmael... struck down Gedaliah..." | Basis for the fast of the 7th month |
| 2 Kgs 25:1 | "...Nebuchadnezzar... came against Jerusalem..." | Basis for the fast of the 10th month |
| Ps 30:11 | "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing..." | Mourning turned to joy by God |
| Isa 61:3 | "...to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit..." | God replacing mourning with joy |
| Jer 31:13 | "...Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old, together; for I will turn their mourning into joy..." | Divine promise of joy after sorrow |
| Neh 8:10 | "...the joy of the LORD is your strength." | Joy as God's will for His people |
| Isa 12:3 | "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." | Joy linked with salvation/blessing |
| Rom 15:13 | "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing..." | Joy and peace from God |
| Gal 5:22 | "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace..." | Joy and peace as spiritual fruit |
| Col 2:16-17 | "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival... These are a shadow of the things to come..." | Shifting focus from ritual observance to reality |
| Mt 6:16-18 | "When you fast, do not look gloomy... that your fasting may not be seen by others..." | Authentic motivation for spiritual practices |
| Isa 58:6-7 | "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness... to share your bread with the hungry..." | God's chosen fast emphasizes justice, not ritual |
| Mic 6:8 | "...do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" | Summary of God's core requirements |
| Prov 3:3 | "Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you..." | Importance of truth (faithfulness) |
| Eph 4:15 | "...speaking the truth in love..." | Truth as a characteristic of believers |
| Rom 12:18 | "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." | Exhortation to live in peace |
| Heb 12:14 | "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." | Seeking peace and holiness |
| Ps 85:10 | "Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other." | Truth (faithfulness) and peace linked together |
| Isa 2:4 | "...they shall beat their swords into plowshares... neither shall they learn war anymore." | Ultimate messianic peace |
| Rom 14:17 | "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." | True spiritual focus: inner state, not outward rules |
| Phil 4:4 | "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." | Exhortation to constant joy |
Zechariah 8 verses
Zechariah 8 19 Meaning
This verse declares a divine reversal of Judah's long-standing days of mourning and fasting into occasions of profound joy, gladness, and cheerful feasting. These transformed festivals signify God's favor and the restoration of His people, but they are contingent upon a foundational commitment to living out truth and peace. It underscores that God's desired response to His blessings is not mere ritual but genuine ethical and relational uprightness.
Zechariah 8 19 Context
Zechariah 8:19 forms a climactic part of God's answer to the exiles who had inquired whether they should continue observing their fasts of mourning, which commemorated the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (Zech 7:1-3). God's initial response in Zechariah 7 rebuked their superficial fasting, questioning if their observances were truly for Him. He reminded them that their fathers' disobedience, marked by injustice and hardness of heart, led to the very desolation they now mourned. Chapter 8 then pivots to a glorious prophetic vision of future restoration for Jerusalem and Judah. God promises His return to Zion, her re-population, prosperity, and renewed favor among the nations. Within this promise of comprehensive blessing, Zechariah 8:19 specifically addresses the question about the fasts, declaring that in this new era of divine favor, these days of sorrow would be supernaturally transformed into times of exuberant celebration, provided the people genuinely embrace truth and peace in their lives.
Zechariah 8 19 Word analysis
- Thus says the LORD of hosts (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת – koh amar Adonai Tzva'ot): This is a standard prophetic formula emphasizing divine authority and an undeniable decree. The title "LORD of hosts" signifies God's absolute sovereignty over all creation, armies, and powers, reinforcing the certainty and omnipotence behind His word. It asserts that this pronouncement is from the one who commands the heavenly armies.
- The fast of the fourth month (צוֹם הָרְבִיעִי – tzom ha-r'vi'i): This fast commemorates the breaching of Jerusalem's walls by the Babylonians on the 9th day of Tammuz (July), leading to the city's fall (Jer 52:6-7).
- and the fast of the fifth (וְצוֹם הַחֲמִישִׁי – v'tzom ha-chamishi): This fast commemorates the destruction of the First Temple by fire on the 7th/10th of Av (August) (2 Kgs 25:8-9). This day became known as Tisha B'Av.
- and the fast of the seventh (וְצוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי – v'tzom ha-shevi'i): This fast commemorates the assassination of Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor, in Tishri (October) (2 Kgs 25:25, Jer 41:1-2), leading to further dispersion of the remnant.
- and the fast of the tenth (וְצוֹם הָעֲשִׂירִי – v'tzom ha-asiri): This fast commemorates the start of Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem on the 10th day of Tevet (January) (2 Kgs 25:1, Ezek 24:1-2).
- shall be to the house of Judah (יִהְיֶה לְבֵית יְהוּדָה – yih'yeh l'veit Yehudah): Signifies that the transformation is for the people of God, the community, the entire covenant nation, implying their active participation and benefit.
- joy (שָׂשׂוֹן – sason): Denotes deep, exuberant rejoicing, often expressed publicly, characteristic of festive celebrations. It suggests an emotional and visible expression of delight.
- and gladness (וְשִׂמְחָה – v'simchah): Refers to general happiness or merriment, often associated with feasting and festivals. It indicates an overall state of well-being and cheerful disposition.
- and cheerful feasts (וּלְמוֹעֲדִים טוֹבִים – ul'mo'adim tovim): Lit. "and for good appointed times." Mo'adim (מּוֹעֲדִים) refers to divinely appointed festivals or sacred times. The addition of tovim (טוֹבִים), meaning "good" or "pleasant," signifies that these formerly sorrowful observances will become genuinely pleasant and delightful occasions. This goes beyond merely ceasing the fasts; it's a radical repurposing.
- Therefore love truth (וְהָאֱמֶת וְהַשָּׁלוֹם אֱהָבוּ – v'ha'emet v'ha-shalom ehavu): This phrase is a crucial condition for the promised transformation. "Therefore" links the preceding promise to this ethical demand. "Love" is a strong command, implying deep commitment, practice, and a guiding principle.
- truth (אֱמֶת – emet): More than factual accuracy; it signifies faithfulness, integrity, reality, reliability, and uprightness. It refers to God's character and the quality He desires in His people – sincerity, fidelity, and acting in accordance with His standards.
- and peace (וְהַשָּׁלוֹם – v'ha-shalom): Refers to comprehensive well-being, wholeness, prosperity, security, and harmonious relationships, both with God and with others. It is the absence of conflict and the presence of flourishing. This includes both inner peace and outward societal peace.
- love truth and peace: This phrase encapsulates God's ultimate desire for His people: ethical living and harmonious community relationships as the true markers of devotion. It's a foundational ethic, indicating that mere ritual change is insufficient; internal character transformation is paramount for enjoying God's full blessings. These virtues are central to God's own character and kingdom.
Zechariah 8 19 Bonus section
This verse reflects a deeper theological principle found throughout the Prophets: God desires genuine heart-change and righteous living over mere ritualistic adherence. The transformation of fasts into feasts is a powerful metaphor for God's ultimate intention to bless and restore His people. It points towards an eschatological reality where all causes for sorrow will be removed, replaced by universal joy and prosperity under God's righteous rule. The command to "love truth and peace" suggests that living in alignment with God's character and promoting harmony are prerequisites for participating in the fullness of His kingdom blessings. These two virtues, truth (integrity, fidelity) and peace (shalom, holistic well-being), represent core values for a blessed community. They are not merely suggestions but foundational components for true restoration and the lasting joy God offers.
Zechariah 8 19 Commentary
Zechariah 8:19 delivers God's surprising response to Judah's inquiry about their fasts: instead of continuing solemn rituals for past calamities, those very days will be turned into festive celebrations. This divine promise highlights a radical transformation: mourning for judgment gives way to joy for restoration. It signals the end of their affliction and the beginning of a glorious era under God's renewed favor. However, this spiritual re-calendarization is not automatic. The verse places a clear ethical imperative at its conclusion: the people must "love truth and peace." This is the condition for experiencing and maintaining God's full blessing. True transformation, therefore, moves beyond external observance to inner character, where justice, integrity, and relational harmony become the defining features of God's restored people. It conveys that true piety is not found in solemnity for its own sake, but in righteousness and reconciliation which leads to God-given joy.