Zechariah 8 4

Zechariah 8:4 kjv

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.

Zechariah 8:4 nkjv

"Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Old men and old women shall again sit In the streets of Jerusalem, Each one with his staff in his hand Because of great age.

Zechariah 8:4 niv

This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Once again men and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them with cane in hand because of their age.

Zechariah 8:4 esv

Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age.

Zechariah 8:4 nlt

"This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem's streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares.

Zechariah 8 verses

Zechariah 8 4 Meaning

This verse is a powerful promise from God, affirming His intention to fully restore Jerusalem. It paints a picture of complete peace, security, and prosperity, symbolized by the return of normal, thriving community life. Elderly individuals, usually vulnerable, safely enjoy public spaces, signifying the absence of war, crime, famine, and premature death. This longevity and tranquil public life are clear signs of God's abundant blessing upon His people and city.

Zechariah 8 4 Context

Zechariah chapter 8 continues the Lord's profound messages of assurance and restoration to the returned exiles. The preceding chapters provided prophetic visions focusing on the rebuilding of the Temple and God's future plans for Jerusalem. Chapters 7 and 8 collectively address concerns about fasting rituals, shifting the divine emphasis from outward religious observance to internal moral obedience and the forthcoming blessings of God. Zechariah 8 specifically proclaims God's fervent love for Jerusalem, His decision to return and dwell in their midst (Zec 8:2-3), and promises a radical reversal of their previous desolation. The post-exilic community was numerically small, often discouraged, and lived under challenging conditions in a ruined city. The vision in Zechariah 8:4-5, portraying a city where the very old and very young safely thrive publicly, provides stark contrast to their recent past marked by war and insecurity. This prophecy instilled comfort, renewed hope, and encouraged the perseverance required to rebuild the city and Temple.

Zechariah 8 4 Word analysis

• Thus says the Lord of hosts: This opening phrase, "כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת" (Koh amar YHWH Tsva'ot), serves as a solemn and authoritative declaration directly from God Himself. "Lord of hosts" (YHWH Sabaoth) underscores His supreme power and His command over all celestial and earthly forces, assuring the absolute certainty and trustworthiness of His pronouncement.
• Old men: "זְקֵנִים" (zeqenim) refers to aged males. In ancient society, elderly individuals were highly vulnerable during times of conflict, famine, or societal collapse. Their visible presence in public spaces powerfully signifies the presence of robust community health, stability, and widespread security.
• and old women: "וּזְקֵנוֹת" (u'zeqenot) refers to aged females. Their explicit inclusion underscores the comprehensive and all-encompassing nature of the promised peace; it extends to all societal groups, especially the most vulnerable, indicating universal tranquility.
• shall again sit: "יֵשְׁבוּ" (yeshevu), implies a return to peaceful dwelling and leisurely occupation. "Sit" here signifies not merely a physical posture but a settled, secure, and public enjoyment of life, contrasting sharply with any previous need to hide in fear. The word "again" signals a restoration to an ideal, blessed state or the long-awaited fulfillment of peace.
• in the streets of Jerusalem: "בִּרְחֹבוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם" (bir'khovot Yerushalayim) refers to the public thoroughfares and open gathering places of the city. Jerusalem, as the holy city and spiritual center, represents the entire community and its overall well-being. The transformation of its streets from dangerous zones to places of common, peaceful gathering is central to the prophecy.
• each with staff in hand: "אִישׁ מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹ בְּיָדוֹ" (ish mish'anto b'yado) – The staff ("מִשְׁעֶנֶת" mish'enet) functions as an aid for walking for the aged, symbolically portraying their physical frailty yet undisturbed ability to move freely. It can also subtly represent wisdom and respect associated with long life. This specific detail reinforces their physical presence and unimpeded mobility without any threat of harm.
• because of great age: "מֵרֹב יָמִים" (merov yamim) literally translates to "from multitude of days" or "abundance of days." This phrase denotes that people are living to a ripe, full old age, rather than having their lives prematurely shortened by disease, warfare, or poverty. It stands as a testament to overall societal well-being, a stable environment, and direct divine blessing extending life.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem": This phrase paints a remarkably vivid and comprehensive picture of restored social security, peace, and normalcy. It signifies that entire generations are allowed to live out their full lifespans, rather than being tragically decimated or prematurely ended. The image of vulnerable elders freely enjoying public life powerfully demonstrates the absence of any pervasive threat—whether from crime, famine, war, or social chaos—within the city.
• "each with staff in hand because of great age": This highly specific detail highlights that the natural process of aging is allowed to take its full, complete course. The presence of a staff is not merely an incidental prop, but a direct sign that individuals have indeed lived long enough to require physical support in their advanced years. The emphasis on "great age" directly counteracts the historical realities of short, brutal lives experienced during times of siege, famine, and exile, thus portraying a future characterized by robust health, abundant provision, and significant longevity.

Zechariah 8 4 Bonus section

The imagery in Zechariah 8:4-5 serves as a classic and vivid portrayal of shalom (שָׁלוֹם) – not merely the cessation of conflict, but a holistic state of complete peace, welfare, soundness, prosperity, and tranquility in all dimensions of life. This envisioned future state signifies a divine restoration to an Eden-like condition of human flourishing where every generation, from the frailest aged to the exuberantly playful young (as detailed in verse 5), can exist and thrive without fear, violence, or want. This prophecy carried both immediate, powerful implications for the disheartened returned exiles—solidifying their faith in God's capacity to rebuild and restore—and ultimate eschatological implications, pointing forward to a grander messianic age or the New Jerusalem where such perfect conditions will fully materialize under the righteous and eternal rule of God. The promise of this tangible, physical reality for Jerusalem subtly resonates with spiritual truths, implying the profound spiritual security, longevity, and thriving offered through a covenant relationship with the Lord. It ultimately reassures that what might appear "impossible" or "marvelous" to humans (as hinted in Zec 8:6 regarding "those days") is indeed a certain and wondrous reality from God's divine perspective.

Zechariah 8 4 Commentary

Zechariah 8:4 provides a profound and idyllic depiction of the future blessed and restored Jerusalem under divine favor. The scene of elderly individuals safely and freely enjoying the city's public spaces dramatically contrasts with the destruction and persistent danger that plagued Jerusalem during and after the Babylonian exile. This promise transcends a mere increase in population; it symbolizes a state of comprehensive peace, robust health for its inhabitants, societal security that allows for communal flourishing, and widespread prosperity that enables individuals to live out their full lifespans with comfort and dignity. The phrase "Thus says the Lord of hosts" solemnly underwrites this promise, asserting God's omnipotent power and unwavering commitment to bringing about such a glorious reality. This prophetic vision provided crucial comfort and a steadfast hope to a post-exilic people often disheartened by their current challenges, assuring them of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant and the ultimate, vibrant flourishing of Zion. It represents a promise of complete societal and individual renewal, where fundamental aspects of well-being are so firmly established that joy and community life naturally thrive.