Zechariah 8:8 kjv
And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
Zechariah 8:8 nkjv
I will bring them back, And they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. They shall be My people And I will be their God, In truth and righteousness.'
Zechariah 8:8 niv
I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God."
Zechariah 8:8 esv
and I will bring them to dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness."
Zechariah 8:8 nlt
I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.
Zechariah 8 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 11:11 | "The Lord will set His hand again a second time to recover the remnant..." | God's second regathering of His people. |
| Isa 43:5-6 | "I will bring your offspring from the east... 'Bring My sons from afar...'" | Promise of bringing Israel from all directions. |
| Jer 23:3 | "Then I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries..." | The Lord's action to gather His dispersed flock. |
| Ezek 34:13 | "And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them..." | Shepherd-God bringing His sheep back to their land. |
| Ps 107:3 | "And gathered them out of the lands, from the east and from the west..." | God's deliverance and gathering from dispersion. |
| Jer 30:22 | "You shall be My people, and I will be your God." | Core covenant formula reiterated. |
| Ezek 11:20 | "That they may walk in My statutes and keep My rules... they shall be My people, and I will be their God." | Covenant dependent on obedience, inward change. |
| Hos 2:23 | "And I will have mercy on Not My People; And I will say to those who were Not My People, 'You are My people!' And they shall say, 'You are My God!'" | Restorative declaration of covenant for the lost. |
| Ex 6:7 | "I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God..." | Initial declaration of covenant to Moses. |
| Lev 26:12 | "I will walk among you and will be your God, and you will be My people." | God's desire for dwelling and relationship. |
| Jer 31:33 | "I will be their God, and they shall be My people." | The promise of the New Covenant relationship. |
| Rev 21:3 | "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man... they will be His peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God." | Ultimate fulfillment of covenant dwelling. |
| Isa 60:1-2 | "Arise, shine, for your light has come... Nations shall come to your light..." | Glorious restoration and attractiveness of Zion. |
| Jer 33:16 | "And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’" | Righteousness centered in Jerusalem and God. |
| Zech 2:10-11 | "Shout and rejoice, O daughter of Zion... for behold, I come and will dwell in your midst... many nations shall join themselves to the LORD..." | God's dwelling in Jerusalem drawing others. |
| Joel 3:17 | "So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain." | Assurance of God's dwelling and sovereignty. |
| Ps 85:10 | "Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other." | Harmony of divine attributes in restoration. |
| Isa 32:16-17 | "Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. And the effect of righteousness will be peace..." | Results of truth and righteousness in society. |
| Zeph 3:13 | "The remnant of Israel... will speak no lies, nor will deceitful tongue be found in their mouth." | Ethical purity in the restored remnant. |
| Mal 3:6 | "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." | God's unchanging faithfulness to His promises. |
| Phil 3:20-21 | "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior..." | Heavenly citizenship, spiritual gathering. |
| Heb 8:10 | "For this is the covenant that I will make... I will be their God, and they shall be My people..." | New Covenant fulfillment, internal law. |
Zechariah 8 verses
Zechariah 8 8 Meaning
Zechariah 8:8 proclaims a powerful promise of divine restoration, affirming that the Lord will actively gather His dispersed people, enabling them to return and securely dwell within Jerusalem. This regathering is the foundation for the reaffirmation of the covenant, where they will exist as "My people" and He will unequivocally be "their God," all characterized by and sustained through truth and righteousness.
Zechariah 8 8 Context
Zechariah 8:8 stands within a larger prophecy of the restoration and future glory of Jerusalem and its inhabitants, following the return from Babylonian exile. Chapters 7 and 8 address questions posed by the exiles about fasting, leading to God's response. While the people had been disobedient in the past (Zech 7:9-12), leading to their dispersion, God now promises a reversal of their fortunes (Zech 8:1-7). Zechariah 8 specifically details several blessings: Jerusalem will be safely inhabited, an increase in population and prosperity, and the covenant relationship will be fully re-established. Verse 8, therefore, signifies the concrete manifestation of God's covenant loyalty and active intervention to gather and dwell with a transformed people.
Zechariah 8 8 Word analysis
- And I will bring them (וְהֵבֵאתִים, ve-heve'ti'm): This phrase emphasizes the sovereign and active role of Yahweh in the regathering. It is not by their own strength or planning, but by divine initiation and power. This recalls previous exoduses and returns, signifying God's ability to effect change. The verb indicates a definite future action, highlighting the reliability of the promise.
- and they shall dwell (וְשָׁכְנוּ, ve-sha'che'nu): This signifies secure and peaceful settlement. The root word for "dwell" (שָׁכַן, shakhan) is closely related to "Shekinah," suggesting not just physical habitation but a sense of God's indwelling presence and protection within their dwelling. This is a promise of permanent stability after years of displacement.
- in the midst of Jerusalem: This specific geographic and symbolic location highlights that the restoration is centered where God's name was put. Jerusalem, often called Zion, is more than a city; it is the spiritual heart of God's covenant with His people. To dwell "in its midst" implies security, honor, and prominence.
- and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: This is the core covenant formula repeated throughout the Bible (e.g., Ex 6:7, Jer 31:33, Ezek 11:20). It signifies a renewed, intimate, and exclusive relationship between the Creator and His chosen community. It speaks of divine ownership, care, and provision, met with human loyalty and obedience.
- in truth (בֶּאֱמֶת, be-emet): The Hebrew word emet carries a profound meaning beyond mere verbal honesty. It encompasses faithfulness, steadfastness, reliability, and genuineness. In this context, it implies a relationship characterized by authentic living, integrity, and adherence to God's trustworthy commands. Their relationship with God and each other will be built on these solid principles.
- and in righteousness (וּבִצְדָקָה, u'v'tzedaqah): The Hebrew word tzedaqah refers to ethical uprightness, justice, and conformity to a moral standard established by God. It includes both personal piety and social justice. The restored community will not only live in faithfulness but also in active demonstration of fairness, equity, and moral rectitude in all their dealings. These two qualities—truth (emet) and righteousness (tzedaqah)—are the defining characteristics of this restored covenant.
- "My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.": This phrase establishes the moral and spiritual foundation of the renewed covenant. It signifies that the relationship is not merely a formality but an active reality, deeply rooted in ethical living and divine fidelity. This covenant bond will be characterized by authentic spiritual commitment and outward display of God's justice in society.
Zechariah 8 8 Bonus section
The fulfillment of Zechariah 8:8 is multifaceted. While it had an initial partial fulfillment with the post-exilic community settling in Jerusalem, the full spiritual implications extend to the New Covenant. The "gathering" can be understood both physically (for Israel) and spiritually, as God gathers His people from all nations into the Body of Christ (Jn 10:16, Eph 2:19-22). The phrase "My people, and I will be their God" is reiterated in the New Testament (Heb 8:10, Rev 21:3) to describe the deep, intimate fellowship believers have with God through Christ. "In truth and in righteousness" points to the moral transformation believers undergo, reflecting Christ's character, where the Holy Spirit enables ethical living. This prophecy also anticipates a future, final restoration where Jerusalem will indeed be a dwelling place for God's redeemed, characterized by divine truth and perfect righteousness, embodying both messianic and eschatological hope.
Zechariah 8 8 Commentary
Zechariah 8:8 provides a vivid image of holistic restoration. It affirms God's commitment to reverse the consequences of exile by actively gathering His people back to Jerusalem. The promise extends beyond mere physical return, ensuring a secure and lasting habitation. Critically, the verse re-establishes the fundamental covenant relationship: "My people... and I will be their God." This ancient divine promise, previously threatened by their unfaithfulness, is unequivocally renewed, underscoring God's steadfast love and mercy. The added condition "in truth and in righteousness" is crucial; it highlights that this renewed relationship requires and fosters genuine faithfulness, integrity, and ethical living within the community. It anticipates a society living in harmony with God's character, distinct from the sin that led to their previous exile. The verse offers a prophetic blueprint for the ultimate kingdom of God, where a perfectly reunited people will dwell in secure intimacy with their just and faithful God.