Amplified Bible
Zechariah 7:10
10and do not oppress or exploit the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise or even imagine evil in your hearts against one another.’
Zechariah 7:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.’
Context of Zechariah 7:10
8Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 9“Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion, to each other; and do not oppress or exploit the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise or even imagine evil in your hearts against one another.’ 11But they refused to listen and pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder [stiffening themselves in resistance] and stopped up their ears. 12They made their hearts [hard] like flint, so that they could not hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the Lord of hosts.
Read all of Zechariah 7Zechariah 7:10 word by word
וְאַלְמָנָ֧ה וְיָת֛וֹם גֵּ֥ר וְעָנִ֖י אַֽל־תַּעֲשֹׁ֑קוּ וְרָעַת֙ אִ֣ישׁ אָחִ֔יו אַֽל־תַּחְשְׁב֖וּ בִּלְבַבְכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And oppressעָשַׁק‛âshaq · to oppressH6231
- not the widowאַלְמָנָה'almânâh · widowH490
- nor the fatherlessיָתוֹםyâthôm · orphanH3490
- the strangerגֵּרgêr gêyr · sojournerH1616
- nor the poorעָנִי‛ânîy · afflictedH6041
- and let none of you imagineחָשַׁבchâshab · to devise: deviseH2803
- evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
- againstאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- his brotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
- in your heartלֵבָבlêbâb · heartH3824
Cross-references for Zechariah 7:10
- Exodus 22:21“You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
- Exodus 23:9“You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the soul [the feelings, thoughts, and concerns] of a stranger, for you were strangers in Egypt.
- Deuteronomy 24:14“You shall not take advantage of a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether [he is] one of your countrymen or one of the strangers (resident aliens, foreigners) who is in your land inside your cities.
- Deuteronomy 27:19‘Cursed is he who distorts (perverts) the justice due to a stranger, an orphan, and a widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- Psalms 72:4May he bring justice to the poor among the people, Save the children of the needy And crush the oppressor,
- Proverbs 22:22Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless], Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held],
- Proverbs 23:10Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property] And do not go into the fields of the fatherless [to take what is theirs],
- Proverbs 23:11For their Redeemer is strong and mighty; He will plead their case against you.
- Isaiah 1:16“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Get your evil deeds out of My sight. Stop doing evil,
- Jeremiah 5:28They are fat and they are sleek (prosperous), They excel in acts of wickedness; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the orphan, so that they [the wicked] may prosper, And they do not defend the rights of the poor.
- Jeremiah 22:15Do you think that you become a king because you have much more cedar [in your palace than Solomon]? Did not your father [Josiah], as he ate and drank, Do just and righteous acts [being upright and in right standing with God]? Then all was well with him.
- Ezekiel 22:7In you they have treated father and mother lightly. They have oppressed the stranger among you; and in your presence they have wronged the fatherless and the widow.
- Amos 4:1Hear this word, you [well-fed, pampered] cows (women) of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, Who say to their husbands, “Bring [the wine] now, and let us drink!”
- Amos 5:11Therefore, because you impose heavy rent on the poor And demand a tribute (food-tax) of grain from them, Though you have built [luxurious] houses of square stone, You will not live in them; You have planted beautiful vineyards, but you will not drink their wine.
- Micah 2:1Woe (judgment is coming) to those who devise wickedness And plot evil on their beds! When morning comes, they practice evil Because it is in the power of their hands.
- Micah 3:1And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know and administer justice?
Commentaries on Zechariah 7:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10Evil against his brother in your heart - Do not indulge an unfavourable opinion of another: do not envy him; do not harbour an unbrotherly feeling towards him.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10And oppress not - He had commanded positive acts of love; he now forbids every sort of unlove. “He that oppresseth the poor,” Solomon had said, “reproacheth his Maker. The widow, the orphan, the stranger, the afflicted” Proverbs 24:31, are, throughout the law, the special objects of God‘s care. This was the condition which God made by Jeremiah; “If ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, if ye thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 God's judgements upon Israel of old for their sins, were written to warn Christians. The duties required are, not keeping fasts and offering sacrifices, but doing justly and loving mercy, which tend to the public welfare and peace. The law of God lays restraint upon the heart. But they filled their minds with prejudices against the word of God. Nothing is harder than the heart of a presumptuous sinner. See the fatal consequences of this to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10Widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor often lacked the legal protection that the average citizen had (compare Deuteronomy 24:14, 17–18). Fasting and social justice should work together (see Isaiah 58:6–7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. imagine evil--that is, devise evil. The Septuagint takes it, Harbor not the desire of revenge (Le 19:18). "Devise evil against one another" is simpler (Psa 36:4; Mi 2:1).Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 7:10
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Zechariah 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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