English Standard Version
Zechariah 7:9
9"Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,
Zechariah 7:9 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
- New International Version (NIV)“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another.
Context of Zechariah 7:9
7Were not these the words that the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, with her cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?'" 8And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart." 11But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.
Read all of Zechariah 7Zechariah 7:9 word by word
כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֛ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת לֵאמֹ֑ר מִשְׁפַּ֤ט אֱמֶת֙ שְׁפֹ֔טוּ וְחֶ֣סֶד וְרַֽחֲמִ֔ים עֲשׂ֖וּ אִ֥ישׁ אֶת־אָחִֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thus speakethאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
- Executeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- trueאֱמֶת'emeth · truth: trueH571
- judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
- and shewעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- mercyחֶ֫סֶדchêsêd · kindnessH2617
- and compassionsרַחֲמִיםracham · compassionH7356
- every manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- to his brotherאָח'âch · brother: compatriotH251
Cross-references for Zechariah 7:9
- Zechariah 7:7Were not these the words that the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, with her cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?'"
- Zechariah 8:16These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;
- Leviticus 19:15"You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
- Deuteronomy 10:18He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.
- Deuteronomy 15:7"If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother,
- Deuteronomy 16:18"You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.
- Psalms 82:2"How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
- Proverbs 21:3To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
- Isaiah 58:6"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
- Jeremiah 7:5"For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another,
- Ezekiel 45:9"Thus says the Lord God: Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression, and execute justice and righteousness. Cease your evictions of my people, declares the Lord God.
- Hosea 10:12Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.
- Amos 5:24But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
- Micah 6:8He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
- Matthew 23:23"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
- Luke 11:42"But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Commentaries on Zechariah 7:9
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9Execute true judgment - See Isaiah 58:6, Isaiah 58:7; Jeremiah Jeremiah 7:23; Micah 6:8, chap. 8.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Thus spake the Lord - that is, through the former prophets, for he goes on to speak of their rejection in the past. “Execute true judgment.” He retains the words of Ezekiel. The injunction itself runs throughout the prophets. “Shew mercy” (as Isaiah 1:17, Isaiah 1:23; Isaiah 58:6-7; Jeremiah 7:5; Ezekiel 18:8; Hosea 12:6, etc.), that is, tender love, to all; compassion, to the unhappy. Omit no act of love, God so loves the loving. Lap.: “Like Paul to the…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. 1-14Representatives from Bethel asked Zechariah a practical question (Zechariah 7:2–3). Although he answered it later (Zechariah 8:18–19), he first asked rhetorical questions about the people's selfish motives (7:5–6). Zechariah then explained God's expectations for Israel (Zechariah 7:8–10; see Jeremiah 22:3) and described what happened to those who disobeyed before (Zechariah 7:11–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. speaketh--implying that these precepts addressed to their ancestors were the requirements of Jehovah not merely then, but now. We must not only not hurt, but we must help our fellow men. God is pleased with such loving obedience, rather than with empty ceremonies.Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 7:9
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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