God’s Word Translation
Zechariah 1:16
16This is what the Lord of Armies says: I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion. My house will be rebuilt in it, declares the Lord of Armies. A measuring line will be used to rebuild Jerusalem.
Zechariah 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
- New International Version (NIV)“Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the Lord Almighty.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore, thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.
- New King James Version (NKJV)‘Therefore thus says the Lord: “I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the Lord of hosts, “And a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.” ’
Context of Zechariah 1:16
14The angel who was speaking with me said, “Announce: This is what the Lord of Armies says: I’m very jealous about Jerusalem and Zion, 15and I’m very angry with the nations who think they are at ease. I was only a little angry, but they made things worse. This is what the Lord of Armies says: I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion. My house will be rebuilt in it, declares the Lord of Armies. A measuring line will be used to rebuild Jerusalem. 17“Announce again: This is what the Lord of Armies says: My cities will overflow with prosperity once more. The Lord will again comfort Zion and will again choose Jerusalem.” 18I looked up and saw four animal horns.
Read all of Zechariah 1Zechariah 1:16 word by word
לָכֵ֞ן כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה שַׁ֤בְתִּי לִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ בְּֽרַחֲמִ֔ים בֵּיתִי֙ יִבָּ֣נֶה בָּ֔הּ נְאֻ֖ם יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת וְקָ֥ו יִנָּטֶ֖ה עַל־יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Therefore thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- I am returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- to Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- with merciesרַחֲמִיםracham · compassionH7356
- my houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- shall be builtבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
- in it, saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
- of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
- and a lineקָוֶהqâveh · lineH6961
- and a lineקַוqav qâv · lineH6957
- shall be stretched forthנָטָהnâţâh · to stretchH5186
Cross-references for Zechariah 1:16
- Zechariah 2:10Sing for joy and rejoice, people of Zion. I’m going to come and live among you, declares the Lord.
- Zechariah 8:3This is what the Lord says: I will return to Zion and live in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth. The mountain of the Lord of Armies will be called the holy mountain.
- Isaiah 12:1At that time you will say, “I will praise you, O Lord. Although you had been angry with me, you turned your anger away from me, and you comforted me.
- Isaiah 54:8I hid my face from you for a moment in a burst of anger, but I will have compassion on you with everlasting kindness,” says the Lord your defender.
- Jeremiah 31:22How long will you wander around, you unfaithful people? The Lord will create something new on earth: A woman will protect a man.
- Jeremiah 33:10“This is what the Lord says: You have said that this place is ruined and that no people or animals live in it. It’s true! The cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are deserted. No people or animals live there. But once again you will hear
- Ezekiel 37:24“ ‘My servant David will be their king, and all of them will have one shepherd. They will live by my rules, and they will obey my laws.
- Ezekiel 39:25“So this is what the Almighty Lord says: Now I will bring back Jacob’s captives and have compassion for the whole nation of Israel. I will stand up for my holy name.
- Ezekiel 48:35The city will measure about 31,500 feet all the way around. From then on the city’s name will be: The Lord Is There.
- Zechariah 4:9“Zerubbabel’s hands have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of Armies has sent me to you.
- Ezra 6:14So the Jewish leaders continued to make progress because of the message from the prophet Haggai and Zechariah, the grandson of Iddo. They finished building as the God of Israel had ordered and as Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes (the kings of Persia) had ordered.
- Isaiah 44:26He confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the plan of his messengers. He says about Jerusalem, “It will be inhabited.” He says about the cities of Judah, “They will be rebuilt.” He says about their ruins, “I will restore them.”
- Haggai 1:14The Lord inspired them ⌞to rebuild his house⌟. So Zerubbabel (who was the son of Shealtiel and was governor of Judah), the chief priest Joshua (who was the son of Jehozadak), and the faithful few who returned from Babylon began working on the house of the Lord of Armies, their God.
- Zechariah 2:1I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.
- Job 38:5Who determined its dimensions? Certainly, you know! Who stretched a measuring line over it?
- Isaiah 34:11Pelicans and herons will take possession of the land. Owls and crows will live there. He will stretch the measuring line of chaos and the plumb line of destruction over it.
Commentaries on Zechariah 1:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies - Before, he came to them in judgments; and the principal mercy is, the house of the Lord shall be rebuilt, and the ordinances of' the Lord re-established. And a line shall be stretched forth - The circuit shall be determined, and the city built according to the line marked out.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Therefore - This being so, since God was so jealous for His people, so displeased with their persecutors, “thus saith the Lord,” Dionysius, “I who “in wrath remember mercy, am returned” Habakkuk 3:2, not by change of place, who am uncircumscribed, not existing in place, to the people of Judah and Jerusalem in mercies, manifoldly benefiting them by various effects of My love.” The single benefits, the rebuilding of His House, and so the restoration of His…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-17Verses 7-17 The prophet saw a dark, shady grove, hidden by hills. This represented the low, melancholy condition of the Jewish church. A man like a warrior sat on a red horse, in the midst of this shady myrtle-grove. Though the church was in a low condition, Christ was present in the midst, ready to appear for the relief of his people. Behind him were angels ready to be employed by him, some in acts of judgment, others of mercy, others in mixed events…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-17Zechariah's first vision shows God's concern for Jerusalem (Zechariah 1:7–15). This is followed by a response (Zechariah 1:16–17) that confirms God's plans to rebuild the temple and restore the city's prosperity.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. I am returned--whereas in anger I had before withdrawn from her (Ho 5:15). with mercies--not merely of one kind, nor once only, but repeated mercies. my house shall be built--which at this time (the second year of Darius, Zec 1:1) had only its foundations laid (Hag 2:18). It was not completed till the sixth year of Darius (Ezr 6:15). line--(Job 38:5). The measuring-line for building, not hastily, but with measured regularity. Not only the temple, but…Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 1:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Zechariah 1
- 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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