God’s Word Translation
Zechariah 7:9
9“This is what the Lord of Armies says: Administer real justice, and be compassionate and kind to each other.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy 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.
Context of Zechariah 7:9
7Aren’t these the same words that the Lord announced through the earlier prophets, when Jerusalem and its surrounding cities were inhabited and undisturbed and the Negev and the foothills were still inhabited?’ ” 8Then the Lord spoke his word to Zechariah. He said, “This is what the Lord of Armies says: Administer real justice, and be compassionate and kind to each other. 10Don’t oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people. And don’t even think of doing evil to each other. 11“But people refused to pay attention. They shrugged their shoulders at me and shut their ears so that they couldn’t 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 7:7Aren’t these the same words that the Lord announced through the earlier prophets, when Jerusalem and its surrounding cities were inhabited and undisturbed and the Negev and the foothills were still inhabited?’ ”
- Zechariah 8:16You must do these things: Speak the truth to each other. Give correct and fair verdicts for peace in your courts.
- Leviticus 19:15“Don’t be corrupt when administering justice. Never give special favors to poor people, and never show preference to important people. Judge your neighbor fairly.
- Deuteronomy 10:18He makes sure orphans and widows receive justice. He loves foreigners and gives them food and clothes.
- Deuteronomy 15:7This is what you must do whenever there are poor Israelites in one of your cities in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
- Deuteronomy 16:18Appoint judges and officers for your tribes in every city that the Lord your God is giving you. They are to judge the people fairly.
- Psalms 82:2“How long are you going to judge unfairly? How long are you going to side with wicked people?” Selah
- Proverbs 21:3Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to the Lord than offering a sacrifice.
- Isaiah 58:6This is the kind of fasting I have chosen: Loosen the chains of wickedness, untie the straps of the yoke, let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke.
- Jeremiah 7:5“ ‘Suppose you really change the way you live and act and you really treat each other fairly.
- Ezekiel 45:9“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: I’ve had enough of you, you princes of Israel. Stop your violence and looting, and do what is fair and right. Stop evicting my people, declares the Almighty Lord.
- Hosea 10:12“Break new ground. Plant righteousness, and harvest the fruit that your loyalty will produce for me.” It’s time to seek the Lord! When he comes, he will rain righteousness on you.
- Amos 5:24But let justice flow like a river and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
- Micah 6:8You mortals, the Lord has told you what is good. This is what the Lord requires from you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to live humbly with your God.
- Matthew 23:23“How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give ⌞God⌟ one-tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the most important things in Moses’ Teachings. You should have done these things without neglecting the others.
- Luke 11:42“How horrible it will be for you Pharisees! You give ⌞God⌟ one-tenth of your mint, spices, and every garden herb. But you have ignored justice and the love of God. You should have done these things without ignoring 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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