God’s Word Translation
Zechariah 8:16
16You must do these things: Speak the truth to each other. Give correct and fair verdicts for peace in your courts.
Zechariah 8:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
- New International Version (NIV)These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgment in your courts;
- English Standard Version (ESV)These 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;
- New King James Version (NKJV)These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;
Context of Zechariah 8:16
14This is what the Lord of Armies says: When your ancestors made me angry, I made plans to destroy you, declares the Lord of Armies, and I didn’t change my plans. 15So now I have again made plans, but this time to do good to Jerusalem and the people of Judah. Don’t be afraid. You must do these things: Speak the truth to each other. Give correct and fair verdicts for peace in your courts. 17Don’t even think of doing evil to each other. Don’t enjoy false testimony. I hate all these things, declares the Lord. 18The Lord of Armies spoke his word to me again.
Read all of Zechariah 8Zechariah 8:16 word by word
אֵ֥לֶּה הַדְּבָרִ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּֽעֲשׂ֑וּ דַּבְּר֤וּ אֱמֶת֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֔הוּ אֱמֶת֙ וּמִשְׁפַּ֣ט שָׁל֔וֹם שִׁפְט֖וּ בְּשַׁעֲרֵיכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- the thingsדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
- that ye shall doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- Speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- ye every manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- the truthאֱמֶת'emeth · truth: trueH571
- to his neighbourרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
- executeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
- the judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
- and peaceשָׁלוֹםshâlôm shâlôm · peaceH7965
- in your gatesשַׁ֫עַרsha‛ar · gateH8179
Cross-references for Zechariah 8:16
- Deuteronomy 10:12Israel, what does the Lord your God want you to do? He wants you to fear him, follow all his directions, love him, and worship him with all your heart and with all your soul.
- Deuteronomy 11:7You saw with your own eyes all these spectacular things that the Lord did.
- 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.
- Luke 3:8Do those things that prove that you have turned to God and have changed the way you think and act. Don’t say, ‘Abraham is our ancestor.’ I guarantee that God can raise up descendants for Abraham from these stones.
- Ephesians 4:17So I tell you and encourage you in the Lord’s name not to live any longer like other people in the world. Their minds are set on worthless things.
- 1 Peter 1:13Therefore, your minds must be clear and ready for action. Place your confidence completely in what God’s kindness will bring you when Jesus Christ appears again.
- Zechariah 8:19This is what the Lord of Armies says: The fast in the fourth month, the fast in the fifth month, the fast in the seventh month, and the fast in the tenth month will become joyful and glad occasions as well as happy festivals for the nation of Judah. So love truth and peace.
- Zechariah 7:9“This is what the Lord of Armies says: Administer real justice, and be compassionate and kind to each other.
- Leviticus 19:11“Never steal, lie, or deceive your neighbor.
- Psalms 15:2The one who walks with integrity, does what is righteous, and speaks the truth within his heart.
- Proverbs 12:17A truthful witness speaks honestly, but a lying witness speaks deceitfully.
- Jeremiah 9:3They use their tongues like bows that shoot arrows. Lies and dishonesty rule the land. They go from one evil thing to another, and they don’t know me,” declares the Lord.
- Hosea 4:1Listen to the Lord’s word, you Israelites. The Lord has brought these charges against those who live in the land: “There is no faith, no love, and no knowledge of God in the land.
- Micah 6:12The rich people in the city are violent. Those who live in the city speak lies, and their tongues speak deceitfully.
- Ephesians 4:25So then, get rid of lies. Speak the truth to each other, because we are all members of the same body.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:6No one should take advantage of or exploit other believers that way. The Lord is the one who punishes people for all these things. We’ve already told you and warned you about this.
Commentaries on Zechariah 8:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Speak ye every man the truth - See Zechariah 7:9, Zechariah 7:10.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16These are the things that ye shall do - He exhorts them to the same duties, to which the former prophets had exhorted their fathers, Zechariah 7:9-10, and, as before, first positively to truth and peace; then to avoid everything contrary to it. “Judgment of peace” must be judgment which issues in peace, as all righteous judgment righteously received, in which case each party acquiesces, must. Kimchi: “If ye judge righteousness, there will be peace between…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-17Verses 9-17 Those only who lay their hands to the plough of duty, shall have them strengthened with the promises of mercy: those who avoid their fathers' faults have the curse turned into a blessing. Those who believed the promises, were to show their faith by their works, and to wait the fulfilment. When God is displeased, he can cause trade to decay, and set every man against his neighbour; but when he returns in mercy, all is happy and prosperous…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16God expects his people to act with honesty and fairness (see Ephesians 4:25). your gates: Legal proceedings took place at the city or temple gates (see Deuteronomy 21:19; 25:7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1716-17. The promised blessings are connected with obedience. God's covenanted grace will lead those truly blessed by it to holiness, not licentiousness. truth to ... neighbour--not that the truth should not be spoken to foreigners too; but He makes it an aggravation of their sin, that they spared not even their brethren. Besides, and above all outward ordinances (Zec 7:3), God requires truth and justice. judgment of ... peace--Equitable decisions tend to…Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 8:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Zechariah 8
- 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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