God’s Word Translation
Zechariah 8:3
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.
Zechariah 8:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thus saith the Lord; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain.
- New International Version (NIV)This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Thus says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the Lord of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’
Context of Zechariah 8:3
1The Lord of Armies spoke his word. 2This is what the Lord of Armies says: I am very jealous about Zion. I am fiercely possessive of it. This 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. 4This is what the Lord of Armies says: Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem. Each will have a cane in hand because of old age. 5The city will be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets.
Read all of Zechariah 8Zechariah 8:3 word by word
כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה שַׁ֚בְתִּי אֶל־צִיּ֔וֹן וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּת֣וֹךְ יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְנִקְרְאָ֤ה יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ עִ֣יר־הָֽאֱמֶ֔ת וְהַר־יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת הַ֥ר הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- I am returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- unto Zionצִיּוֹןtsîyôn · ZionH6726
- and will dwellשָׁכַןshâkan · to dwellH7931
- in the midstתָּ֫וֶךְtâvek · midstH8432
- of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- shall be calledקָרָאqârâ' · to call: call toH7121
- a cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- of truthאֱמֶת'emeth · truth: faithfulH571
- and the mountainהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
- of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
- the holyקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944
Cross-references for Zechariah 8:3
- Zechariah 1:16This 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.
- Jeremiah 30:10“Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob,” declares the Lord. “Don’t be terrified, Israel. I’m going to rescue you from a faraway place. I’m going to rescue your descendants from where they are captives. The descendants of Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will frighten them.
- Zechariah 2:10Sing for joy and rejoice, people of Zion. I’m going to come and live among you, declares the Lord.
- Isaiah 12:6Shout loudly, and sing with joy, people of Zion! The Holy One of Israel is great. He is among you.”
- 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.
- Joel 3:17“You will know that I am the Lord your God. I live on my holy mountain, Zion. Jerusalem will be holy. Foreigners will never invade it again.
- John 1:14The Word became human and lived among us. We saw his glory. It was the glory that the Father shares with his only Son, a glory full of kindness and truth.
- John 14:23Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will go to them and make our home with them.
- 2 Corinthians 6:16Can God’s temple contain false gods? Clearly, we are the temple of the living God. As God said, “I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
- Ephesians 2:21In him all the parts of the building fit together and grow into a holy temple in the Lord.
- Colossians 2:9All of God lives in Christ’s body,
- Revelation 21:3I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “God lives with humans! God will make his home with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God.
- Zechariah 14:20On that day “Holy to the Lord” will be written on the bells of the horses. And the cooking pots in the house of the Lord will be like the bowls in front of the altar.
- Isaiah 1:21How the faithful town has become a prostitute! She was full of justice, and righteousness lived in her. But now murderers live there!
- Isaiah 60:14The descendants of those who oppress you will bow in front of you. All who despise you will bow at your feet. They will call you the city of the Lord, Zion, the city of the Holy One of Israel.
- Jeremiah 31:23This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: When I have brought them back from captivity, they will once again use this saying in Judah and in its cities: “The Lord bless you, home of righteousness, holy mountain.
Commentaries on Zechariah 8:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3I am returned unto Zion - I have restored her from her captivity. I will dwell among them. The temple shall be rebuilt, and so shall Jerusalem; and instead of being false, unholy, and profligate, it shall be the city of truth. and my holy mountain. Truth shall dwell in it.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3I am returned - Dionysius: “Without change in Myself, I am turned to that people from the effect of justice to the sweetness of mercy, “and I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem,” in the temple and the people, indwelling the hearts of the good by charity and grace. Christ also, Very God and Very Man, visibly conversed and was seen in Zion.” Osorius: “When He says, I am turned,‘ He shows that she was turned too. He had said, “Turn unto Me and I will turn…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3I will … dwell in Jerusalem: After the exile in Babylon, the people hoped the Lord would return to live among them (see Zechariah 1:16–17; Haggai 2:4–7; compare Ezekiel 48:35). I will return: God would come back to Jerusalem not only because the temple was rebuilt but also because the Hebrew community was purified (Zechariah 3). Isaiah compared Jerusalem to a faithful woman who became unfaithful (Isaiah 1:21). Zechariah shared Isaiah’s vision of Jerusalem…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. I am returned--that is, I am determined to return. My decree to that effect is gone forth. Jerusalem ... city of truth--that is, faithful to her God, who is the God of truth (Is 1:21, 26; Joh 17:17). Never yet fully fulfilled, therefore still to be so. the mountain of the Lord--(Is 2:2, 3). holy mountain--(Jr 31:23).Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 8:3
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries