New English Translation
Zechariah 1:15
15But I am greatly displeased with the nations that take my grace for granted. I was a little displeased with them, but they have only made things worse for themselves.
Zechariah 1:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
- New International Version (NIV)and I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they went too far with the punishment.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I am exceedingly angry with the nations at ease; For I was a little angry, And they helped—but with evil intent.”
Context of Zechariah 1:15
13The Lord then addressed good, comforting words to the angelic messenger who was speaking to me. 14Turning to me, the messenger then said, “Cry out that the Lord who rules over all says, ‘I am very much moved for Jerusalem and for Zion. But I am greatly displeased with the nations that take my grace for granted. I was a little displeased with them, but they have only made things worse for themselves. 16“‘Therefore,’ says the Lord, ‘I have become compassionate toward Jerusalem and will rebuild my temple in it,’ says the Lord who rules over all. ‘Once more a surveyor’s measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.’ 17Speak up again with the message of the Lord who rules over all: ‘My cities will once more overflow with prosperity, and once more the Lord will comfort Zion and validate his choice of Jerusalem.’”
Read all of Zechariah 1Zechariah 1:15 word by word
וְקֶ֤צֶף גָּדוֹל֙ אֲנִ֣י קֹצֵ֔ף עַל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם הַשַּֽׁאֲנַנִּ֑ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ קָצַ֣פְתִּי מְּעָ֔ט וְהֵ֖מָּה עָזְר֥וּ לְרָעָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And I am veryגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
- soreקֶ֫צֶףqetseph · wrathH7110
- displeasedקָצַףqâtsaph · be angryH7107
- with the heathenגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
- at easeשַׁאֲנָןsha'ănân · secureH7600
- for I was but a littleמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
- and they helpedעָזַר‛âzar · to helpH5826
- forward the afflictionרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451
Cross-references for Zechariah 1:15
- Zechariah 1:2The Lord was very angry with your ancestors.
- Isaiah 47:7You said, ‘I will rule forever as permanent queen!’ You did not think about these things; you did not consider how it would turn out.
- Jeremiah 48:11“From its earliest days Moab has lived undisturbed. It has never been taken into exile. Its people are like wine allowed to settle undisturbed on its dregs, never poured out from one jar to another. They are like wine which tastes like it always did, whose aroma has remained unchanged.
- Amos 6:1Woe to those who live in ease in Zion, to those who feel secure on Mount Samaria. They think of themselves as the elite class of the best nation. The family of Israel looks to them for leadership.
- Revelation 18:7As much as she exalted herself and lived in sensual luxury, to this extent give her torment and grief because she said to herself, ‘I rule as queen and am no widow; I will never experience grief!’
- Isaiah 54:8In a burst of anger I rejected you momentarily, but with lasting devotion I will have compassion on you,” says your protector, the Lord.
- Hebrews 12:6“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts.”
- Psalms 69:26For they harass the one whom you discipline; they spread the news about the suffering of those whom you punish.
- Psalms 83:2For look, your enemies are making a commotion; those who hate you are hostile.
- Psalms 137:7Remember, O Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. They said, “Tear it down, tear it down, right to its very foundation!”
- Isaiah 10:5Assyria, the club I use to vent my anger, is as good as dead, a cudgel with which I angrily punish.
- Isaiah 47:6I was angry at my people; I defiled my special possession and handed them over to you. You showed them no mercy; you even placed a very heavy burden on old people.
- Jeremiah 51:24“But I will repay Babylon and all who live in Babylonia for all the wicked things they did in Zion right before the eyes of you Judeans,” says the Lord.
- Ezekiel 25:3Say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the sovereign Lord: This is what the sovereign Lord says: You said “Aha!” about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and about the house of Judah when they went into exile.
- Ezekiel 26:2“Son of man, because Tyre has said about Jerusalem, ‘Aha, the gateway of the peoples is broken; it has swung open to me. I will become rich, now that she has been destroyed,’
- Ezekiel 29:6Then all those living in Egypt will know that I am the Lord because they were a reed staff for the house of Israel;
Commentaries on Zechariah 1:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15I was but a little displeased - I was justly displeased with my people, and I gave their enemies a commission against them; but they carried this far beyond my design by oppression and cruelty; and now they shall suffer in their turn.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15I am sore displeased - literally “with great anger am I angered against the nations which are at ease.” The form of the words shows that the greatness of the displeasure of God against those who oppress His people, is proportionate to the great and tender love toward themselves. God had been angered indeed with His people; with their enemies He was “angered with a great anger;” and that the more, because they were at ease, in unfeeling self-enjoyment amid…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. 1515. very sore displeased with the heathen--in contrast with "I was but a little displeased" with My people. God's displeasure with His people is temporary and for their chastening; with the heathen oppressors, it is final and fatal (Jr 30:11). God's instruments for chastising His people, when He has done with them, He casts into the fire. are at ease--carnally secure. A stronger phrase than "is at rest" (Zec 1:11). They are "at ease," but as I am "sore…Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 1:15
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
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