New English Translation
Zechariah 7:2
2Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech and their companions to seek the Lord’s favor
Zechariah 7:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regem–melech, and their men, to pray before the Lord,
- New International Version (NIV)The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melek, together with their men, to entreat the Lord
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the Lord,
- New King James Version (NKJV)when the people sent Sherezer, with Regem-Melech and his men, to the house of God, to pray before the Lord,
Context of Zechariah 7:2
1In King Darius’ fourth year, on the fourth day of Kislev, the ninth month, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah. Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech and their companions to seek the Lord’s favor 3by asking both the priests of the temple of the Lord who rules over all and the prophets, “Should we weep in the fifth month, fasting as we have done over the years?” 4The word of the Lord who rules over all then came to me,
Read all of Zechariah 7Zechariah 7:2 word by word
וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ בֵּֽית־אֵ֔ל שַׂר־אֶ֕צֶר וְרֶ֥גֶם מֶ֖לֶךְ וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֑יו לְחַלּ֖וֹת אֶת־פְּנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- When they had sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- unto the houseבֵּיתbayith · betweenH1004
- of Godאֵל'êl · GodH410
- Sherezerשַׁרְאֶ֫צֶרshar'etser · SharezerH8272
- and Regem–melechרֶ֫גֶם מֶ֫לֶךְregem melek · Regem-melechH7278
- and their menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- to prayחָלָהchâlâh · to begH2470
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
Cross-references for Zechariah 7:2
- Zechariah 6:10“Choose some people from among the exiles, namely, Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, all of whom have come from Babylon, and when you have done so go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.
- Ezra 6:10so that they may be offering incense to the God of heaven and may be praying for the good fortune of the king and his family.
- Ezra 7:15and to bring silver and gold which the king and his advisers have freely contributed to the God of Israel, who resides in Jerusalem,
- Ezra 8:28Then I said to them, “You are holy to the Lord, just as these vessels are holy. The silver and the gold are a voluntary offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers.
- Isaiah 60:7All the sheep of Kedar will be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth will be available to you as sacrifices. They will go up on my altar acceptably, and I will bestow honor on my majestic temple.
- Zechariah 8:21The inhabitants of one will go to another and say, “Let’s go up at once to ask the favor of the Lord, to seek the Lord who rules over all. Indeed, I’ll go with you.”’
- Exodus 32:11But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your anger burn against your people, whom you have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?
- 1 Samuel 13:12I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me at Gilgal and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt obligated to offer the burnt offering.”
- 1 Kings 13:6The king pled with the prophet, “Seek the favor of the Lord your God and pray for me, so that my hand may be restored.” So the prophet sought the Lord’s favor and the king’s hand was restored to its former condition.
- Jeremiah 26:19King Hezekiah and all the people of Judah did not put him to death, did they? Did not Hezekiah show reverence for the Lord and seek the Lord’s favor? Did not the Lord forgo destroying them as he threatened he would? But we are on the verge of bringing great disaster on ourselves.”
Commentaries on Zechariah 7:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2When they had sent - Sherezer and Regem-melech - To inquire whether the fasts should be continued, which they had hitherto observed on account of their ruined temple; and the reason why they inquired was, that they were rebuilding that temple, and were likely to bring it to a joyful issue.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2When they held sent unto the house of God - Rather, “And Bethel sent;” that is, the inhabitants of Bethel sent. “The house of God” is nowhere in Holy Scripture called Bethel. Bethel is always the name of the place.. The “house of God” is designated by historians, Psalmists, prophets, by the name, “Beth-elohim,” more commonly “Beth-Ha-elohim, the God;” or “of the Lord,” YHVH. Zechariah and Haggai use these names. It is not likely that the name, Beth-el…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2to plead before the LORD (literally to soften the face of the Lord): They asked God to grant a request or decide on a matter. They likely offered a sacrifice or offering with their request.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. they ... sent unto ... house of God--The Jews of the country sent to the house of God or congregation at Jerusalem. The altar was long since reared (Ezr 3:3), though the temple was not completed till two years afterwards (Ezr 6:15). The priests' duty was to give decision on points of the law (De 17:9; Mt 2:4). Beth-el is here used instead of Beth-Jehovah, because the religious authorities, rather than the house itself (designated "Beth-Jehovah" in Zec…Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 7:2
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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