New English Translation
Zechariah 8:20
20The Lord who rules over all says, ‘It will someday come to pass that people – residents of many cities – will come.
Zechariah 8:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
- New International Version (NIV)This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come,
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, even the inhabitants of many cities.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities;
Context of Zechariah 8:20
18The word of the Lord who rules over all came to me as follows: 19“The Lord who rules over all says, ‘The fast of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become joyful and happy, pleasant feasts for the house of Judah, so love truth and peace.’ The Lord who rules over all says, ‘It will someday come to pass that people – residents of many cities – will come. 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.”’ 22Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord who rules over all and to ask his favor.
Read all of Zechariah 8Zechariah 8:20 word by word
כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת עֹ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָבֹ֣אוּ עַמִּ֔ים וְיֹשְׁבֵ֖י עָרִ֥ים רַבּֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Zechariah 8:20
- Zechariah 2:11“Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on the day of salvation, and they will also be my people. Indeed, I will settle in the midst of you all.” Then you will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to you.
- Zechariah 14:16Then all who survive from all the nations that came to attack Jerusalem will go up annually to worship the King, the Lord who rules over all, and to observe the Feast of Tabernacles.
- 1 Kings 8:41“Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your reputation.
- 2 Chronicles 6:32“Foreigners, who do not belong to your people Israel, will come from a distant land because of your great reputation and your ability to accomplish mighty deeds; they will come and direct their prayers toward this temple.
- Psalms 22:27Let all the people of the earth acknowledge the Lord and turn to him! Let all the nations worship you!
- Psalms 67:1May God show us his favor and bless us! May he smile on us! (Selah)
- Psalms 72:17May his fame endure! May his dynasty last as long as the sun remains in the sky! May they use his name when they formulate their blessings! May all nations consider him to be favored by God!
- Psalms 89:9You rule over the proud sea. When its waves surge, you calm them.
- Psalms 117:1Praise the Lord, all you nations! Applaud him, all you foreigners!
- Psalms 138:4Let all the kings of the earth give thanks to you, O Lord, when they hear the words you speak.
- Isaiah 2:2In the future the mountain of the Lord’s temple will endure as the most important of mountains, and will be the most prominent of hills. All the nations will stream to it,
- Isaiah 11:10At that time a root from Jesse will stand like a signal flag for the nations. Nations will look to him for guidance, and his residence will be majestic.
- Isaiah 49:6he says, “Is it too insignificant a task for you to be my servant, to reestablish the tribes of Jacob, and restore the remnant of Israel? I will make you a light to the nations, so you can bring my deliverance to the remote regions of the earth.”
- Isaiah 60:3Nations come to your light, kings to your bright light.
- Isaiah 66:18“I hate their deeds and thoughts! So I am coming to gather all the nations and ethnic groups; they will come and witness my splendor.
- Jeremiah 16:19Then I said, “Lord, you give me strength and protect me. You are the one I can run to for safety when I am in trouble. Nations from all over the earth will come to you and say, ‘Our ancestors had nothing but false gods – worthless idols that could not help them at all.
Commentaries on Zechariah 8:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20There shall come people - Similar promises to those in Isaiah 2:3; and in Micah 4:1, Micah 4:2. Many Gentiles, as well as Jews, will then be found devoting themselves to the Lord.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20It shall yet be that - The promises are those which God had already made by Isaiah (Isaiah 2:2 ff) and Micah (Micah 4:1 ff). Yet where was the show of their fulfillment? The Jews themselves, a handful: the temple unfinished; its completion depending, in human sight, upon the will of their pagan masters, the rival worship at Samaria standing and inviting to coalition. Appearances and experience were against it. God says virtually, that it was, in human…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-23Verses 18-23 When God comes towards us in ways of mercy, we must meet him with joy and thankfulness. Therefore be faithful and honest in all your dealings; and let it be a pleasure to you to be so, though thereby you come short of the gains others get dishonestly; and, as much as in you lies, live peaceably with all men. Let the truths of God rule in your heads, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Thus the ancient servants of God drew the notice…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-23This part of Zechariah’s sermons links to the previous section through fasting and the ethical demands of a covenant with the Lord (Zechariah 7:8–10; 8:16–17). Questions about fasting in 7:2–7 are answered in 8:18–19. The tone and message shift from warning and judgment to encouragement and renewal. Fasting will change to feasting (Zechariah 8:19).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. (Is 2:3; Mi 4:2). Thus saith the Lord of hosts--a preface needed to assure the Jews, now disheartened by the perils surrounding them, and by the humble aspect of the temple. "Unlikely as what follows may seem to you, Jehovah of hosts, boundless in resources, saith it, therefore it shall be so." Just before Christ's coming, a feeling grew up among the heathen of the unsatisfactoriness of their systems of religion and philosophy; this disposed them…Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 8:20
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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