New English Translation
Zechariah 8:21
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.”’
Zechariah 8:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also.
- New International Version (NIV)and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, ‘Let us go at once to entreat the Lord and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord and to seek the Lord of hosts; I myself am going.'
- New King James Version (NKJV)The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, And seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also.”
Context of Zechariah 8:21
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.’ 20The Lord who rules over all says, ‘It will someday come to pass that people – residents of many cities – will come. The 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. 23The Lord who rules over all says, ‘In those days ten people from all languages and nations will grasp hold of – indeed, grab – the robe of one Jew and say, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’”
Read all of Zechariah 8Zechariah 8:21 word by word
וְֽהָלְכ֡וּ יֹשְׁבֵי֩ אַחַ֨ת אֶל־אַחַ֜ת לֵאמֹ֗ר נֵלְכָ֤ה הָלוֹךְ֙ לְחַלּוֹת֙ אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וּלְבַקֵּ֖שׁ אֶת־יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת אֵלְכָ֖ה גַּם־אָֽנִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the inhabitantsיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- of oneאֶחָד'echâd · oneH259
- shall goהָלַךְhâlak · to go: wentH1980
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Let us goיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- to prayחָלָהchâlâh · to begH2470
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face ofH6440
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- and to seekבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245
- of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
Cross-references for Zechariah 8:21
- Psalms 122:1I was glad because they said to me, “We will go to the Lord’s temple.”
- Hosea 6:3So let us acknowledge him! Let us seek to acknowledge the Lord! He will come to our rescue as certainly as the appearance of the dawn, as certainly as the winter rain comes, as certainly as the spring rain that waters the land.”
- Zechariah 7:2Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-Melech and their companions to seek the Lord’s favor
- Psalms 103:22Praise the Lord, all that he has made, in all the regions of his kingdom! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
- Psalms 146:1Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
Commentaries on Zechariah 8:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21I will go also - This is the answer of the person invited. It is a good work. We must have God for our friend. We cannot expect this unless we seek him: and as we know not what an hour may bring forth, let us go speedily.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The inhabitants of one city shall go to another - It is one unresting extension of the fairly, the restlessness of faith and love. Osorius: “They shall not be satisfied with their own salvation, careless about the salvation of others; they shall employ all labor and industry, with wondrous love, to provide for the salvation of others as if it were their own.” It is a marvelous stirring of minds. Missionary efforts, so familiar with us as to be a household…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. 2121. Let us ... I--manifesting zeal and love: converted themselves, they seek the conversion of others (So 1:4). To exhortation in general ("Let us go"), they add individual example ("I will go"). Or, the change from plural to singular implies that the general consent in religious earnestness leads each individual to decide for God. go speedily--literally, "go, going"; implying intense earnestness. pray--Hebrew, "entreat the face" (Zec 7:2); entreat His…Read the comment
Topics related to Zechariah 8:21
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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