Zechariah 7:11

Zechariah 7:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear.
• New King James Version (NKJV)“But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear.
• New Living Translation (NLT)“Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing.

Context of Zechariah 7:11

9“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. 12They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry. 13“ ‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty.

Zechariah 7:11 word by word

וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ לְהַקְשִׁ֔יב וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ כָתֵ֖ף סֹרָ֑רֶת וְאָזְנֵיהֶ֖ם הִכְבִּ֥ידוּ מִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But they refusedמָאֵןmâ'ên · to refuseH3985
• to hearkenקָשַׁבqâshab · to listenH7181
• and pulled awayסָרַרsârar · to rebelH5637
• and pulled awayנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
• the shoulderכָּתֵףkâthêph · shoulderH3802
• and stoppedכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: dullH3513
• their earsאֹ֫זֶן'ôzen · earH241
• that they should not hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085

Cross-references for Zechariah 7:11

• Zechariah 1:4Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.
• Exodus 10:3So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.
• 2 Kings 17:13The Lord warned Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers: “Turn from your evil ways. Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”
• 2 Chronicles 33:10The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they paid no attention.
• Nehemiah 9:17They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them,
• Proverbs 1:24But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
• Isaiah 1:19If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;
• Jeremiah 6:16This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
• Jeremiah 7:24But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.
• Jeremiah 13:10These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt—completely useless!
• Jeremiah 26:5and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened),
• Jeremiah 35:15Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me.
• Jeremiah 36:31I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness; I will bring on them and those living in Jerusalem and the people of Judah every disaster I pronounced against them, because they have not listened.’ ”
• Jeremiah 44:16“We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!
• Ezekiel 3:7But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate.
• Hosea 4:16The Israelites are stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. How then can the Lord pasture them like lambs in a meadow?

Commentaries on Zechariah 7:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Pulled away the shoulder - From under the yoke of the law, like an unbroken or restive bullock in the plough.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11But they gave a backsliding shoulder - Like a restive animal, which would not endure the yoke, dull and stupid as the beasts: as Hosea says, “Israel slideth back like a backsliding heifer” Hosea 4:16. Nehemiah confesses the same; “they gave a backsliding shoulder and hardened their neck and would not hear” Nehemiah 9:29. And made heavy their ears - Fulfilling in themselves what God foretold to Isaiah would be the result of his preaching, “make their ears…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-14Verses 8-14 God's judgements upon Israel of old for their sins, were written to warn Christians. The duties required are, not keeping fasts and offering sacrifices, but doing justly and loving mercy, which tend to the public welfare and peace. The law of God lays restraint upon the heart. But they filled their minds with prejudices against the word of God. Nothing is harder than the heart of a presumptuous sinner. See the fatal consequences of this to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11they refused to pay attention: They ignored God's commands (see Jeremiah 11:10). turned a stubborn shoulder: This phrase shows their proud stubbornness (see Nehemiah 9:29). Putting their fingers in their ears shows they were fully responsible for their stubbornness (compare Isaiah 6:10). The same expression describes Pharaoh when he became stubborn ("hardened his heart") against God and refused to release the Hebrews (Exodus 8:32).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. pulled away the shoulder--literally, "presented a refractory shoulder"; an image from beasts refusing to bear the yoke (Ne 9:29, Margin). stopped ... ears--(Is 6:10; Jr 7:26; Ac 7:57).Read the comment

Topics related to Zechariah 7:11

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Impenitence
• Self-Will

In the dictionaries

• Bible, the
• Ear
• Shoulder
• Zechariah, Book of

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