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.
• New International Version (NIV)“But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears.
• 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.

Context of Zechariah 7:11

9“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. 10Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other. “Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. 12They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. That is why the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was so angry with them. 13“Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to me, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

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 1:4Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’
• Exodus 10:3So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: How long will you refuse to submit to me? Let my people go, so they can worship me.
• 2 Kings 17:13Again and again the Lord had sent his prophets and seers to warn both Israel and Judah: “Turn from all your evil ways. Obey my commands and decrees—the entire law that I commanded your ancestors to obey, and that I gave you through my servants the prophets.”
• 2 Chronicles 33:10The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all his warnings.
• Nehemiah 9:17They refused to obey and did not remember the miracles you had done for them. Instead, they became stubborn and appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love. You did not abandon them,
• Proverbs 1:24“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention.
• Isaiah 1:19If you will only obey me, you will have plenty to eat.
• Jeremiah 6:16This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
• Jeremiah 7:24“But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.
• Jeremiah 13:10These wicked people refuse to listen to me. They stubbornly follow their own desires and worship other gods. Therefore, they will become like this loincloth—good for nothing!
• Jeremiah 26:5and if you will not listen to my servants, the prophets—for I sent them again and again to warn you, but you would not listen to them—
• Jeremiah 35:15Time after time I sent you prophets, who told you, “Turn from your wicked ways, and start doing things right. Stop worshiping other gods so that you might live in peace here in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you would not listen to me or obey me.
• Jeremiah 36:31I will punish him and his family and his attendants for their sins. I will pour out on them and on all the people of Jerusalem and Judah all the disasters I promised, for they would not listen to my warnings.’”
• Jeremiah 44:16“We will not listen to your messages from the Lord!
• Ezekiel 3:7But the people of Israel won’t listen to you any more than they listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard-hearted and stubborn.
• Hosea 4:16Israel is stubborn, like a stubborn heifer. So should the Lord feed her like a lamb in a lush pasture?

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