Zechariah 1:11
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest. | And the riders answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and tranquil.” | And they answered the angel of Jehovah that stood among the myrtle-trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedIn Zechariah's first night vision, riders the LORD had sent through the earth report that the whole earth is quiet and at rest. That calm is not good news for ruined Jerusalem, so the angel of the LORD at once asks how long God will withhold mercy from her. God answers that he is displeased with the nations at ease and has returned to Jerusalem with mercies. Zechariah 1:8Zechariah 1:10Zechariah 1:11Zechariah 1:12Zechariah 1:15Zechariah 1:16
SpeakingThe riders on the red, speckled and white horses, whom the LORD sent to walk to and fro through the earth. They report to the angel of the LORD standing among the myrtle trees. Zechariah 1:8Zechariah 1:10Zechariah 1:11
ToThe riders speak to the angel of the LORD within the vision. Zechariah sees it and passes the message on to the people of Judah who had come back from exile. Zechariah 1:11Zechariah 1:14Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe nations of the earth, who are at ease, and Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, which had been under God's indignation for seventy years. Zechariah 1:12Zechariah 1:15
The scouts give their report: they have gone throughout the earth, and all of it is settled and undisturbed. The nations are comfortable while Jerusalem still lies under judgment, and this prompts the angel's plea for mercy. Zechariah 1:11Zechariah 1:12Strong's H3427Strong's H8252
In the vision the riders stand before the angel among the myrtle trees in a low place, or bottom. Zechariah was among the returned exiles in Jerusalem. Zechariah 1:8Zechariah 1:11Zechariah overview
The eventsThe vision came by night on the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, Sebat, in the second year of Darius king of Persia, about 520 BC. Zechariah 1:7Zechariah 1:8Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote it, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8, including this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, though many assign chapters 9-14 to later writers. Zechariah overview
HereThe report sets up a sharp contrast: the nations rest at ease while God's city lies waste. That contrast leads to the angel's question in verse 12 and to God's answer of comfort in verses 13-17. Zechariah 1:11Zechariah 1:12Zechariah 1:13Zechariah 1:15Zechariah 1:16Zechariah 1:17
In the whole of ScriptureThe book was given to people rebuilding the temple after exile. Here God declares he is jealous for Jerusalem, that his house shall be built in it, and that the nations who added to her affliction will be dealt with. Zechariah overviewZechariah 1:14Zechariah 1:15Zechariah 1:16Zechariah 1:21
For readersGod's messengers do his bidding and report to him, as other Scripture also says of his angels. A calm world does not mean God has forgotten his people; he sees and answers with mercy. Zechariah 1:10Zechariah 1:11Psalms 103:20Psalms 103:21Zechariah 1:16
- is at restשָׁקַט
The word means to be quiet, undisturbed, at peace, and is used of a land at peace. Verse 15 shows this undisturbed calm belongs to nations God is displeased with, so it is not a picture of godly peace. Strong's H8252Zechariah 1:15
- sitteth stillיָשַׁב
The word means to sit, dwell or remain. The earth is pictured as sitting settled in place, untroubled, while Jerusalem waits for mercy. Strong's H3427Zechariah 1:12
- angelמַלְאָךְ
The word means a messenger or representative, and can mean an angel. The angel of the LORD receives the report and then speaks to the LORD on Jerusalem's behalf. Strong's H4397HZechariah 1:11Zechariah 1:12
Takeaway
The world was at ease, but God was not at ease about his people's ruin. The report led straight to a plea for mercy and God's promise: "I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies" (Zechariah 1:16). Zechariah 1:11Zechariah 1:12Zechariah 1:15Zechariah 1:16
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
Behind this verse
- Riders on patrol
- The Persian kings kept mounted messengers stationed along their roads. Herodotus says nothing mortal travels faster. Zechariah sees horsemen sent "to walk to and fro through the earth." Zechariah 1:8-11Zechariah 6:7Herodotus, Histories 8.98
About 520-518 BC. King of Persia: Darius I (522-486 BC). Where Zechariah prophesied. A small, poor community was rebuilding the temple among the ruins of the city Babylon had burned.
Who ruled
- King of PersiaDarius I522-486 BC
Zechariah dates his messages by the years of Darius. Darius confirmed Cyrus's decree and ordered the temple work to go on at royal expense. Zechariah 1:1Zechariah 7:1Ezra 6:1-12Haggai 1:1Behistun Inscription
- Governor of JudahZerubbabelc. 520 BC
A descendant of David who led the rebuilding. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it." Zechariah 4:6-10Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:8
- High priestJoshua the high priestc. 520 BC
Called Jeshua in Ezra. He stands in Zechariah's vision clothed in filthy garments, which are taken away, and later receives crowns as a sign. Zechariah 3:1-10Zechariah 6:11Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:2
- Persian governor "on this side the river"Tattenaic. 520 BC
The governor of the province west of the Euphrates. He asked who had allowed the building, wrote to Darius, and was told to let the work go on. Ezra 5:3-6Ezra 6:6-13
What was happening, 539 BC to 332 BC
- 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus king of Persia took Babylon, ending the empire that had destroyed Jerusalem. Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleThe first return
Cyrus let the exiles go home to build the LORD's house. About fifty thousand returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Ezra 1:1-4Ezra 2:1-2Ezra 2:64-65
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe foundation is laid, then the work stops
The returned exiles laid the temple's foundation with shouting and weeping. Opposition from their neighbors stopped the work until the second year of Darius. Ezra 3:10-13Ezra 4:4-5Ezra 4:24
- 525 BCWarPersia conquers Egypt
Cyrus's son Cambyses invaded and took Egypt, bringing the whole region from the Nile to the Indus under one king. Herodotus, Histories 3.1-16
- 522-521 BCWarDarius crushes the revolts
When Darius took the throne, provinces across the empire rebelled, Babylon twice. By 520 he had put them all down. Compare the riders' report in Zechariah's first vision: "all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." Behistun InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 3.150-159Zechariah 1:11
- 520 BCGod's peopleHaggai and Zechariah stir the people to build
In Darius's second year the two prophets urged the people to take up the temple work again, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua began to build. Ezra 5:1-2Haggai 1:1-15Zechariah 1:1
- c. 520-519 BCRulersDarius confirms Cyrus's decree
Tattenai questioned the building. A search found Cyrus's decree at Achmetha, and Darius ordered the work to continue and be paid for from royal taxes. Ezra 5:3-6:12
- 515 BCBuildingThe second temple is finished
The temple was finished on the third day of Adar in Darius's sixth year and dedicated with joy. Ezra 6:14-18Zechariah 4:9
- 490-479 BCWarPersia's wars with Greece
Persia invaded Greece twice and was turned back at Marathon (490), Salamis (480) and Plataea (479). Greece, which Zechariah names in 9:13, was becoming Persia's great rival. Herodotus, Histories 6.102-117Herodotus, Histories 8.40-96Herodotus, Histories 9.1-89Zechariah 9:13
- 445 BCBuildingNehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem's walls
Under the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah came from Shushan and rebuilt the walls in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 6:15
- 332 BCWarAlexander takes Tyre and Gaza
Alexander the Great besieged island Tyre for seven months and then Gaza for two, on his way to Egypt. Zechariah 9 speaks of Tyre's "strong hold" and of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron and Ashdod. Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 2.15-27Zechariah 9:3-7
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records (the Behistun Inscription, the Cyrus Cylinder, the Babylonian Chronicles) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and they answered | וַֽיַּעֲנ֞וּ | vai-ya-'a-NU | H6030B | to answerעָנָה (a.nah) 1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to answer, respond to 1a2) to testify, respond as a witness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to make answer 1b2) to be answered, receive answer Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָה "to answer" H6032) |
| [the] angel of | מַלְאַ֣ךְ | mal-'AKH | H4397H | messengerמַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) : messenger 1) messenger, representative 1a) messenger 1b) angel 1c) the theophanic angel |
| Yahweh | יְהוָ֗ה | YAH-weh | H3068G | Lordאֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| who was standing | הָֽעֹמֵד֙ | ha-'o-MED | H5975G | to stand: standעָמַד (a.mad) : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against … |
| between | בֵּ֣ין | bein | H0996H | betweenבַּ֫יִן (ba.yin) : between between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between |
| the myrtle trees | הַהֲדַסִּ֔ים | ha-ha-da-SIM | H1918 | myrtleהֲדַס (ha.das) myrtle (tree) |
| and they said | וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ | vai-yo-me-RU | H0559 | to sayאָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560) |
| we have gone about | הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּ | hit-ha-LAKH-nu | H1980I | to goהוּךְ (hukh) (P'al) to go, come, walk, be brought Aramaic of ha.lakh (הָלַךְ ": walk" H1980) |
| on the earth | בָאָ֑רֶץ | va-'A-retz | H0776G | land: country/planetאֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth … |
| and there! | וְהִנֵּ֥ה | ve-hi-NEH | H2009 | beholdהִנֵּה (hin.neh) behold, lo, see, if |
| all | כָל־ | khol- | H3605 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606) |
| the earth | הָאָ֖רֶץ | ha-'A-retz | H0776G | land: country/planetאֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth … |
| [is] dwelling | יֹשֶׁ֥בֶת | yo-SHE-vet | H3427 | to dwellיָשַׁב (ya.shav) 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488) |
| and [is] undisturbed | וְשֹׁקָֽטֶת׃ | ve-sho-KA-tet | H8252 | to quietשָׁקַט (sha.qat) 1) to be quiet, be tranquil, be at peace, be quiet, rest, lie still, be undisturbed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be quiet, be undisturbed 1a1a) to be at peace (of land) 1a2) to be quiet, be inactive 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to show quietness 1b1a) quietness, display of quietness (subst) 1b2) to quiet, be quiet 1b3) to cause quietness, pacify, allay |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.