Zechariah 1

Zechariah · Chapter 1

Zechariah 1:13

1In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,2The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.3Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.4Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.5Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?6But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.7Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,8I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.9Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be.10And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.11And 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.12Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?13And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.14So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.15And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.16Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.17Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.18Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.19And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.20And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.21Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
13And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who was speaking with me.And Jehovah answered the angel that talked with me with good words, even comfortable words.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

In Zechariah's first night vision, the angel of the LORD asks how long God will withhold mercy from Jerusalem after seventy years of anger. Verse 13 tells us the LORD replied with good and comforting words. The next verses spell out those words: God is jealous for Jerusalem, has returned to her with mercies, and his house will be built there. Zechariah 1:12Zechariah 1:13Zechariah 1:14Zechariah 1:16Zechariah 1:17

SpeakingZechariah, the prophet, is narrating what he saw. In the scene, the LORD is the one who answers. Zechariah 1:1Zechariah 1:8Zechariah 1:13

ToThe LORD's answer goes to "the angel that talked with me," the angel who explains the visions to Zechariah. The prophet then passes the message on to the people of Judah who had come back from exile. Zechariah 1:9Zechariah 1:13Zechariah 1:14Zechariah overview

Also involvedJerusalem and the cities of Judah are the subject of the comfort. They had been under God's indignation for seventy years. Zechariah 1:12Zechariah 1:16Zechariah 1:17

God gives a kind and comforting reply to the angel's plea, "how long?" The comfort is not left vague. God says he is jealous for Zion, angry with the nations who added to her suffering, and promises to rebuild his house and comfort Zion again. Zechariah 1:12Zechariah 1:13Zechariah 1:14Zechariah 1:15Zechariah 1:16Zechariah 1:17

In the vision, the scene is among myrtle trees in a low place. The prophet lived and spoke in Jerusalem, among the exiles who had returned, while the temple was being rebuilt. Zechariah 1:8Zechariah 1:11Zechariah overview

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThe vision came on the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, Sebat, in the second year of Darius. This was near the end of the seventy years of God's indignation, which Jeremiah had foretold. Zechariah 1:7Zechariah 1:12Jeremiah 29:10

WrittenTraditional view: Zechariah wrote it, and his dated messages run from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly view: most scholars agree that chapters 1-8, which include this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview

HereThe verse shows that God hears the cry for mercy on Jerusalem and answers it kindly. It opens the way for the promises in verses 14-17, which encouraged the people to rebuild the temple. Zechariah 1:12Zechariah 1:13Zechariah 1:16Zechariah overview

In the whole of ScriptureGod's answer matches earlier promises. Jeremiah said that after seventy years God would perform his "good word" and bring the people back. Isaiah told God's messengers to "Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem." Jeremiah 29:10Isaiah 40:1Isaiah 40:2Jeremiah 30:10

For readersWhen God's people ask "how long?", the LORD answers with good words that rest on his stated love and promises. The comfort here is anchored in what God himself said he would do. Zechariah 1:12Zechariah 1:13Zechariah 1:14Zechariah 1:17

  • comfortableנִחוּם
    Hebrew · ni.chum · H5150

    The word means "comfort, compassion." So the KJV's "comfortable words" are words that give comfort and show compassion. This fits verse 17, which says "the LORD shall yet comfort Zion." Strong's H5150Zechariah 1:17

  • goodטָב
    Hebrew · tav · H2896A

    The gloss is "good" or "pleasant." It echoes Jeremiah 29:10, where God promises after seventy years to "perform my good word toward you." Strong's H2896AJeremiah 29:10

Takeaway

After seventy years of judgment, God answers the plea for Jerusalem with kind, comforting words. Those words are his promises to return with mercy and rebuild his house. Zechariah 1:12Zechariah 1:13Zechariah 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

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
  1. 539 BC
    WarBabylon 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

  2. 538 BC
    God'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

  3. c. 536 BC
    God'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

  4. 525 BC
    WarPersia 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

  5. 522-521 BC
    WarDarius 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

  6. 520 BC
    God'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

  7. c. 520-519 BC
    RulersDarius 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

  8. 515 BC
    BuildingThe 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

  9. 490-479 BC
    WarPersia'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

  10. 445 BC
    BuildingNehemiah 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

  11. 332 BC
    WarAlexander 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

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and he answeredוַיַּ֣עַןvai-YA-'anH6030B
to answer

עָנָה (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)

Yahwehיְהוָ֗הYAH-wehH3068G
Lord

אֲדֹנָי (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)

the angelהַמַּלְאָ֛ךְha-mal-'AKHH4397H
messenger

מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) : messenger 1) messenger, representative 1a) messenger 1b) angel 1c) the theophanic angel

who was speakingהַדֹּבֵ֥רha-do-VERH1696G
to speak: speak

דָבַר (da.var) : speak/tell/command 1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing 1a) (Qal) to speak 1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to speak 1c2) to promise 1d) (Pual) to be spoken 1e) (Hithpael) to speak 1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight

wordsדְּבָרִ֣יםde-va-RIMH1697G
word

דָּבָר (da.var) : word/speech/command 1) speech, word, speaking, thing 1a) speech 1b) saying, utterance 1c) word, words 1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

goodטוֹבִ֑יםto-VIMH2896A
fine

טָב (tav) good Aramaic of tov (טוֹב "pleasant" H2896A)

wordsדְּבָרִ֖יםde-va-RIMH1697G
word

דָּבָר (da.var) : word/speech/command 1) speech, word, speaking, thing 1a) speech 1b) saying, utterance 1c) word, words 1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)

comfortsנִחֻמִֽים׃ni-chu-MIMH5150
comfort

נִחוּם (ni.chum) 1) comfort, compassion 1a) comfort 1b) compassion

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.