Zechariah 10:1
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. | Ask the LORD for rain in springtime; the LORD makes the storm clouds, and He will give everyone showers of rain and crops in the field. | Ask ye of Jehovah rain in the time of the latter rain, even of Jehovah that maketh lightnings; and he will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe prophet tells the people to ask the LORD for rain at the season of the spring rains, and promises he will send storm clouds and showers so every field grows green. The next verse explains the contrast: idols and diviners give only empty words and false dreams, leaving the people like sheep with no shepherd. The chapter goes on to promise that God will care for his flock, strengthen Judah, and gather his scattered people home. Zechariah 10:1Zechariah 10:2Zechariah 10:3Zechariah 10:6Zechariah 10:8
SpeakingThe prophet Zechariah, speaking the LORD's message. The chapter closes with "saith the LORD." Zechariah overviewZechariah 10:12
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe LORD's flock: the house of Judah, and also the house of Joseph, or Ephraim, whom God promises to save and bring back. Zechariah 10:3Zechariah 10:6Zechariah 10:7
This is a command with a promise. Ask the LORD, not idols or fortune-tellers, for the rain that crops need, and he will send it. Scripture elsewhere also says God is the one who waters the earth, and that rain comes in answer to prayer. Zechariah 10:1Zechariah 10:2Psalms 65:9James 5:18
The words were addressed to Jerusalem and Judah, where farmers depended on seasonal rain for their fields. Zechariah overviewZechariah 10:1
The eventsThe message is not dated. It sits in the first "burden" of the book, chapters 9-11, after the return from exile. It speaks of the yearly time of the latter rain, the spring rains of March and April. Zechariah overviewStrong's H4456
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book, and his dated messages fall between about 520 and 518 BC. Scholarly: chapters 9-14 carry no dates, and many scholars assign them to a later writer or writers, while others hold that Zechariah wrote them. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse turns the people away from idols and diviners, who "comfort in vain," and toward the LORD as the true giver of rain and harvest. Zechariah 10:1Zechariah 10:2
In the whole of ScriptureIn the Law, God warned that unfaithfulness would turn the sky to brass and the ground to iron, meaning drought. Here he invites his people to ask and promises showers. That fits the book's call: "turn ye unto me... and I will turn unto you." Isaiah also links God's pouring water on dry ground with pouring out his spirit and blessing. Deuteronomy 28:23Zechariah overviewIsaiah 44:3
For readersGod wants his people to bring their real, daily needs to him rather than to other sources of hope. The New Testament repeats this: "Ask, and it shall be given you." James urges prayer, saying a righteous man's prayer "availeth much," and gives the example of one who "prayed again, and the heaven gave rain." Matthew 7:7Matthew 7:8James 5:16James 5:18
- askשָׁאַל
The word means to ask or ask for. It can also mean to enquire of or consult a deity or an oracle. That sets up the contrast with verse 2, where people had turned to idols and diviners instead of the LORD. Strong's H7592Zechariah 10:2
- latter rainמַלְקוֹשׁ
The lexicon defines this as the spring rain of March and April that brings the crops to maturity. The request is for rain at the exact season it is needed, the same "early and latter rain" a farmer waits for in James 5:7. Strong's H4456James 5:7
- bright cloudsחֲזִיז
The word means a thunderbolt, a lightning flash, or a storm cloud. The "bright clouds" are thunderclouds that bring rain, not merely shining or pleasant skies. Strong's H2385
Takeaway
Zechariah 10:1 calls God's people to ask the LORD, not idols or fortune-tellers, for the rain their fields need, and it promises that he will give it. Other Scripture agrees that God waters the earth and answers those who ask him. Zechariah 10:1Zechariah 10:2Psalms 65:9Matthew 7:7
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
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ask | שַׁאֲל֨וּ | sha-'a-LU | H7592 | to askשָׁאַל (sha.al) 1) to ask, enquire, borrow, beg 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to ask, ask for 1a2) to ask (as a favour), borrow 1a3) to enquire, enquire of 1a4) to enquire of, consult (of deity, oracle) 1a5) to seek 1b) (Niphal) to ask for oneself, ask leave of absence 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to enquire, enquire carefully 1c2) to beg, practise beggary 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to be given on request 1d2) to grant, make over to, let (one) ask (successfully) or give or lend on request (then) grant or make over to Aramaic equivalent: she.el (שְׁאֵל "to ask" H7593) |
| from Yahweh | מֵיְהוָ֤ה | me-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) |
| rain | מָטָר֙ | ma-TAR | H4306 | rainמָטַר (ma.tar) rain |
| at [the] time of | בְּעֵ֣ת | be-'ET | H6256 | timeעֵת (et) 1) time 1a) time (of an event) 1b) time (usual) 1c) experiences, fortunes 1d) occurrence, occasion |
| spring rain | מַלְק֔וֹשׁ | mal-KO-osh | H4456 | spring rainמַלְקוֹשׁ (mal.qosh) 1) latter rain, spring rain 1a) the March and April rains which mature the crops of Palestine |
| Yahweh | יְהוָ֖ה | 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) |
| [is] making | עֹשֶׂ֣ה | 'o-SEH | H6213H | to makeעֲבַד (a.vad) 1) to make, do 1a)(P'al) 1a1) to make, create 1a2) to do, perform 1b) (Ithp'al) 1b1) to be made into 1b2) to be done, be wrought, be performed, be executed, be carried out |
| thunder-clouds | חֲזִיזִ֑ים | cha-zi-ZIM | H2385 | lightningחֲזִיז (cha.ziz) thunderbolt, lightning flash, lightning, storm, cloud |
| and rain of | וּמְטַר־ | u-me-tar- | H4306 | rainמָטַר (ma.tar) rain |
| rain | גֶּ֙שֶׁם֙ | ge-shem | H1653 | rainגֶּ֫שֶׁם (ge.shem) rain, shower |
| he gives | יִתֵּ֣ן | yi-TEN | H5414G | to give: giveנָתַן (na.tan) : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted … |
| to everyone | לְאִ֖ישׁ | le-'ISH | H0376I | manאִישׁ (ish) : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective) |
| vegetation | עֵ֥שֶׂב | 'E-sev | H6212 | grassעֲשַׂב (a.sav) herbage, grass Aramaic of e.sev (עֵ֫שֶׂב "vegetation" H6212) |
| in the field | בַּשָּׂדֶֽה׃ | ba-sa-DEH | H7704G | No entry |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.