Zechariah 7

Zechariah · Chapter 7

Zechariah 7:2

1And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;2When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,3And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?4Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying,5Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?6And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?7Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?8And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,9Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:10And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.11But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.12Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.13Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:14But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
2When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, along with their men, to plead before the LORDNow they of Beth-el had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to entreat the favor of Jehovah,

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Zechariah 7 opens with a delegation sent to pray before the LORD and to ask the priests whether they should keep weeping and fasting in the fifth month (7:1-3). God answers through Zechariah by asking whether their fasts were truly for him (7:5-6). He then repeats the old call to true judgment, mercy, and care for the weak (7:9-10). Zechariah 7:1Zechariah 7:2Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:10

SpeakingThe verse is narration in the book of Zechariah. It describes what happened before the word of the LORD came to the prophet. Zechariah 7:1Zechariah 7:4Zechariah overview

ToThe book is addressed to the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. God's reply goes to all the people of the land and to the priests. Zechariah overviewZechariah 7:5

Also involvedSherezer and Regemmelech and their men are the envoys sent to pray and to ask the question. Both men are mentioned only here. Zechariah 7:2Strong's H8272HStrong's H7278

Men were sent to pray before the LORD and to ask the priests and prophets whether a long-kept fast should continue. Their question opens a message in which God looks past the ritual to the people's hearts. Zechariah 7:2Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6

The men came to the house of the LORD of hosts, where the priests were. Ezra speaks of the God of Israel "whose habitation is in Jerusalem" (Ezra 7:15). The Hebrew word behind "house of God" is also the name of the town Bethel, a known settlement. Zechariah 7:3Ezra 7:15Strong's H1008GBethel 3

JUDAHMediterranean SeaBethel 3TyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThis happened on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chisleu, in the fourth year of king Darius of Persia, about 518 BC. The temple was still being rebuilt then and was finished in Darius's sixth year. Zechariah 7:1Zechariah overview

WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the book, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most agree chapters 1-8, including this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, while many assign the undated chapters 9-14 to later writers. Zechariah overview

HereThe verse sets up the question about fasting in verse 3. God uses that question to ask whether their fasting and feasting had been for him or for themselves. Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6

In the whole of ScriptureEarlier generations refused to hear God's call to justice and mercy, and he scattered them (7:11-14). Zechariah later foresees a day when people of many cities will say, "Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD" (8:21). Zechariah 7:11Zechariah 7:12Zechariah 7:14Zechariah 8:21

For readersComing to pray and asking about religious duty is good, but God's answer points to obedience in daily life. He asks for true judgment, mercy, and no oppression of the widow, fatherless, stranger, or poor. Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:10

Christians read this differently

The Hebrew words can be read two ways. The KJV reads "the house of God" as the place the men were sent to, while the same Hebrew word is also the name Bethel, so the verse can be read as the people of Bethel sending the men. Either way, verse 3 shows they spoke to the priests in the house of the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 7:2Strong's H1008GBethel 3Zechariah 7:3

  • house of God (Beth-)אָ֫וֶן
    Hebrew · a.ven · H1008G

    The lexicon links this word to the name Bethel. This is why the verse can name either where the men went or the town that sent them. Strong's H1008GBethel 3

  • to pray (entreat)חָלָה
    Hebrew · cha.lah · H2470B

    The word means to mollify, entreat, or beg. It is the seeking of favor seen when a king asked a man of God, "Intreat now the face of the LORD" (1 Kings 13:6), and when Moses "besought the LORD" (Exodus 32:11). Strong's H2470B1 Kings 13:6Exodus 32:11

  • before (face)פָּנֶה
    Hebrew · pa.neh · H6440L

    The word means face or presence. The men came to seek favor in the very presence of the LORD. Strong's H6440L1 Kings 13:6

Takeaway

People who came asking how to keep a religious fast were reminded that God looks for hearts that fast unto him. He wants that shown in justice and mercy toward others. Zechariah 7:2Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:10

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.

Where

Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and it had sentוַיִּשְׁלַח֙vai-yish-LACHH7971G
to send: depart

שָׁלַח (sha.lach) : depart/send 1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to send 1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct 1a3) to send away 1a4) to let loose 1b) (Niphal) to be sent 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out 1c2) to let go, set free 1c3) to shoot forth (of branches) 1c4) to let down 1c5) to shoot 1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled 1e) (Hiphil) to send

Beth-בֵּֽית־beit-H1008G
Aven

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) Aven = "vanity" a name used contemptuously a place of idolatrous worship Bethel with its calf worship (Ho 10:8) Another name of bet-el (בֵּֽיתְ־אֵל "Bethel" H1008G)

-elאֵ֔ל'ElH1008G
Aven

אָ֫וֶן (a.ven) Aven = "vanity" a name used contemptuously a place of idolatrous worship Bethel with its calf worship (Ho 10:8) Another name of bet-el (בֵּֽיתְ־אֵל "Bethel" H1008G)

Shar-שַׂר־sar-H8272H
Sharezer

שַׁרְאֶ֫צֶר (shar.e.tser) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Zec.7.2 § Sharezer or Sherezer = "prince of fire" 1) son of king Sennacherib of Assyria and murderer of his father 2) an Israelite whom the people sent to the house of God to pray in the time of the prophet Zechariah and king Darius

-ezerאֶ֕צֶר'E-tzerH8272H
Sharezer

שַׁרְאֶ֫צֶר (shar.e.tser) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Zec.7.2 § Sharezer or Sherezer = "prince of fire" 1) son of king Sennacherib of Assyria and murderer of his father 2) an Israelite whom the people sent to the house of God to pray in the time of the prophet Zechariah and king Darius

and Regem-וְרֶ֥גֶםve-RE-gemH7278
Regem-melech

רֶ֫גֶם מֶ֫לֶךְ (re.gem me.lekh) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Zec.7.2 § Regem-melech = "king's heap" a man sent by some of the captivity to make enquiries at the temple concerning fasting

Melechמֶ֖לֶךְME-lekhH7278
Regem-melech

רֶ֫גֶם מֶ֫לֶךְ (re.gem me.lekh) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Zec.7.2 § Regem-melech = "king's heap" a man sent by some of the captivity to make enquiries at the temple concerning fasting

and men hisוַֽאֲנָשָׁ֑יוva-'a-na-SHAVH0582
human

אֱנוֹשׁ (e.nosh) 1) man, mortal man, person, mankind 1a) of an individual 1b) men (collective) 1c) man, mankind Aramaic equivalent: e.nash (אֱנָשׁ "man" H0606)

to entreatלְחַלּ֖וֹתle-cha-LOTH2470B
to beg

חָלָה (cha.lah) 1) (Piel) 1a) (CLBL) to mollify, entreat, pray, beg

[the] face ofפְּנֵ֥יpe-NEIH6440L
face: before

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) : before/to/front 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of

Yahwehיְהוָֽה׃YAH-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)

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