Zechariah 7:3
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | And 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? | by asking the priests of the house of the LORD of Hosts, as well as the prophets, “Should I weep and fast in the fifth month, as I have done these many years?” | and to speak unto the priests of the house of Jehovah of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedMen sent to the house of the LORD ask the priests and prophets whether they should keep weeping and fasting in the fifth month, as they had done for many years. God answers by asking whether their fasts were ever truly for him (7:5-6) and by calling them to justice and mercy (7:9-10). He later promises that this fast will become a time of joy (8:19). Zechariah 7:2Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:10Zechariah 8:19
SpeakingThe question comes from a group sent to the house of God, named as Sherezer and Regemmelech and their men. They speak as "I," asking on behalf of those who sent them. Zechariah 7:2Zechariah 7:3
ToThe question is put to the priests at the house of the LORD of hosts and to the prophets there. Zechariah receives the LORD's reply. Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:4
Also involvedThe answer goes to all the people of the land and to the priests, the people of Judah who had come back from exile. Zechariah 7:5Zechariah overview
The question is whether a yearly fast of mourning should go on. The people had kept fasts in the fifth and seventh months through the seventy years (7:5). God turns the question back to their hearts. He asks whether they fasted for him or for themselves (7:5-6), and he reminds them what the former prophets demanded (7:7-10). Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6Zechariah 7:7Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:10
The question is asked at the house of the LORD of hosts, the temple then being rebuilt in Jerusalem, where Zechariah spoke among the returned exiles. Zechariah 7:3Zechariah overview
The eventsThe word came on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chisleu, in the fourth year of king Darius, about 518 BC. The temple was 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; many assign the undated chapters 9-14 to later writers. Zechariah overview
HereThe people wanted to know if an old fast of mourning still applied now that they were home and rebuilding. God used the question to test whether their fasting had ever been for him. He called them to the obedience their fathers had refused (7:11-12). Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6Zechariah 7:11Zechariah 7:12
In the whole of ScriptureThe book calls the people to return to the LORD so he will return to them (1:3). Here God shows that ritual mourning matters less than true judgment and mercy (7:9-10). Then he promises that the fasts will become "joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts" (8:19). Zechariah overviewZechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:10Zechariah 8:19
For readersAsking the priests was right, since the priest's lips should keep knowledge of the law (Malachi 2:7; Haggai 2:11). But the verse shows that outward fasting is not the main question. God looks for hearts that truly turn to him: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you" (James 4:8; see 4:10). Malachi 2:7Haggai 2:11Zechariah 7:5James 4:8James 4:10
- separating myselfנָזַר
The word means to dedicate, consecrate or separate. In this form it means to dedicate or devote oneself. So the fast was meant as an act of setting oneself apart to God. That is why God asks in 7:5 whether they truly fasted "unto me." Strong's H5144AZechariah 7:5
- weepבָּכָה
The word means to weep, bewail, or shed tears, in grief or humiliation. It marks the fast as an act of mourning, which God later promises to turn into joy (8:19). Strong's H1058Zechariah 8:19
- priestsכֹּהֵן
The question goes to the priests, whose task was to teach the law. Malachi 2:7 says the people "should seek the law at his mouth," and Haggai 2:11 also sends people to ask the priests. Strong's H3548Malachi 2:7Haggai 2:11
Takeaway
The people asked whether to keep an old fast. God answered that fasting is only worth anything when it is truly for him, and that he wants justice, mercy and listening hearts (7:5-10). Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 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
Behind this verse
- The fasts of mourning
- The people asked whether to keep fasting. Their fasts remembered the fall of Jerusalem: the siege began in the tenth month, the wall was broken in the fourth, the temple burned in the fifth, and Gedaliah was murdered in the seventh. Zechariah 7:3-5Zechariah 8:192 Kings 25:1-92 Kings 25:25Jeremiah 39:2Jeremiah 41:1-2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| to say | לֵאמֹ֗ר | le-MOR | 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) |
| to | אֶל־ | 'el- | H0413 | to(wards)אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to) |
| the priests | הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ | ha-ko-ha-NIM | H3548 | priestכֹּהֵן (ko.hen) 1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler 1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah) 1b) pagan priests 1c) priests of Jehovah 1d) Levitical priests 1e) Zadokite priests 1f) Aaronic priests 1g) the high priest Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549) |
| who | אֲשֶׁר֙ | 'a-SHER | H0834A | whichאֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when |
| [belonged] to [the] house of | לְבֵית־ | le-veit- | H1004Q | No entry |
| Yahweh | יְהוָ֣ה | 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) |
| of hosts | צְבָא֔וֹת | tze-va-'ot | H6635B | Hostsצָבָא (tsa.va) The Hosts (of the Lord) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| and to | וְאֶל־ | ve-'el- | H0413 | to(wards)אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to) |
| the prophets | הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים | ha-ne-vi-'IM | H5030 | prophetנְבִיא (ne.vi) prophet Aramaic of na.vi (נָבִיא "prophet" H5030) |
| to saying | לֵאמֹ֑ר | le-MOR | 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) |
| ¿ will I weep | הַֽאֶבְכֶּה֙ | ha-'ev-KEH | H1058 | to weepבָּכָה (ba.khah) 1) to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to weep (in grief, humiliation, or joy) 1a2) to weep bitterly (with cognate acc.) 1a3) to weep upon (embrace and weep) 1a4) to bewail 1b) (Piel) participle 1b1) lamenting 1b2) bewailing |
| in the month | בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ | ba-CHO-desh | H2320G | monthחֹ֫דֶשׁ (cho.desh) : month 1) the new moon, month, monthly 1a) the first day of the month 1b) the lunar month |
| the fifth | הַחֲמִשִׁ֔י | ha-cha-mi-SHI | H2549 | fifthחֲמִישִׁי (cha.mi.shi) ordinal number, 5th |
| will I consecrate myself? | הִנָּזֵ֕ר | hi-na-ZER | H5144A | to dedicateנָזַר (na.zar) 1) to dedicate, consecrate, separate 1a) (Niphal) to dedicate oneself, devote oneself 1b) (Hiphil) to keep sacredly separate |
| just as | כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר | ka-'a-SHER | H0834D | as whichכַּאֲשֶׁר (ka.a.sher) conj 1) according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when |
| I have done | עָשִׂ֔יתִי | 'a-SI-ti | H6213A | to make: doעָשָׂה (a.sah) : do/perform 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made |
| this | זֶ֖ה | zeh | H2088 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| how many? | כַּמֶּ֥ה | ka-MEH | H4100 | whatמָא (ma) 1) what, whatever 1a) what? 1b) whatever, what, whatsoever 1c) how?, why?, wherefore? (with prefixes) |
| years | שָׁנִֽים׃ פ | sha-NIM | H8141 | yearשְׁנָה (she.nah) year Aramaic of sha.neh (שָׁנָה "year" H8141) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.