Zechariah 7:5
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Speak 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? | “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for these seventy years, was it really for Me that you fasted? | Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month, even these seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedMen came to the temple to ask the priests whether they should keep weeping and fasting in the fifth month as they had for many years. God answers through Zechariah with a question back: during those seventy years of fasting in the fifth and seventh months, was it really for him? He then reminds them that the former prophets called for justice and mercy, and the people would not hear. Zechariah 7:2Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:4Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:7Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:11
SpeakingThe LORD of hosts speaks, and Zechariah the prophet delivers the message. Zechariah 7:4Zechariah overview
ToAll the people of the land and the priests, not only the men who brought the question. Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:2Zechariah overview
God questions the motive behind their long-kept fasts. He asks whether they fasted for him at all, just as their eating and drinking had been for themselves. The rest of the chapter shows what God wanted: true judgment, mercy, and no oppression of the widow, orphan, stranger, or poor. Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:10
Jerusalem, where the question was brought to the priests at the house of the LORD while the temple was being rebuilt. Zechariah 7:2Zechariah 7:3Zechariah overview
The eventsThe word came in the fourth year of king Darius, in the ninth month, Chisleu. The fasts had been kept through the seventy years of God's indignation on Jerusalem. Zechariah 7:1Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 1:12
WrittenTraditional: written by Zechariah, with this message dated about 518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview
HereGod turns a question about a ritual into a question about the heart. Fasting that is not truly toward him misses the point, and he wants obedience to the words of the former prophets. Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:7Zechariah 7:9
In the whole of ScriptureThe book calls the returned people to turn to the LORD so he will turn to them. This chapter warns them not to repeat their fathers' hard hearts, which brought wrath and scattering. Zechariah overviewZechariah 7:11Zechariah 7:12Zechariah 7:14
For readersReligious practice is measured by whether it is done to the Lord. Isaiah says God's chosen fast is to loose the bands of wickedness and free the oppressed, and Paul says to eat, drink, and do all to God's glory. Isaiah 58:4Isaiah 58:61 Corinthians 10:31Romans 14:6
- you fastedצוּם
The word means to abstain from food. God does not question that they went without food, only whom it was for. Strong's H6684Zechariah 7:5
- and you mournedסָפַד
This word means to wail or lament. It shows their fasts were times of loud grief, the weeping asked about in verse 3. Strong's H5594Zechariah 7:3
- meאֲנָא
This is the first-person pronoun, usually used for emphasis. It sharpens the question "even to me?" so the focus is on God himself as the one the fast should serve. Strong's H0589Zechariah 7:5
Takeaway
God asks not only whether we keep religious days but whom we keep them for. He wants justice, mercy, and a listening heart more than ritual done for ourselves. Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6Zechariah 7:9Isaiah 58:6
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| say | אֱמֹר֙ | 'e-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) |
| all | כָּל־ | kol- | 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] people of | עַ֣ם | 'am | H5971A | peopleעַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men |
| the land | הָאָ֔רֶץ | 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 … |
| 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 priests | הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים | 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) |
| 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) |
| that | כִּֽי־ | ki- | H3588A | forכִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore |
| you fasted | צַמְתֶּ֨ם | tzam-TEM | H6684 | to fastצוּם (tsum) (Qal) to abstain from food, fast |
| and you mourned | וְסָפ֜וֹד | ve-sa-FOD | H5594 | to mournסָפַד (sa.phad) 1) to wail, lament, mourn 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to wail, lament 1a2) wailers (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be lamented, be bewailed |
| in the fifth [month] | בַּחֲמִישִׁ֣י | ba-cha-mi-SHI | H2549 | fifthחֲמִישִׁי (cha.mi.shi) ordinal number, 5th |
| and in the seventh [month] | וּבַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י | u-va-she-vi-'I | H7637 | seventhשְׁבִיעִי (she.vi.i) 1) seventh 1a) ordinal number |
| and this | וְזֶה֙ | ve-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 |
| seventy | שִׁבְעִ֣ים | shiv-'IM | H7657 | seventyשִׁבְעִים (shiv.im) seventy |
| year[s] | שָׁנָ֔ה | sha-NAH | H8141 | yearשְׁנָה (she.nah) year Aramaic of sha.neh (שָׁנָה "year" H8141) |
| ¿ really to fast | הֲצ֥וֹם | ha-TZOM | H6684 | to fastצוּם (tsum) (Qal) to abstain from food, fast |
| did you fast for me | צַמְתֻּ֖נִי | tzam-TU-ni | H6684 | to fastצוּם (tsum) (Qal) to abstain from food, fast |
| me | אָֽנִי׃ | 'A-ni | H0589 | meאֲנָא (a.na) I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis) Aramaic of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.