Zechariah 7

Zechariah · Chapter 7

Zechariah 7:9

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
9Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another.Thus hath Jehovah of hosts spoken, saying, Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Men were sent to the house of God to ask whether they should keep weeping and fasting in the fifth month as they had for years (7:2-3). God answered that their fasts had not really been for him (7:5-6) and pointed them back to what the former prophets had said (7:7). This verse sums up that old message: judge truly and show kindness and compassion to one another. Zechariah 7:2Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6Zechariah 7:7Zechariah 7:9

SpeakingThe LORD of hosts speaks through the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah. Zechariah 7:8Zechariah 7:9Zechariah overview

ToAll the people of the land and the priests, the Jews who had returned from exile in Babylon. Zechariah 7:5Zechariah overview

Also involvedEach person's "brother," meaning relatives and fellow members of the community, and especially the widow, the fatherless, the stranger and the poor named in the next verse. Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:10Strong's H0251I

God commands true judgment and kindness and compassion between neighbors. The next verse adds: do not oppress the weak, and do not plot evil against one another in your heart. The people of earlier days refused this message, and God's wrath and scattering among the nations followed. Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:10Zechariah 7:11Zechariah 7:12Zechariah 7:14

Jerusalem, among the returned exiles, while the temple was being rebuilt. The question about fasting was brought to the house of God. Zechariah overviewZechariah 7:2

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThe word came on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chisleu, in the fourth year of king Darius of Persia, about 518 BC. Zechariah 7:1Zechariah overview

WrittenTraditional: written by Zechariah, with dated messages from 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8, including this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC; many assign chapters 9-14 to a later writer, while others hold Zechariah wrote the whole book. Zechariah overview

HereThe question was about a fast, but God answers about how they treat each other. What he wants is justice and mercy, not ritual done for oneself. Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:6Zechariah 7:9

In the whole of ScriptureThis repeats what the former prophets cried before the exile (7:7, 7:12). Micah 6:8 asks the same: "to do justly, and to love mercy." Jeremiah 7:5 and 21:12 also command, "execute judgment." Proverbs 21:3 says doing justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Zechariah 7:7Zechariah 7:12Micah 6:8Jeremiah 7:5Jeremiah 21:12Proverbs 21:3

For readersReligious habits like fasting do not replace fair dealing and real kindness toward others, especially the weak. Those who would not hear this before were scattered, and that warning is set before the returned people. Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:10Zechariah 7:11Zechariah 7:13Zechariah 7:14

  • trueאֱמֶת
    Hebrew · e.met · H0571H

    The word means firmness, faithfulness, reliability and truth, including truth "of testimony and judgment." So "true judgment" means judging in a way that is faithful and can be relied on. Strong's H0571HZechariah 7:9

  • mercyחֶ֫סֶד
    Hebrew · che.sed · H2617A

    Its gloss is goodness, kindness and faithfulness. The mercy asked for here is faithful kindness shown to one's brother. Strong's H2617AZechariah 7:9

  • compassionsרַחֲמִים
    Hebrew · ra.cha.mim · H7356B

    The Hebrew word means compassion. It sits beside true judgment, so fairness and tender care go together. Strong's H7356BZechariah 7:9

  • brotherאָח
    Hebrew · ach · H0251I

    Besides a sibling, the word can mean a relative or a member of the same tribe, and it is used for "each to the other." So "every man to his brother" means toward one another in the community. Strong's H0251IStrong's H0376IZechariah 7:9

Takeaway

When people asked God about their fasting, he answered: judge truly, and show kindness and compassion to one another. This was the same thing the earlier prophets had said, and those who refused to hear it suffered God's wrath. Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:7Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 7:12Micah 6:8

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
thusכֹּ֥הkohH3541
thus

כֹּה (koh) 1) thus, here, in this manner 1a) thus, so 1b) here, here and there 1c) until now, until now...until then, meanwhile Aramaic equivalent: kah (כָּה "thus" H3542)

he saysאָמַ֛ר'a-MARH0559
to say

אָמַר (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)

Yahwehיְהוָ֥הYAH-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)

of hostsצְבָא֖וֹתtze-va-'otH6635B
Hosts

צָבָא (tsa.va) The Hosts (of the Lord) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

to sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle-MORH0559
to say

אָמַר (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)

justice ofמִשְׁפַּ֤טmish-PATH4941G
justice: judgement

מִשְׁפָּט (mish.pat) : judgement/punishment 1) judgment, justice, ordinance 1a) judgment 1a1) act of deciding a case 1a2) place, court, seat of judgment 1a3) process, procedure, litigation (before judges) 1a4) case, cause (presented for judgment) 1a5) sentence, decision (of judgment) 1a6) execution (of judgment) 1a7) time (of judgment) 1b) justice, right, rectitude (attributes of God or man) 1c) ordinance 1d) decision (in law) 1e) right, privilege, due (legal) 1f) proper, fitting, measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan

faithfulnessאֱמֶת֙'e-METH0571H
truth: faithful

אֱמֶת (e.met) : faithful 1) firmness, faithfulness, truth 1a) sureness, reliability 1b) stability, continuance 1c) faithfulness, reliableness 1d) truth 1d1) as spoken 1d2) of testimony and judgment 1d3) of divine instruction 1d4) truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge 1d5) true doctrine adv 2) in truth, truly

judgeשְׁפֹ֔טוּshe-FO-tuH8199
to judge

שָׁפַט (sha.phat) 1) to judge, govern, vindicate, punish 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to act as law-giver or judge or governor (of God, man) 1a1a) to rule, govern, judge 1a2) to decide controversy (of God, man) 1a3) to execute judgment 1a3a) discriminating (of man) 1a3b) vindicating 1a3c) condemning and punishing 1a3d) at theophanic advent for final judgment 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to enter into controversy, plead, have controversy together 1b2) to be judged 1c) (Poel) judge, opponent-at-law (participle)

and loyaltyוְחֶ֣סֶדve-CHE-sedH2617A
kindness

חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) goodness, kindness, faithfulness

and compassionsוְרַֽחֲמִ֔יםve-ra-cha-MIMH7356B
compassion

רַחֲמִים (ra.cha.mim) compassion Aramaic equivalent: re.chem (רַחֲמִין "compassion" H7359)

doעֲשׂ֖וּ'a-SUH6213A
to make: do

עָשָׂה (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

eachאִ֥ישׁ'ishH0376I
man

אִישׁ (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)

withאֶת־'et-H0854
with

אֵת (et) 1) with, near, together with 1a) with, together with 1b) with (of relationship) 1c) near (of place) 1d) with (poss.) 1e) from...with, from (with other prep)

brother hisאָחִֽיו׃'a-CHIVH0251I
brother: male-sibling

אָח (ach) : male-sibling 1) brother 1a) brother of same parents 1b) half-brother (same father) 1c) relative, kinship, same tribe 1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship) 1e) (fig.) of resemblance

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