Zechariah 8
King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context
About this chapter
AI-assisted, sourcedThe LORD says, "I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem," promising old people and children in its streets and his people gathered "from the east country, and from the west country." He tells those who heard the prophets since the temple's foundation was laid, "Let your hands be strong," calls them to "speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour," and turns the fasts into "joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts." Many nations will come "to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem," saying to a Jew, "We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:4Zechariah 8:5Zechariah 8:7Zechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:19Zechariah 8:22Zechariah 8:23
Who, where, when, and the key verses
Who
The LORD of hosts speaks to "the remnant of this people," the "house of Judah, and house of Israel," and those who hear "these words by the mouth of the prophets." Zechariah 8:6Zechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:13
Where
Jerusalem, "a city of truth," and Zion, "the holy mountain," where the nations come to pray. Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:22JerusalemZion
When
No new date is given in this chapter; the book's dated messages run from the second year of Darius, about 520 BC, to his fourth year, about 518 BC. Most scholars agree that chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, under Darius king of Persia. Zechariah overview
How it fits
Chapter 7 told how the fathers refused to hear and were scattered; here God promises to "do well unto Jerusalem" as surely as he punished. Chapter 9 begins "the burden of the word of the LORD," the book's second part. Zechariah 7:14Zechariah 8:14Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 9:1Zechariah overview
Key verses
- Verse 3
"I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth." Chapter 7 ended with "the pleasant land desolate." Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 7:14
- Verse 16
"Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates." Ephesians 4:25 also says, "speak every man truth with his neighbour." Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17Ephesians 4:25
- Verse 23
"Ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations... saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." Isaiah 2:3 also tells of many people saying, "let us go up to the mountain of the LORD." Zechariah 8:22Zechariah 8:23Isaiah 2:3
Takeaway
Because God has promised good to his people, do not fear but let your hands be strong, and love the truth and peace. Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:19
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-29.
The LORD returns to Zion
1Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, 2Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury. 3Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. 4Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. 5And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. 6Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. 7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; 8And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
Let your hands be strong
9Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built. 10For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour. 11But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts. 12For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. 13And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong. 14For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not: 15So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not. 16These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: 17And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
Fasts become feasts; the nations come
18And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying, 19Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. 20Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: 21And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. 22Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. 23Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.