Zechariah 8:12
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | For 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. | “For the seed will be prosperous, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will yield its produce, and the skies will give their dew. To the remnant of this people I will give all these things as an inheritance. | For there shall be the seed of peace; the vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give its increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe LORD promises the returned people of Judah that the hard years before the temple's foundation are over. Where there had been no wages and no peace, the seed, vine, ground and sky will now yield their goods. He will give this remnant all these things as their inheritance. Zechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:10Zechariah 8:11Zechariah 8:12
SpeakingThe LORD of hosts, speaking through the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah, son of Iddo. Zechariah 8:1Zechariah 8:11Zechariah overview
ToThe Jews who had come back from exile in Babylon and were rebuilding the temple, called here "the remnant of this people." Zechariah 8:6Zechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:12Zechariah overview
This is a promise of plenty and peace after hardship. Crops, vines, soil and dew will all give their yield. It echoes the blessings God promised in the law, where the land yields her increase and the trees their fruit. Zechariah 8:10Zechariah 8:12Leviticus 26:4Leviticus 26:5Ezekiel 34:27
Spoken in Jerusalem among the returned exiles, about the land of Judah and Jerusalem. Zechariah overviewZechariah 8:3
The eventsThe message belongs to the time after the temple's foundation was laid again (8:9), within Zechariah's dated messages of Darius's second to fourth years, about 520-518 BC. Zechariah 8:9Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: written by Zechariah about 520-518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree that chapters 1-8, including this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview
HereThe verse gives the reason the builders should "let your hands be strong." God has turned from judgment to blessing, so they need not fear. Zechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:15
In the whole of ScriptureGod is jealous for Zion and has returned to dwell in Jerusalem. The renewed land is part of the larger promise: "they shall be my people, and I will be their God." The law and other prophets describe the same blessing of fruit, increase and safety. Zechariah 8:2Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:8Leviticus 26:4Ezekiel 34:26Ezekiel 34:27
For readersThe promise is tied to a call to act rightly. The people must speak truth, judge with truth and peace, and love no false oath. Jesus likewise taught to seek God's kingdom first, and "all these things shall be added unto you." Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17Zechariah 8:19Matthew 6:33
- prosperous (peace)שָׁלוֹם
The Hebrew behind "prosperous" is shalom, here "the peace" joined to "seed." Its range covers completeness, welfare, prosperity and peace. The verse answers the time when there was no "peace to him that went out or came in" (8:10). Strong's H7965GStrong's H2233GZechariah 8:10
- possessנָחַל
The form here means "to give as a possession" or "cause to inherit." The remnant does not seize these goods. God hands them over as an inheritance. Strong's H5157Zechariah 8:12
- remnantשְׁאֵרִית
The word means rest or what is left. It marks the hearers as those who remained and returned. The same group is named in 8:6 and 8:11. Strong's H7611Zechariah 8:6Zechariah 8:11
- dewטַל
The word means dew or night mist. Here "the heavens shall give their dew," and the dew of heaven also appears in blessings on the land in Genesis 27:28 and Deuteronomy 33:13. Strong's H2919Zechariah 8:12Genesis 27:28Deuteronomy 33:13
Takeaway
God told the weary rebuilders of Jerusalem that their days of want were over. He would make their land fruitful and give it to them as an inheritance. The promise came with a call to be strong, not fear, and live by truth and peace. Zechariah 8:12Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 8:16
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
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| [the] seed of | זֶ֣רַע | ZE-ra' | H2233G | seedזֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) : seed/sowing 1) seed, sowing, offspring 1a) a sowing 1b) seed 1c) semen virile 1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children 1e) of moral quality 1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.) 1f) sowing time (by meton) |
| the peace | הַשָּׁל֗וֹם | ha-sha-LOM | H7965G | peaceשָׁלוֹם (sha.lom) : peace 1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace 1a) completeness (in number) 1b) safety, soundness (in body) 1c) welfare, health, prosperity 1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment 1e) peace, friendship 1e1) of human relationships 1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship 1f) peace (from war) 1g) peace (as adjective) |
| the vine | הַגֶּ֜פֶן | ha-GE-fen | H1612 | vineגֶּ֫פֶן (ge.phen) 1) vine, vine tree 1a) of Israel (fig.) 1b) of stars fading at Jehovah's judgment (metaph.) 1c) of prosperity |
| it will give | תִּתֵּ֤ן | ti-TEN | H5414G | to give: giveנָתַן (na.tan) : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted … |
| fruit its | פִּרְיָהּ֙ | pir-YAH | H6529 | fruitפְּרִי (pe.ri) 1) fruit 1a) fruit, produce (of the ground) 1b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb) 1c) fruit (of actions) (fig.) |
| and the land | וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ | ve-ha-'A-retz | H0776H | earth: soilאֲרַע (a.ra) : soil earth, world, ground Aramaic of e.rets (אֶ֫רֶץ ": soil" H0776H) |
| it will give | תִּתֵּ֣ן | ti-TEN | H5414G | to give: giveנָתַן (na.tan) : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted … |
| produce its | יְבוּלָ֔הּ | ye-vu-LAH | H2981 | cropsיְבוּל (ye.vul) produce, fruit, produce (of the soil) |
| and the heavens | וְהַשָּׁמַ֖יִם | ve-ha-sha-MA-yim | H8064 | heavenשָׁמַיִם (sha.ma.yim) 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible heavens, sky 1a1) as abode of the stars 1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc 1b) Heaven (as the abode of God) Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065) |
| they will give | יִתְּנ֣וּ | yi-te-NU | H5414G | to give: giveנָתַן (na.tan) : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted … |
| dew their | טַלָּ֑ם | ta-LAM | H2919 | dewטַל (tal) dew, night mist Aramaic equivalent: tal (טַל "dew" H2920) |
| and I will give as an inheritance | וְהִנְחַלְתִּ֗י | ve-hin-chal-TI | H5157 | to inheritנָחַל (na.chal) 1) to get as a possession, acquire, inherit, possess 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take possession, inherit 1a2) to have or get as a possession or property (fig.) 1a3) to divide the land for a possession 1a4) to acquire (testimonies) (fig.) 1b) (Piel) to divide for a possession 1c) (Hithpael) to possess oneself of 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to give as a possession 1d2) to cause to inherit, give as an inheritance 1e) (Hophal) to be allotted, be made to possess |
| [the] remnant of | שְׁאֵרִ֛ית | she-'e-RIT | H7611 | remnantשְׁאֵרִית (she.e.rit) 1) rest, residue, remainder, remnant 1a) rest, what is left 1b) remainder, descendants |
| the people | הָעָ֥ם | ha-'AM | H5971A | peopleעַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men |
| the this | הַזֶּ֖ה | ha-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 |
| 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) |
| these [things] | אֵֽלֶּה׃ | 'E-leh | H0428 | theseאֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.