Zechariah 8:13
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | And 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. | As you have been a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid; let your hands be strong.” | And it shall come to pass that, as ye were a curse among the nations, 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. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedGod promises the returned exiles a reversal: just as their name had been used as a curse among the nations, he will save them and make them a blessing. The promise comes right after God tells them that the hard years before the temple's foundation are over and that crops and dew will return. So he tells them to stop fearing and keep working. Zechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:10Zechariah 8:11Zechariah 8:12Zechariah 8:13
SpeakingThe LORD of hosts speaks through the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah. Zechariah 8:1Zechariah 8:14Zechariah overview
ToThe "house of Judah, and house of Israel": the people who had come back from exile in Babylon and were rebuilding the temple. Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:9Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe nations ("heathen") who had seen God's people as a curse. Later in the chapter many nations come to seek the LORD in Jerusalem because "God is with you." Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:22Zechariah 8:23
God names a past disgrace and a coming change. Judah had become a curse among the nations, as Jeremiah 29:18 and Ezekiel 5:15 warned would happen under judgment. Now God will save them and make them a blessing, echoing his promise to Abraham, "thou shalt be a blessing" (Genesis 12:2-3). He adds a command: "fear not, but let your hands be strong." Zechariah 8:13Jeremiah 29:18Ezekiel 5:15Genesis 12:2Genesis 12:3
Jerusalem, among the people who had returned, the city God says he has returned to and will dwell in. Zechariah overviewZechariah 8:3
The eventsThe message belongs to the years after the return from exile, when the temple's foundation had been laid and building had started again. Zechariah's dated messages run from about 520 to 518 BC, in the reign of Darius of Persia. Zechariah 8:9Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote it about 520-518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8, including this verse, come from Zechariah in those years; the debate concerns chapters 9-14. Zechariah overview
HereTo strengthen discouraged builders. "Let your hands be strong" repeats 8:9, which is spoken to those who heard the prophets when the temple's foundation was laid. God's purpose to do good to them is as fixed as his past purpose to punish. Zechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:14Zechariah 8:15Zechariah overview
In the whole of ScriptureThe verse ties the return from exile to God's promise to Abraham that through his people all families of the earth would be blessed. The chapter ends with nations coming to Jerusalem to seek the LORD, and Zephaniah 3:20 likewise promises God will make his people "a praise among all people of the earth." Genesis 12:3Zechariah 8:20Zechariah 8:21Zechariah 8:22Zechariah 8:23Zephaniah 3:20
For readersGod's promise came with a task. The same passage calls them to speak truth, judge fairly and hate false oaths, and it tells them to keep building without fear because God has turned toward them for good. Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17
- curseקְלָלָה
Defined as "curse, vilification, execration." It describes how the nations spoke of Judah, a byword of disgrace, as Jeremiah 29:18 says, and not a spell placed on them. Strong's H7045Jeremiah 29:18
- blessingבְּרָכָה
Its meanings include "blessing" and "(source of) blessing." Judah would not only be blessed but become a source of blessing to others, as promised to Abraham in Genesis 12:2. Strong's H1293Genesis 12:2
- saveיָשַׁע
Means "to save, deliver." It links back to 8:7, where God says he will save his people from east and west and bring them home. Strong's H3467Zechariah 8:7
- be strongחָזַק
Means to be strong, firm, courageous or resolute. Paired with "hands," which can stand for strength or power, it calls them to steady, courageous work, the same charge given in 8:9. Strong's H2388GStrong's H3027GZechariah 8:9
Takeaway
God promised the returned exiles that their shame among the nations would be turned into blessing for the nations. Because he had set his purpose to do them good, they were to stop fearing and keep building. Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:15Genesis 12:3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and it will be | וְהָיָ֡ה | ve-ha-YAH | H1961 | to beהָיָה (ha.yah) 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) … |
| just as | כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ | 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 |
| you were | הֱיִיתֶ֨ם | he-yi-TEM | H1961 | to beהָיָה (ha.yah) 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) … |
| a curse | קְלָלָ֜ה | ke-la-LAH | H7045 | curseקְלָלָה (qe.la.lah) curse, vilification, execration |
| among the nations | בַּגּוֹיִ֗ם | ba-go-YIM | H1471A | nationגּוֹי (goy) 1) nation, people 1a) nation, people 1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people 1a2) of descendants of Abraham 1a3) of Israel 1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.) |
| O house of | בֵּ֤ית | beit | H1004M | No entry |
| Judah | יְהוּדָה֙ | ye-hu-DAH | H3063G | Judahיְהוּד (ye.hud) A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.29.35; son of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812); brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074) and Dinah (H1783); half-brother of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); married to Bath-shua (H1323I) and Tamar (H8559); father of: Er (H6147), Onan (H0209), Shelah (H7956), Perez (H6557) and Zerah (H2226I) Aramaic of ye.hu.dah (יְהוּדָה "Judah" H3063) Judah-the territory of the tribe of Judah |
| and [the] house of | וּבֵ֣ית | u-VEIT | H1004M | No entry |
| Israel | יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | YIS-ra-'EL | H3478 | Jacobיַעֲקֹב (ya.a.qov) A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently Another name of yis.ra.el (יִשְׂרָאֵל "Israel" H3478) § Jacob = "heel holder" or "supplanter" … |
| so | כֵּ֚ן | ken | H3651C | rightכֵּן (ken) adv adj 1) right, just, honest, true, veritable 1a) right, just, honest 1b) correct 1c) true, veritable |
| I will save | אוֹשִׁ֣יעַ | 'o-SHI-a' | H3467 | to saveיָשַׁע (ya.sah) 1) to save, be saved, be delivered 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be liberated, be saved, be delivered 1a2) to be saved (in battle), be victorious 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to save, deliver 1b2) to save from moral troubles 1b3) to give victory to |
| and you will be | וִהְיִיתֶ֖ם | vih-yi-TEM | H1961 | to beהָיָה (ha.yah) 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) … |
| a blessing | בְּרָכָ֑ה | be-ra-KHAH | H1293 | blessingבְּרָכָה (be.ra.khah) 1) blessing 2) (source of) blessing 3) blessing, prosperity 4) blessing, praise of God 5) a gift, present 6) treaty of peace |
| may not | אַל־ | 'al- | H0408 | notאַל (al) 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409) |
| you be afraid | תִּירָ֖אוּ | ti-RA-'u | H3372G | to fearיָרֵא (ya.re) : frightening(DANGER) 1) to fear, revere, be afraid 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to fear, be afraid 1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed 1a3) to fear, reverence, honour, respect 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared 1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe 1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe 1c) (Piel) to make afraid, terrify 2) (TWOT) to shoot, pour |
| let them be strong | תֶּחֱזַ֥קְנָה | te-che-ZAK-nah | H2388G | to strengthen: strengthenחָזַק (cha.zaq) : strengthen/support/encourage 1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be strong, grow strong 1a1a) to prevail, prevail upon 1a1b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure 1a1c) to press, be urgent 1a1d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense) 1a1e) to be severe, be grievous 1a2) to strengthen 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make strong 1b2) to restore to strength, give strength 1b3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage 1b4) to make strong, make bold, encourage 1b5) to make firm 1b6) to make rigid, make hard … |
| hands your | יְדֵיכֶֽם׃ ס | ye-dei-KHEM | H3027G | handיָד (yad) : hand/arm[anatomy] 1) hand 1a) hand (of man) 1b) strength, power (fig.) 1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.) 1d) (various special, technical senses) 1d1) sign, monument 1d2) part, fractional part, share 1d3) time, repetition 1d4) axle-trees, axle 1d5) stays, support (for laver) 1d6) tenons (in tabernacle) 1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure) 1d8) wrists |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.