Zechariah 8:16
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | These 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: | These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates, | These are the things that ye shall do: Speak ye every man the truth with his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates; |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedGod has just promised to return to Zion, bring His scattered people home, and "do well unto Jerusalem" (8:3, 8:7-8, 8:15). This verse begins His answer to what the people must do in return: tell one another the truth, and give honest, peace-making verdicts in the city gates. Verse 17 completes the list and says God hates the opposite. Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:7Zechariah 8:8Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17
SpeakingThe LORD of hosts speaks through the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah. Zechariah 8:1Zechariah 8:17Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon and were rebuilding the temple. Zechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:13Zechariah overview
Also involvedEach person's neighbour, and anyone whose case was judged in the city gates, the town's public meeting place. Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17Strong's H7453Strong's H8179G
Two commands: every man must speak truth to his neighbour, and the people must carry out judgment marked by truth and peace in their gates. Zechariah 7:9 had already given the same charge: "Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother." Verse 19 sums it up again: "love the truth and peace." Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 7:9Zechariah 8:19
Jerusalem and Judah, among the returned exiles. "Your gates" are the city gates, the public meeting place, where this verse says judgment was to be done. Zechariah overviewStrong's H8179GZechariah 8:16
The eventsThis message belongs to Zechariah's answer about fasting, dated to the fourth year of Darius king of Persia, about 518 BC. The temple's foundation had been laid and the building was under way. Zechariah overviewZechariah 8:9
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote it in 520-518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars also assign chapters 1-8 to Zechariah in those years; the debate concerns chapters 9-14. Zechariah overview
HereGod had already chosen to bless Jerusalem (8:15), and He wanted the people's lives to match a city He would call "a city of truth" (8:3). Earlier, every man was set against his neighbour (8:10); now honesty and fair judgment were to mark the restored community. Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:10Zechariah 8:16
In the whole of ScriptureThe verse echoes what God always asked of His people, to walk in His ways and keep His commandments (Deuteronomy 10:12-13), and the man of Psalm 15:2 who "speaketh the truth in his heart." Paul repeats it to the church: "speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another" (Ephesians 4:25). Deuteronomy 10:12Deuteronomy 10:13Psalms 15:2Ephesians 4:25
For readersGod's promises come first in these verses, and honest living is the response he asks for. John the Baptist told the people the same kind of thing: bear fruit worthy of repentance, and when soldiers asked "what shall we do?", accuse no one falsely (Luke 3:8, 3:14). Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 8:16Luke 3:8Luke 3:14
- truthאֱמֶת
The word means firmness, faithfulness, and reliability as well as truth, and it is used of testimony and judgment. So the command covers honest words and also trustworthy verdicts, which is why it appears in both halves of the verse. Strong's H0571HZechariah 8:16
- peaceשָׁלוֹם
Shalom means completeness, soundness, and welfare, including friendship in human relationships. A judgment "of peace" serves the community's welfare, in contrast to the former days when no one had peace (8:10). Strong's H7965GZechariah 8:10
- gatesשַׁ֫עַר
The gate was also the space inside the city entrance, used as the marketplace and public meeting place. "In your gates" places this judgment in public, civic life, not only private dealings. Strong's H8179GZechariah 8:16
- neighbourרֵעַ
The word covers a friend, companion, fellow citizen, or simply another person. The command to speak truth reaches everyone a person deals with, and verse 17 uses the same word when it forbids plotting evil against one's neighbour. Strong's H7453Zechariah 8:17
Takeaway
God promised to dwell in Jerusalem and bless it, then told His people how to live there: speak truth to one another and judge fairly so that peace follows. The same call runs from Psalm 15 to Ephesians 4:25. Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 8:16Psalms 15:2Ephesians 4:25
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| these | אֵ֥לֶּה | 'E-leh | H0428 | theseאֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429) |
| [are] the things | הַדְּבָרִ֖ים | ha-de-va-RIM | H1697I | wordדָּבָר (da.var) : word/speech/command 1) speech, word, speaking, thing 1a) speech 1b) saying, utterance 1c) word, words 1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension) |
| which | אֲשֶׁ֣ר | 'a-SHER | H0834A | whichאֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), 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 will do | תַּֽעֲשׂ֑וּ | ta-'a-SU | H6213A | to make: doעָשָׂה (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 |
| speak | דַּבְּר֤וּ | da-be-RU | H1696G | to speak: speakדָבַר (da.var) : speak/tell/command 1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing 1a) (Qal) to speak 1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to speak 1c2) to promise 1d) (Pual) to be spoken 1e) (Hithpael) to speak 1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight |
| truth | אֱמֶת֙ | 'e-MET | H0571H | truth: faithfulאֱמֶת (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 |
| each | אִ֣ישׁ | 'ish | H0376I | manאִישׁ (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) |
| with | אֶת־ | 'et- | H0854 | withאֵת (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) |
| neighbor his | רֵעֵ֔הוּ | re-'E-hu | H7453 | neighborרֵעַ (re.a) 1) friend, companion, fellow, another person 1a) friend, intimate 1b) fellow, fellow-citizen, another person (weaker sense) 1c) other, another (reciprocal phrase) |
| faithfulness | אֱמֶת֙ | 'e-MET | H0571H | truth: faithfulאֱמֶת (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 |
| and justice of | וּמִשְׁפַּ֣ט | u-mish-PAT | H4941G | justice: judgementמִשְׁפָּט (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 |
| peace | שָׁל֔וֹם | 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) |
| judge | שִׁפְט֖וּ | shif-TU | H8199 | to judgeשָׁפַט (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) |
| in gates your | בְּשַׁעֲרֵיכֶֽם׃ | be-sha-'a-rei-KHEM | H8179G | gateשַׁ֫עַר (sha.ar) : gate 1) gate 1a) gate (of entrance) 1b) gate (of space inside gate, i.e. marketplace, public meeting place) 1b1) city, town 1c) gate (of palace, royal castle, temple, court of tabernacle) 1d) heaven |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.