Zechariah 8:17
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | And 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. | do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD. | and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith Jehovah. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedAfter promising to return to Zion and do good to Jerusalem (8:3, 8:15), the LORD lists what his people must do in return. Verse 16 tells them to speak truth and judge justly. Verse 17 adds: do not plot harm against your neighbor in your heart, and do not love false oaths, because the LORD hates these things. Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17
SpeakingThe LORD speaks through the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah. Zechariah 8:17Zechariah 8:1Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylon and were rebuilding the temple. Zechariah overviewZechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:15
Also involvedEach person's neighbor, the fellow citizen who would be harmed by evil plans or false oaths. Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17Strong's H7453
Two commands follow the call to truth in verse 16. Do not plan evil against a neighbor in your heart, and do not love swearing falsely. The LORD gives the reason: he hates all these things. Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17
Jerusalem and Judah, among the people who had come back from exile. Verse 16 places the judgment of truth and peace "in your gates." Zechariah overviewZechariah 8:16
The eventsThe message belongs to Zechariah's answer to a question about fasting, dated to the fourth year of Darius king of Persia, about 518 BC, while the temple was being rebuilt. Zechariah overviewZechariah 8:9
WrittenTraditional: written by Zechariah between 520 and 518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8, including this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview
HereGod had promised to do well to Jerusalem (8:15). These commands show the kind of life he expects from a people he dwells among. He calls Jerusalem "a city of truth" (8:3). Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:16
In the whole of ScriptureEarlier generations provoked God and were punished (8:14), and before the rebuilding he had set "every one against his neighbour" (8:10). Now he calls for truth and peace between neighbors instead. Proverbs 3:29 says "Devise not evil against thy neighbour," and Proverbs 6:16-19 lists a false witness and one who sows discord among things the LORD hates. Zechariah 8:14Zechariah 8:10Zechariah 8:19Proverbs 3:29Proverbs 6:16Proverbs 6:19
For readersGod cares about what is planned in the heart as well as outward acts. He hates deceit and harm done to others. Psalm 5:5-6 says he hates workers of iniquity and abhors the deceitful man. Zechariah 8:17Strong's H3824Psalms 5:5Psalms 5:6
- imagineחָשַׁב
The word's meanings include to think, plan, devise, imagine and reckon. Here it is aimed at evil against a neighbor, the same warning found in Proverbs 3:29, "Devise not evil against thy neighbour," and Micah 2:1, "Woe to them that devise iniquity." Strong's H2803IProverbs 3:29Micah 2:1
- heartsלֵבָב
The heart here is the inner person: mind, will and thinking. The command reaches past deeds to what is formed inside. Strong's H3824
- falseשֶׁ֫קֶר
The word means lie, deception or falsehood. Its definitions include falsehood in testimony and swearing falsely, which fits the warning against a false oath. Strong's H8267Strong's H7621
- neighbourרֵעַ
The word covers a friend, companion or fellow citizen. The command is about how the returned people treat one another in their community. Strong's H7453
Takeaway
God, who promised to do good to Jerusalem, told his people not to plan harm against one another or love false oaths, because he hates such things. Truth and peace between neighbors were to mark the city where he dwells. Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17Zechariah 8:19
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 each | וְאִ֣ישׁ׀ | ve-'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) |
| [the] harm of | רָעַ֣ת | ra-'AT | H7451I | No entry |
| neighbor his | רֵעֵ֗הוּ | 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) |
| may not | אַֽל־ | '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 plan | תַּחְשְׁבוּ֙ | tach-she-VU | H2803I | to devise: designחָשַׁב (cha.shav) : design/skillful 1) to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to think, account 1a2) to plan, devise, mean 1a3) to charge, impute, reckon 1a4) to esteem, value, regard 1a5) to invent 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be accounted, be thought, be esteemed 1b2) to be computed, be reckoned 1b3) to be imputed 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to think upon, consider, be mindful of 1c2) to think to do, devise, plan 1c3) to count, reckon 1d) (Hithpael) to be considered |
| in heart your | בִּלְבַבְכֶ֔ם | bil-vav-KHEM | H3824 | heartלֵבָב (le.vav) 1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding 1a) inner part, midst 1a1) midst (of things) 1a2) heart (of man) 1a3) soul, heart (of man) 1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory 1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will) 1a6) conscience 1a7) heart (of moral character) 1a8) as seat of appetites 1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage Aramaic equivalent: le.vav (לְבַב "heart" H3825) |
| and an oath of | וּשְׁבֻ֥עַת | u-she-VU-'at | H7621 | oathשְׁבוּעָה (she.vu.ah) 1) oath, curse 1a) oath 1a1) attesting of innocence 1a2) curse 1b) oath (of Jehovah) |
| falsehood | שֶׁ֖קֶר | SHE-ker | H8267 | deceptionשֶׁ֫קֶר (she.qer) 1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood 1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one) 1b) deceit, fraud, wrong 1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb) 1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony) 1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely 1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets) 1e) lie, falsehood (in general) 1e1) false tongue 1f) in vain |
| may not | אַֽל־ | '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 love | תֶּאֱהָ֑בוּ | te-'e-HA-vu | H0157G | to love: loverאָהֵב (a.hav) : lover 1) to love 1a) (Qal) 1a1) human love for another, includes family, and sexual 1a2) human appetite for objects such as food, drink, sleep, wisdom 1a3) human love for or to God 1a4) act of being a friend 1a4a) lover (participle) 1a4b) friend (participle) 1a5) God's love toward man 1a5a) to individual men 1a5b) to people Israel 1a5c) to righteousness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) lovely (participle) 1b2) loveable (participle) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) friends 1c2) lovers (fig. of adulterers) 2) to like Also means: a.hav (אָהֵב ": friend" H0157H) |
| for | כִּ֧י | 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 |
| 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 | אֵ֛לֶּה | 'E-leh | H0428 | theseאֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429) |
| [are things] which | אֲשֶׁ֥ר | '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 |
| I hate | שָׂנֵ֖אתִי | sa-NE-ti | H8130 | to hateשָׂנֵא (sa.ne) 1) to hate, be hateful 1a) (Qal) to hate 1a1) of man 1a2) of God 1a3) hater, one hating, enemy (participle) (subst) 1b) (Niphal) to be hated 1c) (Piel) hater (participle) 1c1) of persons, nations, God, wisdom Aramaic equivalent: se.ne (שְׂנָא "to hate" H8131) |
| [the] utterance of | נְאֻם־ | ne-'um- | H5002 | utteranceנְאֻם (ne.um) 1) (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet) 1a) utterance, declaration, revelation (of prophet in ecstatic state) 1b) utterance, declaration (elsewhere always preceding divine name) |
| Yahweh | יְהוָֽה׃ ס | YAH-weh | H3068G | Lordאֲדֹנָי (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) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.