Zechariah 8:19
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Thus 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. | “This is what the LORD of Hosts says: The fasts of the fourth, the fifth, the seventh, and the tenth months will become times of joy and gladness, cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore you are to love both truth and peace.” | Thus saith Jehovah 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 truth and peace. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThis verse answers the question from 7:3 about whether the people should keep weeping and fasting in the fifth month. God says the fasts that mourned Jerusalem's fall will become joyful feasts for Judah. The closing charge, "love the truth and peace," repeats the duties just given in 8:16-17. Zechariah 8:19Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17Jeremiah 52:4Jeremiah 52:6Jeremiah 52:12Jeremiah 41:1
SpeakingThe LORD of hosts speaks through the prophet Zechariah, to whom "the word of the LORD of hosts came." Zechariah 8:18Zechariah 8:19Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylon, together with the priests who were asked about fasting. Zechariah overviewZechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5
Also involvedThe "house of Judah" is named as the one whose fasts will turn to joy. Zechariah 8:19
Judah had kept fasts in the fourth, fifth, seventh and tenth months to mourn the disasters of Jerusalem's fall. The fourth month recalls the city being broken up, the seventh the murder of Gedaliah, and the tenth the start of Babylon's siege. The cited sources do not say what event the fifth-month fast marked, only that the people wept then. God promises these sad days will become times of joy, gladness and good appointed feasts. Zechariah 8:19Jeremiah 39:22 Kings 25:32 Kings 25:42 Kings 25:25Jeremiah 52:4Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5
Given in Jerusalem among the returned exiles, about fasts mourning what happened to Jerusalem and Judah. Zechariah overviewZechariah 8:3
The eventsThe question about fasting came in the fourth year of Darius king of Persia, about 518 BC, while the temple was being rebuilt. The fasts had been kept through "those seventy years" of exile. Zechariah overviewZechariah 7:5Zechariah 8:9
WrittenTraditional: written by Zechariah around 518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview
HereGod answers the fasting question by showing that his plan is to turn mourning into joy, since he has returned to Zion to do good to Jerusalem. He ties that joy to the people loving truth and peace. Zechariah 8:19Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:15Zechariah 8:16
In the whole of ScriptureIn chapter 8 God promises to dwell in Jerusalem, bring his people home, and make them a blessing. The chapter ends with many nations coming to seek the LORD in Jerusalem. Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:8Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:22Zechariah 8:23
For readersGod asked whether their fasting was truly "unto me" (7:5), and here he points them to love of truth and peace. What he asks for is honest speech, fair judgment and goodwill toward neighbours, more than the keeping of sad days. Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 8:19Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17
- fastצוֹם
The word simply means "fast, fasting." Here it names days of mourning tied to Jerusalem's disasters, as 7:3 and 7:5 show with weeping and mourning. Strong's H6685Zechariah 7:3Zechariah 7:5Jeremiah 52:4Jeremiah 52:12
The word means an appointed time, including a "sacred season, set feast." The fast days are to become set, sacred feast times, paired with the word "good" (H2896A). Strong's H4150HStrong's H2896A
- truthאֱמֶת
Its meanings include firmness, faithfulness, reliability and truth as spoken and in judgment. That matches 8:16, which asks for truthful speech and "the judgment of truth" in the gates. Strong's H0571HZechariah 8:16
- peaceשָׁלוֹם
This is shalom. It covers completeness, welfare and peace in human relationships and with God. It is not only an absence of war, which fits the charge not to plot evil against a neighbour. Strong's H7965GZechariah 8:17
- loveאָהֵב
The word is used for human love for another and human love for God, and for God's love toward righteousness. Set beside 8:17, where the people are told to "love no false oath," the charge is to love truth and peace instead of falsehood. Strong's H0157GZechariah 8:17
Takeaway
God promised that Judah's days of mourning would become days of joy, because he had returned to do Jerusalem good. The fitting response was to love truth and peace in everyday dealings. Zechariah 8:19Zechariah 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
Behind this verse
- The fasts of mourning
- The people asked whether to keep fasting. Their fasts remembered the fall of Jerusalem: the siege began in the tenth month, the wall was broken in the fourth, the temple burned in the fifth, and Gedaliah was murdered in the seventh. Zechariah 7:3-5Zechariah 8:192 Kings 25:1-92 Kings 25:25Jeremiah 39:2Jeremiah 41:1-2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| thus | כֹּֽה־ | koh- | H3541 | thusכֹּה (koh) 1) thus, here, in this manner 1a) thus, so 1b) here, here and there 1c) until now, until now...until then, meanwhile Aramaic equivalent: kah (כָּה "thus" H3542) |
| he says | אָמַ֞ר | 'a-MAR | H0559 | to sayאָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560) |
| Yahweh | יְהוָ֣ה | 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) |
| of hosts | צְבָא֗וֹת | tze-va-'ot | H6635B | Hostsצָבָא (tsa.va) The Hosts (of the Lord) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| [the] fast of | צ֣וֹם | Tzom | H6685 | fastצוֹם (tsom) fast, fasting |
| the fourth [month] | הָרְבִיעִ֡י | ha-re-vi-'I | H7243 | fourthרְבִיעִי (re.vi.i) 1) fourth 1a) fourth 1b) four square 1c) fourth part Aramaic equivalent: re.vi.ay (רְבִיעִי "fourth" H7244) |
| and [the] fast of | וְצ֣וֹם | ve-TZOM | H6685 | fastצוֹם (tsom) fast, fasting |
| the fifth [month] | הַחֲמִישִׁי֩ | ha-cha-mi-SHI | H2549 | fifthחֲמִישִׁי (cha.mi.shi) ordinal number, 5th |
| and [the] fast of | וְצ֨וֹם | ve-TZOM | H6685 | fastצוֹם (tsom) fast, fasting |
| the seventh [month] | הַשְּׁבִיעִ֜י | ha-she-vi-'I | H7637 | seventhשְׁבִיעִי (she.vi.i) 1) seventh 1a) ordinal number |
| and [the] fast of | וְצ֣וֹם | ve-TZOM | H6685 | fastצוֹם (tsom) fast, fasting |
| the tenth [month] | הָעֲשִׂירִ֗י | ha-'a-si-RI | H6224 | tenthעֲשִׂירִי (a.si.ri) 1) ordinal number 1a) a tenth |
| it will become | יִהְיֶ֤ה | yih-YEH | 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) … |
| for [the] house of | לְבֵית־ | le-veit- | 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 |
| into joy | לְשָׂשׂ֣וֹן | le-sa-SON | H8342 | rejoicingשָׂשׂוֹן (sa.s.von) 1) gladness, joy, exultation, rejoicing 1a) exultation, joy |
| and into gladness | וּלְשִׂמְחָ֔ה | u-le-sim-CHAH | H8057 | joyשִׂמְחָה (sim.chah) 1) joy, mirth, gladness 1a) mirth, gladness, joy, gaiety, pleasure 1b) joy (of God) 1c) glad result, happy issue |
| and into appointed feasts | וּֽלְמֹעֲדִ֖ים | u-le-mo-'a-DIM | H4150H | meeting: time appointedמוֹעֵד (mo.ed) : time_appointed 1) appointed place, appointed time, meeting 1a) appointed time 1a1) appointed time (general) 1a2) sacred season, set feast, appointed season 1b) appointed meeting 1c) appointed place 1d) appointed sign or signal 1e) tent of meeting |
| good | טוֹבִ֑ים | to-VIM | H2896A | fineטָב (tav) good Aramaic of tov (טוֹב "pleasant" H2896A) |
| and the truth | וְהָאֱמֶ֥ת | ve-ha-'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 the peace | וְהַשָּׁל֖וֹם | ve-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) |
| love | אֱהָֽבוּ׃ פ | '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) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.