Zechariah 8:3
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain. | This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.” | Thus saith Jehovah: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth; and the mountain of Jehovah of hosts, The holy mountain. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe LORD says he has been jealous for Zion and has now come back to her, to live in the middle of Jerusalem. Because he dwells there, the city will be called a city of truth and his mountain the holy mountain. The rest of the chapter shows what follows: a safe, crowded city, scattered people brought home, and nations coming to seek him. Zechariah 8:2Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:4Zechariah 8:5Zechariah 8:8Zechariah 8:22
SpeakingThe LORD speaks, and his word comes through the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah. Zechariah 8:1Zechariah 8:3Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon and were rebuilding the temple. Zechariah overviewZechariah 8:9
Also involvedJerusalem, also called Zion, and the remnant living there. Later in the chapter, people from many nations come to Jerusalem to seek the LORD. Strong's H6726Zechariah 8:6Zechariah 8:22Zechariah 8:23
God announces that he has returned to Zion and will live in Jerusalem's midst. His presence will change the city's name and character: it will be known for truth, and his mountain for holiness. This repeats his earlier promise, "I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it." Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 1:16
Jerusalem, called Zion, where the returned exiles lived and the temple was being rebuilt. The book was written from there. JerusalemZionStrong's H6726Zechariah overview
The eventsThe message belongs to the days when the temple's foundation was laid and the people were urged to finish building. The section it sits in (7:1-8:23) begins in the fourth year of Darius king of Persia, about 518 BC. Zechariah 8:9Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: written by Zechariah, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, while many assign the undated chapters 9-14 to later writers. Zechariah overview
HereThe promise encourages a small, struggling remnant. God's return to them is the reason to "let your hands be strong" and finish the temple. It also calls them to live up to the new name by speaking truth and judging with truth and peace. Zechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:19
In the whole of ScriptureThe book's call is "turn ye unto me... and I will turn unto you," and here God says he has returned. Other prophets foretold the same renewal: Jerusalem called "the faithful city" and a "mountain of holiness," with God dwelling in Zion. Scripture carries the hope of God dwelling with his people forward to Christ, who "dwelt among us... full of grace and truth," and to the day when "the tabernacle of God is with men." Zechariah overviewIsaiah 1:26Jeremiah 31:23Joel 3:17John 1:14Revelation 21:3
For readersWhere God lives among his people, his presence shapes them: truth and holiness mark the place. Paul uses the same promise language of believers: "I will dwell in them... and they shall be my people." Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:162 Corinthians 6:16
Christians read this differently
The verse does not say when or how fully God's dwelling in Jerusalem is fulfilled, and no cited Scripture names its fulfillment directly. Some read it as fulfilled mainly in the return from exile and the rebuilt temple; others in Christ dwelling among us and God dwelling in believers; others look for a future fulfillment in Jerusalem or in the new creation of Revelation 21. Zechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:22John 1:142 Corinthians 6:16Revelation 21:3Joel 3:17
- returnedשׁוּב
This verb means to return, turn back, or turn to God. It echoes the book's opening call, "turn ye unto me... and I will turn unto you." God now says he has returned. Strong's H7725GZechariah overview
- dwellשָׁכַן
The word means to settle down, abide, or tabernacle. It describes God settling to stay among his people. Revelation 21:3 uses the same picture: "the tabernacle of God is with men." Strong's H7931Revelation 21:3
- truthאֱמֶת
The word means firmness, faithfulness, reliability, and truth. A "city of truth" is a faithful, dependable city. The chapter spells out what that looks like: speaking truth to neighbours and judging with truth and peace. Strong's H0571GZechariah 8:8Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:19
- holyקֹ֫דֶשׁ
The word means apartness or set-apartness, including holiness of places. God's mountain is set apart because he lives there, as Joel 3:17 says: "I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain." Strong's H6944GJoel 3:17
Takeaway
God promised the returned exiles that he had come back to live among them, and that his presence would make Jerusalem a city of truth and a holy mountain. The promise came with a call to live truthfully, and Scripture carries the same hope forward to God dwelling with his people. Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:16John 1:14Revelation 21:3
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.
Where
- Jerusalem settlementMapAbout this place
- Zion settlementMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| thus | כֹּ֚ה | 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 | אָמַ֣ר | '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 | יְהוָ֔ה | 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) |
| I have returned | שַׁ֚בְתִּי | SHAV-ti | H7725G | to return: returnשׁוּב (shuv) : return 1) to return, turn back 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to turn back, return 1a1a) to turn back 1a1b) to return, come or go back 1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back 1a1d) of dying 1a1e) of human relations (fig) 1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig) 1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise 1a1f2) to turn away (of God) 1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent 1a1f4) turn back (from evil) 1a1g) of inanimate things 1a1h) in repetition 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to bring back 1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig) 1b3) to lead away (enticingly) 1b4) to show turning, apostatise 1c) (Pual) restored (participle) … |
| to | אֶל־ | 'el- | H0413 | to(wards)אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to) |
| Zion | צִיּ֔וֹן | tzi-YON | H6726 | Zionצִיּוֹן (tsiy.yon) Zion = "parched place" another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389) |
| and I will dwell | וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י | ve-sha-khan-TI | H7931 | to dwellשָׁכַן (sha.khan) 1) to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to settle down to abide 1a2) to abide, dwell, reside 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make settle down, establish 1b2) to make or cause to dwell 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to lay, place, set, establish, settle, fix 1c2) to cause to dwell or abide Aramaic equivalent: she.khan (שְׁכֵן "to dwell" H7932) |
| in [the] midst of | בְּת֣וֹךְ | be-TOKH | H8432 | midstתָּ֫וֶךְ (ta.vekh) 1) midst, middle 1a) midst, middle 1b) into, through (after verbs of motion) 1c) among (of a number of persons) 1d) between (of things arranged by twos) 1e) from among (as to take or separate etc) |
| Jerusalem | יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם | ye-ru-sha-LIM | H3389 | Arielאֲרִיאֵל (a.ri.el) Ariel = "lion of God" or "lioness of God" Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389) |
| and it will be called | וְנִקְרְאָ֤ה | ve-nik-re-'AH | H7121G | to call: call toקָרָא (qa.ra) : call_to/invite/entreat 1) to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to call, cry, utter a loud sound 1a2) to call unto, cry (for help), call (with name of God) 1a3) to proclaim 1a4) to read aloud, read (to oneself), read 1a5) to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow 1a6) to call, name, give name to, call by 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to call oneself 1b2) to be called, be proclaimed, be read aloud, be summoned, be named 1c) (Pual) to be called, be named, be called out, be chosen |
| Jerusalem | יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ | ye-ru-sha-LIM | H3389 | Arielאֲרִיאֵל (a.ri.el) Ariel = "lion of God" or "lioness of God" Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389) |
| [the] city of | עִ֣יר־ | 'Ir- | H5892B | cityעִיר (ir) 1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town |
| the faithfulness | הָֽאֱמֶ֔ת | ha-'e-MET | H0571G | 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] mountain of | וְהַר־ | ve-har- | H2022G | mountain: mountהַר (har) : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount |
| Yahweh | יְהוָ֥ה | 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 | צְבָא֖וֹת | tze-va-'ot | H6635B | Hostsצָבָא (tsa.va) The Hosts (of the Lord) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| [the] mountain of | הַ֥ר | har | H2022G | mountain: mountהַר (har) : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount |
| the holiness | הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ ס | ha-KO-desh | H6944G | holinessקֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh) 1) apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness 1a) apartness, sacredness, holiness 1a1) of God 1a2) of places 1a3) of things 1b) set-apartness, separateness |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.