Zechariah 8:4-5
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age. | This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Old men and old women will again sit along the streets of Jerusalem, each with a staff in hand because of great age. | Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age. |
| 5 | And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. | And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing there.” | And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThis is one of a string of promises God gives to Zion in Zechariah 8. Having said he has returned to dwell in Jerusalem (8:3), the LORD pictures the city so safe and settled that the very old sit in its open squares while children play there (8:5). Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:4Zechariah 8:5
SpeakingThe LORD of hosts speaks, and the word comes through the prophet Zechariah. Zechariah 8:1Zechariah 8:4Zechariah overview
ToThe people of Judah who had returned from exile in Babylon and were rebuilding the temple, called "the remnant of this people". Zechariah overviewZechariah 8:6Zechariah 8:9
Also involvedThe future inhabitants of Jerusalem, both the old (8:4) and the young (8:5), including God's people gathered from east and west (8:7-8). Zechariah 8:4Zechariah 8:5Zechariah 8:7Zechariah 8:8
God promises that Jerusalem will again hold old men and women living out long lives, so aged they lean on a staff. This reverses the days of judgment, when the city's people were slain and none escaped (Lamentations 2:20-22). Long life is a sign of God's blessing elsewhere too (Job 5:26; Isaiah 65:20). Zechariah 8:4Lamentations 2:20Lamentations 2:22Job 5:26Isaiah 65:20
Jerusalem, the city to which God says he has returned, and specifically its open squares or plazas. Zechariah 8:3Zechariah 8:4JerusalemStrong's H7339
The eventsThe message belongs to the section of chapters 7-8, 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, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8, including this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview
HereThe promise encourages a small, discouraged remnant to keep building: "Let your hands be strong" (8:9, 8:13). God answers their doubt by saying that what seems marvellous to them is not too marvellous for him (8:6). Zechariah 8:6Zechariah 8:9Zechariah 8:13Zechariah overview
In the whole of ScriptureGod was jealous for Zion (8:2) and now turns from punishing to doing good to Jerusalem (8:14-15). The city where the enemy once consumed young and old (Lamentations 2:20-22) will again be full of long lives, and in the end many nations will come to seek the LORD in Jerusalem (8:22). Zechariah 8:2Zechariah 8:14Zechariah 8:15Lamentations 2:20Lamentations 2:22Zechariah 8:22
For readersThe verse shows that God's restoring work reaches ordinary life: safe streets, long lives, and families across generations. It also comes with a call to live truthfully and in peace with one's neighbor (8:16-17). Zechariah 8:4Zechariah 8:5Zechariah 8:16Zechariah 8:17
- yetעוֹד
The word means still, yet, or again. It marks this as a return to something lost: the city that was emptied by judgment will again be lived in. Strong's H5750Lamentations 2:22
- dwellיָשַׁב
The word means to sit, remain, or dwell, and here it is rendered "they will sit." The picture is of elderly people sitting at rest in the city, not passing through in fear (compare 8:10). Strong's H3427Zechariah 8:10
- streetsרְחוֹב
The word means a broad or open place, a plaza. The old sit in the city's public squares, the same places where children play in 8:5. Strong's H7339Zechariah 8:5
- very ageרֹב
The word means abundance or multitude, so the phrase reads literally "from abundance of days." It echoes being "old and full of days" (Job 42:17). Strong's H7230Strong's H3117GJob 42:17
Takeaway
Zechariah 8:4 is God's promise that ruined Jerusalem would again be a safe home where people grow very old. It assures the returned exiles that God has turned from judgment to blessing, and calls them to take courage and build. Zechariah 8:4Zechariah 8:13Zechariah 8:15
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
- Jerusalem: A large city with few people
- Even in Nehemiah's day, "the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded." Compare Zechariah's promise that Jerusalem would be inhabited "as towns without walls for the multitude of men." Nehemiah 7:4Zechariah 2:4Zechariah 8:4-5
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
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Hebrew words
Verse 4
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| thus | כֹּ֤ה | 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 | אָמַר֙ | '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 | צְבָא֔וֹת | tze-va-'ot | H6635B | Hostsצָבָא (tsa.va) The Hosts (of the Lord) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G) |
| again | עֹ֤ד | 'od | H5750 | stillעוֹד (od) subst 1) a going round, continuance adv 2) still, yet, again, besides 2a) still, yet (of continuance or persistence) 2b) still, yet, more (of addition or repetition) 2c) again 2d) still, moreover, besides Aramaic equivalent: od (עוֹד "still" H5751) |
| they will sit | יֵֽשְׁבוּ֙ | ye-she-VU | H3427 | to dwellיָשַׁב (ya.shav) 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488) |
| old [men] | זְקֵנִ֣ים | ze-ke-NIM | H2205H | old: elderזָקֵן (za.qen) : elder/leader 1) old 1a) old (of humans) 1b) elder (of those having authority) |
| and old [women] | וּזְקֵנ֔וֹת | u-ze-ke-NOT | H2205H | old: elderזָקֵן (za.qen) : elder/leader 1) old 1a) old (of humans) 1b) elder (of those having authority) |
| in [the] open places of | בִּרְחֹב֖וֹת | bir-cho-VOT | H7339 | street/plazaרְחוֹב (re.chov) broad or open place or plaza |
| Jerusalem | יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם | 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 each | וְאִ֧ישׁ | 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) |
| staff his | מִשְׁעַנְתּ֛וֹ | mish-'an-TO | H4938B | staffמִשְׁעֶ֫נֶת (mish.e.net) staff |
| [will be] in hand his | בְּיָד֖וֹ | be-ya-DO | 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 |
| from abundance of | מֵרֹ֥ב | me-RO | H7230 | abundanceרֹב (rov) 1) multitude, abundance, greatness 1a) multitude 1a1) abundance, abundantly 1a2) numerous 1b) greatness |
| days | יָמִֽים׃ | ya-MIM | H3117G | dayיוֹם (yom) : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow |
Verse 5
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and [the] open places of | וּרְחֹב֤וֹת | u-re-cho-VOT | H7339 | street/plazaרְחוֹב (re.chov) broad or open place or plaza |
| the city | הָעִיר֙ | ha-'IR | H5892B | cityעִיר (ir) 1) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town (a place of waking, guarded) 1a) city, town |
| they will be filled | יִמָּ֣לְא֔וּ | yi-MAL-'U | H4390 | to fillמָלֵא (ma.le) 1) to fill, be full 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be full 1a1a) fulness, abundance (participle) 1a1b) to be full, be accomplished, be ended 1a2) to consecrate, fill the hand 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be filled, be armed, be satisfied 1b2) to be accomplished, be ended 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to fill 1c2) to satisfy 1c3) to fulfil, accomplish, complete 1c4) to confirm 1d) (Pual) to be filled 1e) (Hithpael) to mass themselves against Aramaic equivalent: me.la (מְלָא "to fill" H4391) |
| boys | יְלָדִ֖ים | ye-la-DIM | H3206 | youthיֶ֫לֶד (ye.led) 1) child, son, boy, offspring, youth 1a) child, son, boy 1b) child, children 1c) descendants 1d) youth 1e) apostate Israelites (fig.) |
| and girls | וִֽילָד֑וֹת | vi-la-DOT | H3207 | maidenיַלְדָּה (yal.dah) girl, damsel, marriageable girl |
| playing | מְשַׂחֲקִ֖ים | me-sa-cha-KIM | H7832 | to laughשָׂחַק (sa.chaq) 1) to laugh, play, mock 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to laugh (usually in contempt or derision) 1a2) to sport, play 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make sport 1b2) to jest 1b3) to play (including instrumental music, singing, dancing) 1c) (Hiphil) to laugh mockingly |
| in open places its | בִּרְחֹֽבֹתֶֽיהָ׃ ס | bir-CHO-o-TEI-ha | H7339 | street/plazaרְחוֹב (re.chov) broad or open place or plaza |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.