Keraia
Zechariah 7

Zechariah 7:11

A Call to Justice and Mercy · Zechariah 7:1–14
Read Zechariah 7

Translations

Modern
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.
Traditional
But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
Literal
And they refused to pay attention, and they gave the shoulder, acting rebelliously, and their ears they made heavy from hearing;
Latin
Et noluerunt attendere, et averterunt scapulam recedentem, et aures suas aggravaverunt ne audirent.

Original

Hebrew
English
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.

Notes

Zechariah 7:11

  • they refused to pay attention: They ignored God's commands (see Jeremiah 11:10).

  • turned a stubborn shoulder: This phrase shows their proud stubbornness (see Nehemiah 9:29).

  • Putting their fingers in their ears shows they were fully responsible for their stubbornness (compare Isaiah 6:10). The same expression describes Pharaoh when he became stubborn ("hardened his heart") against God and refused to release the Hebrews (Exodus 8:32).

Zechariah 7:1–14

Representatives from Bethel asked Zechariah a practical question (Zechariah 7:2–3). Although he answered it later (Zechariah 8:18–19), he first asked rhetorical questions about the people's selfish motives (7:5–6). Zechariah then explained God's expectations for Israel (Zechariah 7:8–10; see Jeremiah 22:3) and described what happened to those who disobeyed before (Zechariah 7:11–14).

Zechariah 7:1–8:23

These sermons provide a transition between the visions of the present (chapters 1–6) and those of the near future (chapters 9–11) and the more distant future (chapters 12–14).

Chapter 7 talks about fasting due to past disasters. Chapter 8 focuses on feasting for future blessings.

Theme notes and profiles

Returning to the Lord

Events

Glossary

Zechariah, Book of

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities of the Wicked: Impenitence is a Cause of Answers To Prayer: Denied to Those Who: Hear not the Law Impenitence: General Scriptures Concerning Rebellion Against God: Exhibited in Refusing to Hearken to Him Self-Will and Stubbornness: Exhibited in Refusing to Hearken to the Messengers of God Self-Will: Exhibited in Refusing to Listen to the Messengers of God The Afflictions of the Wicked: Impenitence is a Cause of The Ear of the Wicked: Stopped Against God's Word