Zechariah 8:4

Translations

Modern

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.

Traditional

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.

Literal

Thus says YHWH of Hosts: “Again old men and old women will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand from an abundance of days.

Latin

Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Adhuc habitabunt senes et anus in plateis Jerusalem, et viri baculus in manu ejus præ multitudine dierum.

Original

Hebrew

English

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.

Notes

Zechariah 8:4–5

The images of elderly men and women walking, along with boys and girls playing in the streets, show that families are returning to the once devastated city of Jerusalem. God's presence returning to his rebuilt temple will bring peace and safety to the city's people (see Jeremiah 33:10–11).

Zechariah 8:1–23

This part of Zechariah’s sermons links to the previous section through fasting and the ethical demands of a covenant with the Lord (Zechariah 7:8–10; 8:16–17). Questions about fasting in 7:2–7 are answered in 8:18–19. The tone and message shift from warning and judgment to encouragement and renewal. Fasting will change to feasting (Zechariah 8:19).

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.

Events

Prophecies of Zechariahc. 520 BC

Related verses

Isaiah 65:20–22
No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.
Job 42:17
And so Job died, old and full of years.
Job 5:26
You will come to the grave in full vigor, like a sheaf of grain gathered in season.
1 Samuel 2:31
Behold, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that no one in it will reach old age.
Hebrews 12:22
Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels
Lamentations 5:11–15
Women have been ravished in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah.
Lamentations 2:20–22
Look, O LORD, and consider: Whom have You ever treated like this? Should women eat their offspring, the infants they have nurtured? Should priests and prophets be killed in the sanctuary of the Lord?

Parallels

Micah 4:6–13

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions

Glossary

Zechariah, Book of

Topics

Gentiles: Prophecies of the Conversion of Nation: Promises of Peace To

Zechariah 8:4

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