Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, October 24th, 2024
the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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Read the Bible

New Living Translation

Zechariah 7:7

Isn't this the same message the Lord proclaimed through the prophets in years past when Jerusalem and the towns of Judah were bustling with people, and the Negev and the foothills of Judah were well populated?'"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Impenitence;   Word of God;   Scofield Reference Index - Inspiration;   The Topic Concordance - Israel/jews;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Judea;   Zechariah;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Fast;   Plain;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Shephelah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Zechariah, Book of;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Fasts;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ezekiel;   Intercession;   Lowland;   Shephelah;   Zechariah, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord used the earlier prophets to say the same thing long ago. That was when Jerusalem was still a rich city filled with people and there were still people living in the surrounding towns, in the Negev, and in the western foothills.'"
New American Standard Bible
'Are these not the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and carefree along with its cities around it, and the Negev and the foothills were inhabited?'"
New Century Version
The Lord used the earlier prophets to say the same thing, when Jerusalem and the surrounding towns were at peace and wealthy, and people lived in the southern area and the western hills.'"
Update Bible Version
[Should you] not [hear] the words which Yahweh cried out by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?
Webster's Bible Translation
[Should ye] not [hear] the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and her cities around her, when [men] inhabited the south and the plain?
Amplified Bible
'Should you not hear the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous along with her cities around her, and the South (the Negev) and the foothills were inhabited?'"
English Standard Version
Were not these the words that the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous, with her cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?'"
World English Bible
Aren't these the words which Yahweh proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and its cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?'"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whether wordis of profetis ben not, whiche the Lord spak in the hond of the formere profetis, whanne yit Jerusalem was enhabited, and was ful of richessis, and it, and citees therof in cumpas therof, and at the south and in feeldi place was enhabited?
English Revised Version
Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?
Berean Standard Bible
Are these not the words that the LORD proclaimed through the earlier prophets, when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were populous and prosperous, and the Negev and the Lowland were inhabited?'"
Contemporary English Version
My message today is the same one I commanded the earlier prophets to speak to Jerusalem and its villages when they were prosperous, and when all of Judah, including the Southern Desert and the hill country, was filled with people.
American Standard Version
Should ye not hear the words which Jehovah cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?
Bible in Basic English
Are not these the words which the Lord said to you by the earlier prophets, when Jerusalem was full of people and wealth, and the towns round about her and the South and the Lowland were peopled?
Complete Jewish Bible
Isn't this just what Adonai proclaimed through the earlier prophets, when Yerushalayim was inhabited and prosperous, as were the cities around her; and the Negev and the Sh'felah were inhabited?'"
Darby Translation
Are not these the words that Jehovah cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and at peace, and her cities round about her, when the south and the lowland were inhabited?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Should ye not hearken to the words which the LORD hath proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?'
King James Version (1611)
Should yee not heare the wordes, which the Lord hath cried by the former Prophets, when Ierusalem was inhabited, and in prosperitie, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the South of the plaine?
New Life Bible
Are not these the words the Lord made known through the men who spoke for Him in the past? They spoke these words when Jerusalem was full of people and riches, together with the cities around it, and when the Negev and the lower hills were full of people.'"
New Revised Standard
Were not these the words that the Lord proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, along with the towns around it, and when the Negeb and the Shephelah were inhabited?
Geneva Bible (1587)
Should ye not heare the wordes, which the Lord hath cryed by the ministerie of the former Prophets when Ierusalem was inhabited, and in prosperitie, & the cities thereof round about her, when the South and the plaine was inhabited?
George Lamsa Translation
These were the very words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, when her towns were round about her and when the mountains and plains were inhabited.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Should ye not have been doing the things which Yahweh, had proclaimed, by the hand of the former prophets, while yet Jerusalem was inhabited and in peace, with her cities round about her, - and the South and the Lowland were inhabited?
Douay-Rheims Bible
Are not these the words which the Lord spoke by the hand of the former prophets, when Jerusalem as yet was inhabited, and was wealthy, both itself and the cities round about it, and there were inhabitants towards the south, and in the plain?
Revised Standard Version
When Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, with her cities round about her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited, were not these the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets?"
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Are not these the wordes which the Lord spake by his prophetes aforetime, when Hierusalem was yet inhabited & wealthy, she and the cities round about her, whe there dwelt men both toward the south and in the playne countreys?
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Are not these the words which the Lord spoke by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and her cities round about her, and the hill country and the low country was inhabited?
Good News Translation
This is what the Lord said through the earlier prophets at the time when Jerusalem was prosperous and filled with people and when there were many people living not only in the towns around the city but also in the southern region and in the western foothills.
Christian Standard Bible®
Aren’t these the words that the Lord proclaimed through the earlier prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and secure, along with its surrounding cities, and when the southern region and the Judean foothills were inhabited?”
Hebrew Names Version
Aren't these the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Yerushalayim was inhabited and in prosperity, and its cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?'"
King James Version
Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
Lexham English Bible
Are not these the words that Yahweh proclaimed through the former prophets, when Jerusalem and its surrounding towns were inhabited and at ease, and the Negev and the Shephelah were inhabited?'"
Literal Translation
Are not these the Words which Jehovah proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited, and prosperous with her cities all around her, and the Negeb and the Shephelah were inhabited?
Young's Literal Translation
`Are not [these] the words that Jehovah proclaimed by the hand of the former prophets, in Jerusalem's being inhabited, and [in] safety, and its cities round about it, and the south and the plain -- abiding?'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Are not these the wordes, which the LORDE spake by his prophetes afore tyme, when Ierusalem was yet inhabited and welthy, she and the cities rounde aboute her: when there dwelt me, both towarde the south and in the playne countrees?
THE MESSAGE
"There's nothing new to say on the subject. Don't you still have the message of the earlier prophets from the time when Jerusalem was still a thriving, bustling city and the outlying countryside, the Negev and Shephelah, was populated? [This is the message that God gave Zechariah.] Well, the message hasn't changed. God -of-the-Angel-Armies said then and says now: "‘Treat one another justly. Love your neighbors. Be compassionate with each other. Don't take advantage of widows, orphans, visitors, and the poor. Don't plot and scheme against one another—that's evil.'
New English Translation
Should you not have obeyed the words that the Lord cried out through the former prophets when Jerusalem was peacefully inhabited and her surrounding cities, the Negev, and the Shephelah were also populated?
New King James Version
Should you not have obeyed the words which the Lord proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem and the cities around it were inhabited and prosperous, and the South [fn] and the Lowland were inhabited?' "
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'Are not these the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous along with its cities around it, and the Negev and the foothills were inhabited?'"
Legacy Standard Bible
Are not these the words which Yahweh called out by the hand of the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and at ease along with its cities around it, and the Negev and the Shephelah were inhabited?'"

Contextual Overview

1 On December 7 of the fourth year of King Darius's reign, another message came to Zechariah from the Lord . 2 The people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech, along with their attendants, to seek the Lord 's favor. 3 They were to ask this question of the prophets and the priests at the Temple of the Lord of Heaven's Armies: "Should we continue to mourn and fast each summer on the anniversary of the Temple's destruction, as we have done for so many years?" 4 The Lord of Heaven's Armies sent me this message in reply: 5 "Say to all your people and your priests, ‘During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn, was it really for me that you were fasting? 6 And even now in your holy festivals, aren't you eating and drinking just to please yourselves? 7 Isn't this the same message the Lord proclaimed through the prophets in years past when Jerusalem and the towns of Judah were bustling with people, and the Negev and the foothills of Judah were well populated?'"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Should ye not hear the words: or, Are not these the words, etc. Isaiah 55:3, Isaiah 55:6, Isaiah 55:7

cried: Zechariah 1:3-6, Isaiah 1:16-20, Jeremiah 7:5, Jeremiah 7:23, Jeremiah 36:2, Jeremiah 36:3, Ezekiel 18:30-32, Daniel 9:6-14, Hosea 14:1-3, Amos 5:14, Amos 5:15, Micah 6:6-8, Zephaniah 2:1-3

former: Heb. the hand of former

the south: Deuteronomy 34:3, Jeremiah 17:26, Jeremiah 32:44, Jeremiah 33:13

Reciprocal: Isaiah 65:12 - because Jeremiah 11:6 - Proclaim Jeremiah 44:4 - I sent Zechariah 7:9 - saying Zechariah 7:12 - the former Matthew 7:12 - for Mark 12:2 - a servant

Cross-References

Genesis 6:18
But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives.
Genesis 7:1
When everything was ready, the Lord said to Noah, "Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I can see that you alone are righteous.
Genesis 7:13
That very day Noah had gone into the boat with his wife and his sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and their wives.
Genesis 7:15
Two by two they came into the boat, representing every living thing that breathes.
Proverbs 22:3
A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
Matthew 24:38
In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.
Luke 17:27
In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.
Hebrews 6:18
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
Hebrews 11:7
It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.
1 Peter 3:20
those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

[Should ye] not [hear] the words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets,.... As Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others; suggesting that it would have been much better for them to have regarded the exhortations and instructions which the Lord sent them by his servants, which would have prevented their captivity; and so would have had no occasion of fasting and mourning: for those prophecies were delivered out

when Jerusalem was inhabited, and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her; when Jerusalem, and the cities about it, were full of people, and enjoyed all the blessings of life in great plenty; and which would have continued, had they attended to the exhortations, cautions, and warnings given them:

when [men] inhabited the south and the plain? the land of Judea, as the Misnic x doctors say, was divided into three parts; the mountainous part, the plain, and the valley. Jerusalem was in the mountainous part, and these are the other two; and not only those parts of the land which were hilly, and those cities that were encompassed with mountains, were in safety and prosperity; but those also that were in the champaign country, and in the low valleys. The "south" was that part of the land of Canaan formerly inhabited by the Amalekites, and which they invaded when David was at Ziklag, Numbers 13:29. Sometimes it was called Negeb, as here; and sometimes Daroma, as frequently in the Jewish writings; in which Judea is often called the south, with respect to Galilee; for they distinguish between the inhabitants of Galilee and the inhabitants of the south country: and say, a disciple might intercalate the year for Galilee, but not for the south, i.e. Judea. It reached from Eleutheropolis to the south of the land, eighteen or twenty miles: it was distinguished by the Jews y into upper and nether Daroma, or south country: the upper consisted of the hilly part of it; the nether of the plain; and by Jerom z mention is made of interior Daroma, by which there should be an exterior one. The "plain", or "Sephela", was all the champaign country, near to Eleutherepolis, to the north and west; and so the above writer a says it was called in his times: now each of these were well inhabited; Daroma, or the southern part; hence it is frequent, in Jewish writings b, to read of such a Rabbi of Daroma, or the south, as R. Jacob, R. Simlai, and others; and of the elders of the south c; and so Jerom speaks of Eremmon, and Duma, large villages, in his days, in Daroma or the south; the one sixteen, the other seventeen miles from Eleutheropolis; and of Ether, Jether, and Jethan, one of which was eighteen, and another twenty miles from it d; and in the Apocrypha:

"Simon also set up Adida in Sephela, and made it strong with gates and bars.'' (1 Maccabees 12:38)

mention is made of Adida in Sephela, fortified, by Simon; and in which also were various other places well stored with inhabitants. This expresses the happy and safe state the Jews were in before their captivity, and in which they would have remained, had they hearkened to the words of the Lord.

x Misn. Sheviith, c. 9. sect. 2. y T. Hieros. Maaaser Sheni, fol. 56. 3. & Sanhedrin, fol. 18. 4. z De locis Hebr. fol. 91. C. & 92. I. a Ibid. fol. 94. M. b T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 2. 2. & 11. 4. & Succah, fol. 53. 4. c T. Hieros. Erubin, fol. 23. 3. d Ut supra, fol. 90. K. & 91. C. & 92. I.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Should ye “not hear” the words, or, Know ye “not the words?” The verb is presupposed in the emphatic question, as in, “Shall I, the blood of these men?” 2 Samuel 23:17. David omits the word “drink” for abhorrence.

By the former prophets - Isaiah and Jeremiah , “when Jerusalem was dwelling abidingly,” at ease, as the whole world then was, except herself, “and the south and the low-country,” both belonging to Judah, were inhabited. The restoration then was still very incomplete, since he contrasts their then condition with the present, as inhabited or no. The mountain, the south, and the low country, known still by its name of Sephela to Greeks , made up the territory of Judah Joshua 10:40, Judges 1:9; Jeremiah 17:26; Jeremiah 32:44; Jeremiah 33:13.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Zechariah 7:7. The words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets — נביאים הראשנים nebiim harishonim, is the title which the Jews give to Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, and the two books of Kings.

The latter prophets, נביאים אחרונים nebiim acharonim, are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets.

The hagiographa, כתובים kethubim, holy writings, are the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Canticles, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the two books of Chronicles. But the above words, the former prophets, seem to apply to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.

The south and the plain? — From Eleutheropolis to the sea, Obadiah 1:19. The south was the wilderness and mountainous parts of Judea: and the plain, the plains of Jericho.


 
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