Zechariah 8:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.

A curse

O house

Fear not

Bible References

A curse

You will become a thing of revulsion. All the nations where Jehovah will send you will make an example of you and laugh at you.

All its land is brimstone and salt. It is a burning waste, unsown and unproductive. No grass grows on it. Like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which Jehovah overthrew in his anger and in his wrath.

I will have Israel cut off from the land I gave them. I will abandon this house even though I have made it holy for myself. I will put you out of my sight. Israel will be a public example, and a word of shame among all peoples.

I will uproot Israel from the land I gave them. I will reject this Temple that I declared holy for my name. I will make it an example and an object of ridicule for all the people of the world.

You made us a reproach to our neighbors and an object of ridicule and contempt to those around us.

We have become a disgrace to our neighbors, an object of ridicule and contempt to those around us.

You will leave your name to my chosen ones as a curse. The Sovereign Lord Jehovah will put you to death, but to his servants he will give another name.

I will make them a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth. They will be a disgrace and an example. They will become something ridiculed and cursed wherever I scatter them.

Jerusalem and the cities of Judah as well as its kings and officials drank from it. When they drank from it, they became wastelands and ruins, something ridiculed and cursed, until today.

If you continue to disobey I will do to this Temple what I did to Shiloh, and all the nations of the world will use the name of this city as a curse.''

I will chase them with wars, famines, and plagues. I will make them a terror to all the kingdoms on the earth. They will become something cursed, ridiculed, and hissed at, and they will be a disgrace among all the nations where I scatter them.

Jehovah, the God of Israel, says: 'Just as my anger and fury were poured out on the people of Jerusalem, so my fury will be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You will be a horrifying sight. People will make fun of you and use your name as a curse. You will never see this place again.'

As for the people of Judah who are left and are determined to go and live in Egypt, I will see to it that all of them are destroyed. All of them, great and small will die in Egypt, either in war or of starvation. They will be a horrifying sight. People will make fun of them and use their name as a curse.

All who go by make a noise with their hands at you. They make hisses, shaking their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem. They say: Is this the town that was the crown of everything beautiful, the joy of all the earth?

Get away! Unclean! They were cried out to them, Away! Away! Let no one touch. They went away in flight and wandering, men said among the nations, There is no further resting-place for them.

The nations that are around you will ridicule you and laugh at you. When I punish you because of my anger, fury, and fierce revenge, you will become something ridiculed and something horrible. I, Jehovah, have spoken.

Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law and turned aside, that they should not obey your voice. Therefore the curse has been poured out upon us. It is the oath that is written in the Law of Moses the servant of God. We have sinned against you.

O house

I questioned the angel: What are these? And he answered me, These are the horns (governments) that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

I bend as my bow, Judah. I filled the bow with Ephraim! I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece. I will make you like the sword of a mighty man.

I will strengthen the house of Judah. I will save the house of Joseph and I will bring them back. I will have mercy upon them; and they will be as though I had not cast them off. For I am Jehovah, their God, and I will hear them!

Jehovah was very angry with Israel. He removed them from his sight. Only the tribe of Judah kept its place.

They slice off what is on the right hand, but they will still be hungry. In the end they will even eat the flesh of their own arms (offspring) (turn upon themselves).

Ever since they were young, the people of Israel and Judah have done what I consider evil. The people of Israel have made me furious by what they have done,' says Jehovah.

Have you not observed what this people have said. They say, 'The two families Jehovah chose, he has rejected?' Thus they despise my people, no longer are they as a nation in their sight.

Jehovah also said: Son of man, all the people of Israel are like these bones. The people say: Our bones are dry, and our hope has vanished. We are completely destroyed.

Fear not

Jehovah of hosts said: Let your hands be strong you who hear these words from the mouth of the prophets. These are words from the day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of Hosts was laid. It was for the purpose of building the Temple.

Strengthen the tired hands and the knees that tremble with weakness.

Do not fear for I am with you! Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.'

Be alert (be watchful) and stand fast (be vigilant) (persevere) in the faith, carry on as men (be courageous), be strong. (Ps 31:24)