Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Zechariah 8

Zec 8:3 Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.

holy

Holiness, Sanctification, Summary: In the O.T. the words consecration, dedication, sanctification, and holiness are various renderings of one Hebrew word, are used of persons and of things, and have an identical meaning, i.e. set apart for God. Only when used of God himself (e.g. Lev 11:45), or of the holy angels (e.g. Dan 4:13), is any inward moral quality necessarily implied. Doubtless a priest or other person set apart to the service of God, whose whole will and desire went with his setting apart, experienced progressively an inner detachment from evil; but that aspect is distinctively of the N.T., not of the O.T. See Scofield Matthew 4:5.

Sanctify, holy (O.T.). Gen 2:3.

Zec 8:6 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.

remnant

Remnant. Zec 8:6-8, 11, 12; Zec 11:7. (Isa 1:9; Rom 11:5).

The "remnant" in Zec 8:6, 11, 12 refers to the remnant of Judah which returned from Babylon, and among whom Zechariah was prophesying. See Scofield Romans 11:5, note.

Zec 8:8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.

they shall be my people

Zec 13:9; Jer 30:22; 31:1, 33.

Zec 8:9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

the prophets

Ezr 5:1, 2.

Zec 8:11 But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts.

residue

Or, remnant.

Zec 8:13 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.

heathen

i.e. nations.

ye shall be a blessing

Gen 12:2; Rth 4:11, 12; Isa 19:24, 25; Zep 3:20; Hag 2:19.

Zec 8:14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:

repented

Repentance (O.T.), Summary: In the O.T., repentance is the English word used to translate the Hebrew nacham, to be "eased" or "comforted." It is used of both God and man. Notwithstanding the literal meaning of nacham, it is evident, from a study of all the passages, that the sacred writers use it in the sense of metanoia in the N.T.—a change of mind. See Scofield Matthew 3:2; Acts 17:30, note. As in the N.T., such change of mind is often accompanied by contrition and self-judgment. When applied to God the word is used phenomenally according to O.T. custom. God seems to change His mind. The phenomena are such as, in the case of man, would indicate a change of mind.

Zec 8:16 These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour

Eph 4:25.

Zec 8:19 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

fourth month

i.e. July.

fifth

i.e. August.

seventh

i.e. October.

tenth

i.e. January.

Zec 8:23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

those days

i.e. in the days when Jerusalem has been made the centre of the earth's worship. Zec 8:23 explains: the Jew (see "Remnant," Scofield Isaiah 1:9; Romans 11:5) will then be the missionary, and to the very "nations" now called "Christian"!