Zechariah 1:3
1:3 Therefore say to the people:
1 The
Lord who rules over all
2 says, “Turn
3 to me,” says the
Lord who rules over all, “and I will turn to you,” says the
Lord who rules over all.
Zechariah 1:14
1:14 Turning to me, the messenger then said, “Cry out that the
Lord who rules over all says, ‘I am very much moved
4 for Jerusalem and for Zion.
Zechariah 1:16
The Oracle of Response
1:16 “‘Therefore,’ says the Lord, ‘I have become compassionate 5 toward Jerusalem 6 and will rebuild my temple 7 in it,’ says the Lord who rules over all. ‘Once more a surveyor’s measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.’
Zechariah 6:12
6:12 Then say to him, ‘The
Lord who rules over all says, “Look – here is the man whose name is Branch,
8 who will sprout up from his place and build the temple of the
Lord.
Zechariah 7:9
7:9 “The
Lord who rules over all said, ‘Exercise true judgment and show brotherhood and compassion to each other.
Zechariah 8:3-4
8:3 The Lord says, ‘I have returned to Zion and will live within Jerusalem.
9 Now Jerusalem will be called “truthful city,” “mountain of the
Lord who rules over all,” “holy mountain.”’
8:4 Moreover, the
Lord who rules over all says, ‘Old men and women will once more live in the plazas of Jerusalem, each one leaning on a cane because of advanced age.
Zechariah 8:6-7
8:6 And,’ says the
Lord who rules over all, ‘though such a thing may seem to be difficult in the opinion of the small community of those days, will it also appear difficult to me?’ asks the
Lord who rules over all.
8:7 “The Lord who rules over all asserts, ‘I am about to save my people from the lands of the east and the west.
Zechariah 8:14
8:14 “For the Lord who rules over all says, ‘As I had planned to hurt 10 you when your fathers made me angry,’ says the Lord who rules over all, ‘and I was not sorry,
1 tn Heb “to them”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 sn The epithet Lord who rules over all occurs frequently as a divine title throughout Zechariah (53 times total). This name (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, yÿhvah tsÿva’ot), traditionally translated “Lord of hosts” (so KJV, NAB, NASB; cf. NIV, NLT “Lord Almighty”; NCV, CEV “Lord All-Powerful”), emphasizes the majestic sovereignty of the Lord, an especially important concept in the postexilic world of great human empires and rulers. For a thorough study of the divine title, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 123-57.
3 tn The Hebrew verb שׁוּב (shuv) is common in covenant contexts. To turn from the Lord is to break the covenant and to turn to him (i.e., to repent) is to renew the covenant relationship (cf. 2 Kgs 17:13).
4 tn Heb “jealous for” (so KJV, ASV); NIV, NRSV “very jealous for”; CEV “very protective of.” The meaning is that Jerusalem/Zion is the special object of God’s grace and purposes. This results in his unusual protection of his people, a protection not accorded others with whom he does not have such a close relationship.
7 tn Heb “I have turned.” This suggests that the Lord has responded to the “turning” (i.e., repentance) of the people (v. 6) and now, with great love and forgiveness, allows construction of the temple to proceed.
8 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
9 tn Heb “house.”
10 tn The epithet “Branch” (צֶמַח, tsemakh) derives from the verb used here (יִצְמָח, yitsmakh, “will sprout up”) to describe the rise of the Messiah, already referred to in this manner in Zech 3:8 (cf. Isa 11:1; 53:2; Jer 33:15). In the immediate context this refers to Zerubbabel, but the ultimate referent is Jesus (cf. John 19:5).
13 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
16 tn The verb זָמַם (zamam) usually means “to plot to do evil,” but with a divine subject (as here), and in light of v. 15 where it means to plan good, the meaning here has to be the implementation of discipline (cf. NCV, CEV “punish”). God may bring hurt but its purpose is redemptive and/or pedagogical.