What does Zechariah 8:20 mean?
"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:" - Zechariah 8:20
"Thus saith the Lord of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:"
Zechariah 8:20 is a verse from the Old Testament book of Zechariah, a prophet who delivered messages from God to the people of Israel following their return from Babylonian exile. This particular verse comes from a section of the book in which Zechariah is encouraging the people to repent and return to God, promising them that if they do so, their cities will flourish and people from all over will come to worship the Lord.
The verse begins with the phrase "Thus saith the Lord of hosts," which is a common phrase throughout the Old Testament used to signal that the following words are from God himself. This serves to underscore the importance and authority of the message that follows. The phrase "It shall yet come to pass" indicates that the promise being made is certain and will definitely happen in the future. This builds anticipation and expectation in the minds of the readers, encouraging them to trust in the Lord's promise.
The verse then goes on to describe a future time when people from many cities will come to worship the Lord. This is a vision of unity and peace, where people of various backgrounds and locations will come together in harmony to honor and serve God. This vision is in line with the broader themes of Zechariah, which include the restoration of Israel, the coming of the Messiah, and the establishment of God's kingdom on earth.
One of the key themes of Zechariah 8:20 is the idea of spiritual revival and the gathering of God's people. The verse speaks to the hope that God's people will come together in unity and worship, despite their differences and distances. It is a message of reconciliation and community, reflecting God's desire for his people to be united in love and faith.
The context of the verse is important for understanding its full significance. The book of Zechariah was written in a specific historical and cultural context – that of the Jewish people who had returned to Jerusalem after being exiled in Babylon. The people were in the process of rebuilding their city and their lives, and they faced numerous challenges and struggles along the way. Zechariah's words were meant to encourage and inspire them, reminding them of God's faithfulness and promises.
In terms of symbolism, the gathering of people from many cities can be seen as a metaphor for the eventual inclusion of all people in God's kingdom. The verse speaks to the universal nature of God's love and the hope that people from all walks of life will come to know and worship him. It also carries a message of hope for the future, pointing to a time when all creation will be united in the worship and praise of God.
Overall, Zechariah 8:20 is a powerful and hopeful verse that speaks to the universal nature of God's love and the promise of unity and peace among his people. It reminds us of God's faithfulness and his desire for all people to come to know and worship him. As we reflect on this verse, may we be inspired to seek unity and reconciliation in our own communities, and to look forward to the day when people from every nation and tongue will join together in worship of the Lord.
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Zechariah 8:20 - "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:"
"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:" - Zechariah 8:20
Zechariah 8:20-23 - "Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, inhabitants of many cities; the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, and seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also.’ Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."’"
Zechariah 8:20-22 - "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD."
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Peoples shall yet come, inhabitants of many cities; the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, ‘Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, and seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also.’ Yes, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."’" - Zechariah 8:20-23
"Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD." - Zechariah 8:20-22
Zechariah 7:8 - "¶ And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,"
"¶ And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying," - Zechariah 7:8
Zechariah 1:20 - "And the LORD shewed me four carpenters."
Zechariah 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."
Zechariah 8:18 - "¶ And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,"
Zechariah 8:1 - "Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying,"
1 Chronicles 15:20 - "And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth;"
Zechariah 4:8 - "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
"And the LORD shewed me four carpenters." - Zechariah 1:20
Zechariah 8:5 - "And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof."
Ezra 8:11 - "And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males."
Zechariah 8:11 - "But now I will not be unto the residue of this people as in the former days, saith the LORD of hosts."
Zechariah 7:8-10 - "And the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah: “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’"
Zechariah 14:20 - "¶ In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar."
Ezra 8:3 - "Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty."
Isaiah 8:2 - "And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah."
Zechariah 5:8 - "And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof."
Zechariah 8:22 - "Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD."
Zechariah 8:15 - "So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not."
Zechariah 10:8 - "I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased."
Zechariah 8:2 - "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury."
2 Chronicles 20:14 - "¶ Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;"
"¶ And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying," - Zechariah 8:18
"Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying," - Zechariah 4:8