What does Zechariah 9:17 mean?
"For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids." - Zechariah 9:17
Zechariah 9:17 in the King James Version of the Bible reads: "For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids."
This verse is found within the book of Zechariah, which is one of the twelve Minor Prophets in the Old Testament. The book was authored by the prophet Zechariah, who lived during the time of the Israelites' return from exile in Babylon. Zechariah's prophetic message was intended to encourage the people to rebuild the temple and to renew their faith in God.
The verse in question, Zechariah 9:17, comes near the end of a series of prophecies concerning the future restoration and prosperity of Israel. In this particular verse, the emphasis is on the abundance and goodness that God will provide for his people. The language used in this verse is poetic and evokes a sense of joy and celebration.
The first part of the verse states, "For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!" This is a declaration of God's abundant goodness and the beauty of his provision for his people. It speaks to the majesty and magnificence of God's character, highlighting the lavishness of his blessings.
The second part of the verse reads, "corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids." This imagery evokes a picture of a bountiful harvest, with an abundance of grain and wine to sustain and gladden the hearts of the people. In ancient agricultural societies, a plentiful harvest was a sign of God's favor and provision, and it brought joy and celebration to the community.
In a broader context, this verse is part of a larger theme of hope, restoration, and abundance that runs throughout the book of Zechariah. The prophet Zechariah repeatedly encourages the people to have faith in God's promises and assures them that he will bring about a future of peace, prosperity, and flourishing for his people. This verse serves as a reminder that God's goodness and beauty will ultimately triumph over the challenges and hardships faced by his people.
Symbolically, the imagery of the abundance of corn and new wine symbolizes the spiritual blessings and sustenance that God provides for his people. The young men and maids represent the entire community, and the joy and cheerfulness they experience from the harvest symbolizes the spiritual joy and fulfillment that comes from God's provision. This imagery also points to the coming Messianic age, where God's goodness will overflow and bring joy to the hearts of his people.
In conclusion, Zechariah 9:17 is a powerful and poetic expression of God's abundant goodness and provision for his people. It encapsulates the themes of hope, restoration, and abundance found throughout the book of Zechariah, and it serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to fulfill his promises. The imagery of the bountiful harvest symbolizes the spiritual blessings and joy that God brings to his people, and it foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through the coming of Christ.
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Zechariah 9:17 - "For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids."
"For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids." - Zechariah 9:17
Zechariah 14:9
1 Chronicles 9:37 - "And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth."
Zechariah 6:9 - "¶ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
1 Chronicles 9:21 - "And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."
Zechariah 9:6 - "And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines."
Zechariah 9:2 - "And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise."
"And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth." - 1 Chronicles 9:37
Zechariah 12:9 - "¶ And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem."
Zechariah 14:9 - "And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one."
"¶ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying," - Zechariah 6:9
Zechariah 9:3 - "And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets."
Zechariah 7:9 - "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:"
Zechariah 8:17 - "And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD."
Zechariah 14:17 - "And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain."
Zechariah 10:9 - "And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again."
Zechariah 9:11 - "As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water."
2 Chronicles 17:7 - "¶ Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Benhail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah."
Zechariah 1:9 - "Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be."
Zechariah 9:9 - "¶ Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."
Zechariah 9:16 - "And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land."
Zechariah 9:12 - "¶ Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;"
"And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." - 1 Chronicles 9:21
Zechariah 2:9 - "For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me."
Zechariah 9:1 - "The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD."
!["And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they [shall be as] the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land." - Zechariah 9:16](https://media.bible.art/0ba80984-5553-4e48-80fb-f7530927bda7-thumbnail.jpg)
"And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they [shall be as] the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land." - Zechariah 9:16
Zechariah 9:14 - "And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the Lord GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south."
"And a bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines." - Zechariah 9:6
Zechariah 9:4 - "Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and he will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire." The image should not depict explicit or offensive content but be symbolic.