New International Version “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? New Living Translation “Say to all your people and your priests, ‘During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn, was it really for me that you were fasting? English Standard Version “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? Berean Standard Bible “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for these seventy years, was it really for Me that you fasted? Berean Literal Bible “Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, ‘When you⁺ fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh months, and these seventy years, were you⁺ truly fasting for Me? King James Bible Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? New King James Version “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? New American Standard Bible “Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted? NASB 1995 “Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted? NASB 1977 “Say to all the people of the land and to the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted? Legacy Standard Bible “Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years, was it actually for Me that you fasted? Amplified Bible “Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years [that you were in exile], was it actually for Me that you fasted? Berean Annotated Bible “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you⁺ fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for these seventy years, was it really for Me that you⁺ fasted? Christian Standard Bible “Ask all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and in the seventh months for these seventy years, did you really fast for me? Holman Christian Standard Bible Ask all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and in the seventh months for these 70 years, did you really fast for Me? American Standard Version Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month, even these seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? English Revised Version Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month, even these seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? GOD'S WORD® Translation "Tell all the people of the land and the priests, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these past 70 years, did you really do it for me? Good News Translation He said, "Tell the people of the land and the priests that when they fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during these seventy years, it was not in honor of me. International Standard Version "Talk to everyone in the land, as well as to the priests. Ask them, 'When you were fasting and mourning during the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, were you really fasting for me? NET Bible "Speak to all the people and priests of the land as follows: 'When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and seventh months through all these seventy years, did you truly fast for me--for me, indeed? New Heart English Bible "Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month for these seventy years, did you at all fast to me, really to me? Webster's Bible Translation Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast to me, even to me? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for these seventy years, was it really for Me that you fasted? World English Bible “Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month for these seventy years, did you at all fast to me, really to me? Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, Berean Literal Bible “Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, ‘When you⁺ fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh months, and these seventy years, were you⁺ truly fasting for Me? Young's Literal Translation 'Speak unto all the people of the land, and unto the priests, saying: Smith's Literal Translation Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh, and this seventy years, fasting, fasted ye to me, me? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSpeak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying: When you fasted, and mourned in the fifth and the seventh month for these seventy years: did you keep a fast unto me? Catholic Public Domain Version Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying: Although you may have fasted and mourned in the fifth and the seventh month for these seventy years, did you indeed keep a fast unto me? New American Bible Say to all the people of the land and to the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and in the seventh month these seventy years, was it really for me that you fasted? New Revised Standard Version Say to all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSpeak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months, for these seventy years, did you at all fast to me? Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Say to all the people of the land and to the Priests: “When you fasted and you made lamentation in the fifth month and the seventh, behold, seventy years, were you fasting a fast for me? OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying: When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month, even these seventy years, did ye at all fast unto Me, even to Me? Brenton Septuagint Translation Speak to the whole people of the land, and to the priests, saying, Though ye fasted or lamented in the fifth or seventh months (yea, behold, these seventy years) have ye at all fasted to me? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context A Call to Justice and Mercy…4Then the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me, saying, 5“Ask all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for these seventy years, was it really for Me that you fasted? 6And when you were eating and drinking, were you not doing so simply for yourselves?… Cross References “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, Haggai 2:11-13 “This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests for a ruling. / If a man carries consecrated meat in the fold of his garment, and it touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any other food, does that item become holy?’” “No,” replied the priests. / So Haggai asked, “If one who is defiled by contact with a corpse touches any of these, does it become defiled?” “Yes, it becomes defiled,” the priests answered. Deuteronomy 17:8-10 If a case is too difficult for you to judge, whether the controversy within your gates is regarding bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults, you must go up to the place the LORD your God will choose. / You are to go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who presides at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you a verdict in the case. / You must abide by the verdict they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you, Malachi 2:7 For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts. ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months 2 Kings 25:8-9 On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. / He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. 2 Kings 25:25-26 In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down and killed Gedaliah, along with the Judeans and Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. / Then all the people small and great, together with the commanders of the army, arose and fled to Egypt for fear of the Chaldeans. Jeremiah 41:1-3 In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family and one of the king’s chief officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and they ate a meal together there. / Then Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land. / Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Chaldean soldiers who were there. for these seventy years, Jeremiah 25:11-12 And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. / But when seventy years are complete, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, declares the LORD, and I will make it an everlasting desolation. 2 Chronicles 36:21 So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah. Daniel 9:2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. was it really for Me that you fasted? Isaiah 58:3-7 “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers. / You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high. / Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD? … Matthew 6:16-18 When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. / But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, / so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Luke 18:11-12 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. / I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ Isaiah 1:11-17 “What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. / When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts? / Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. … Amos 5:21-24 “I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. / Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. … Jeremiah 14:12 Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.” Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Treasury of Scripture Speak to all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did you at all fast to me, even to me? When. Isaiah 58:5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? seventh. Zechariah 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. 2 Kings 25:23 And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. Jeremiah 41:1-4 Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah… seventy. Zechariah 7:3 And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? Zechariah 1:12 Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? Jeremiah 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. did. Zechariah 7:6 And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves? Isaiah 1:11,12 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats… Isaiah 58:4-6 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high… Jump to Previous Fast Fasted Fifth Food Grief Month Months Mourned Past Priests Really Seventh Seventy Speak YourselvesJump to Next Fast Fasted Fifth Food Grief Month Months Mourned Past Priests Really Seventh Seventy Speak YourselvesZechariah 7 1. The captives enquire concerning the set fasts.4. Zechariah reproves the hypocrisy of their fasting. 8. Sin the cause of their captivity. “Ask all the people of the land and the priests, God addressed both the returning community and its spiritual leaders, making them jointly responsible for examining the purpose of their religious observances. Hag 2:11-13 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Ask the priests… ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months These fasts recalled the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in the fifth month and the murder of Gedaliah in the seventh, events that deepened Judah’s ruin after Babylon’s conquest. 2Ki 25:8-9 On the seventh day of the fifth month,… for these seventy years, The period covered the years of exile and desolation following Jerusalem’s fall, remembered by the people through regular mourning. Jer 25:11-12 And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland… was it really for Me that you fasted? Their grief may have been sincere, but God exposed whether their fasting had been directed toward Him or had become a customary expression of national sorrow without obedience to Him. Isa 58:3-7 “Why have we fasted, and You have not seen?”… Persons / Places / Events 1. ZechariahA prophet who ministered to the Jewish people after their return from Babylonian exile. He conveyed God's messages to encourage the rebuilding of the temple and spiritual renewal. 2. The People of the Land Refers to the Jewish community that returned from exile and were involved in rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. 3. The Priests Religious leaders responsible for temple worship and guiding the people in spiritual matters. 4. Fasting in the Fifth and Seventh Months These fasts commemorated the destruction of the temple and other calamities during the Babylonian conquest. 5. Seventy Years The period of Babylonian exile, during which the Jewish people were away from their homeland and the temple lay in ruins. Teaching Points True Worship and IntentionsGod desires sincerity in worship. Our religious practices, like fasting, should be done with the right heart and intention, focusing on God rather than mere ritual. Self-Examination Regularly examine your motives in spiritual disciplines. Are they for God's glory or for personal or social gain? Historical Reflection and Spiritual Growth Reflect on past spiritual practices and their impact. Use historical lessons to grow in genuine faith and devotion. Community and Leadership Accountability Both the people and leaders are accountable to God. Encourage mutual accountability in spiritual practices within your community. Aligning Rituals with Righteousness Ensure that religious rituals align with a life of righteousness and justice, as God values these over mere tradition. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Zechariah 7:5?2. What is the significance of fasting mentioned in Zechariah 7:5 for believers today? 3. How does Zechariah 7:5 challenge our motives behind religious practices? 4. In what ways can we ensure our worship aligns with God's desires in Zechariah? 5. How does Zechariah 7:5 connect with Jesus' teachings on fasting in the Gospels? 6. What practical steps can we take to evaluate our spiritual disciplines' sincerity? 7. What is the significance of fasting in Zechariah 7:5 according to biblical teachings? 8. How does Zechariah 7:5 challenge the sincerity of religious rituals? 9. What historical context surrounds the fasting mentioned in Zechariah 7:5? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Zechariah 7? Verse 5. - Unto all the people of the land. The message was not for Bethel only, but for all the restored Jews, for whose satisfaction the question had been asked. And to the priests. The prophet was to make known to the priests God's will in this matter, it not being a mere ritual question. Fifth month (see note on ver. 3). The original question referred only to this fast; the answer embraces also another fast appointed by human authority. The seventh month. This fast was instituted in consequence of the murder of Gedaliah, B.C. 587, just seventy years ago, when the greater part of the remnant of the Jews, contrary to the prophet's warning, fled into Egypt to escape the punishment of the crime (2 Kings 25:25, 26; Jeremiah 41:2, 16, etc.). Did ye at all fast unto me? It was not by God's command, or to do him honor, that they fasted; not from hearty repentance or sorrow for the sins which had brought ruin upon their city and country; but from vexation at the calamity itself, and in a self-righteous spirit, with some idea of gaining merit by this punishment of the body; and God was not constrained by this formal observance to show them favour. Even to me. (For the forcible repetition of the pronoun, comp. Genesis 27:34; Proverbs 22:19; Haggai 1:4.) Zechariah 7:5 confronts a nation that had turned sincere mourning into rote religion. God asks every person and every priest whether their seventy-year tradition of fasting was truly centered on Him. The question exposes motives, reminding us that external observance—no matter how longstanding—means nothing without a heart that seeks the Lord’s glory, obeys His word, and walks in mercy and justice. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Askאֱמֹר֙ (’ĕ·mōr) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every the people עַ֣ם (‘am) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock of the land הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land and the priests, הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3548: Priest ‘When כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction you fasted צַמְתֶּ֨ם (ṣam·tem) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 6684: To abstain from food, fast and mourned וְסָפ֜וֹד (wə·sā·p̄ō·wḏ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 5594: To tear the hair and beat the breasts, to lament, to wail in the fifth בַּחֲמִישִׁ֣י (ba·ḥă·mî·šî) Preposition-b, Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular Strong's 2549: Fifth, a fifth and seventh months וּבַשְּׁבִיעִ֗י (ū·ḇaš·šə·ḇî·‘î) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular Strong's 7637: Seventh (an ordinal number) for these וְזֶה֙ (wə·zeh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that seventy שִׁבְעִ֣ים (šiḇ·‘îm) Number - common plural Strong's 7657: Seventy (a cardinal number) years, שָׁנָ֔ה (šā·nāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8141: A year {was it really} for Me אָֽנִי׃ (’ā·nî) Pronoun - first person common singular Strong's 589: I that you fasted? הֲצ֥וֹם (hă·ṣō·wm) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 6684: To abstain from food, fast Additonal Resources Zechariah 7:5 Blue Letter BibleZechariah 7:5 Bible Gateway Zechariah 7:5 Bible.com Zechariah 7:5 NIV |
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