Zechariah 7:3 - and to speak to the priests of the house of Yahweh of Armies, and to the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?”
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What does "Zechariah 7:3" mean?
This verse from Zechariah 7:3 is part of a larger passage dealing with the question of whether the people should continue to mourn the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, even though it was now being rebuilt. Let's break down the verse and its meaning:
"and to speak to the priests of the house of Yahweh of Armies, and to the prophets...": This identifies who the question is being directed to. "Yahweh of Armies" is a common title for God, emphasizing His power and sovereignty. The people are seeking guidance from the religious authorities: the priests and the prophets.
"...saying, 'Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?'": This is the core of the question. Let's unpack it:
"Should I weep in the fifth month...": The "fifth month" refers to the month of Ab (roughly July/August). This was the month when the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians (specifically, on the 9th of Ab, or Tisha B'Av).
"...separating myself...": This refers to a period of mourning and fasting. Separating oneself often involved abstaining from certain foods, pleasures, and activities as a sign of sorrow and repentance.
"...as I have done these so many years?": This highlights the long-standing tradition of mourning the Temple's destruction. By the time Zechariah was written, the Temple had been destroyed nearly 70 years earlier. The people had been observing this period of mourning annually for decades.
In Essence:
The people are asking the priests and prophets if they should continue to observe the traditional fast and mourning rituals in the fifth month, commemorating the destruction of the Temple. The key question is whether the rebuilding of the Temple means that the time for mourning is over and they should now focus on celebration and restoration. They are wondering if the original reason for the mourning (the Temple's destruction) is no longer valid now that the Temple is being rebuilt.
Context is Key:
To fully understand this verse, you need to consider the historical context. The Temple had been destroyed, the people exiled, and now they were back in the land trying to rebuild. The rebuilding process was slow and challenging, but it was underway. The people are grappling with how to reconcile the past sorrow with the present hope. The answer to their question is not found in this single verse, but in the rest of Zechariah chapter 7 and the following chapter, where God addresses their hearts and motives.
Zechariah's Response (summarized from the rest of the chapter):
The Lord, through Zechariah, doesn't directly say "stop" or "continue." Instead, He emphasizes the importance of:
1. Obedience and Justice: The Lord reminds them (and their ancestors) that the reason for the exile and the Temple's destruction was their disobedience to God's commands, particularly their failure to practice justice, mercy, and compassion. (See Zechariah 7:4-14). The fasting and mourning were empty gestures without genuine repentance and a change of heart.
2. True Worship: The Lord wanted them to focus on true worship: obeying His commands, practicing justice, and loving mercy.
In Conclusion:
The verse reveals a people struggling to understand how to relate to the past in light of the present and future. It also highlights the importance of true worship—not just outward rituals, but inward transformation and obedience to God's will.
Zechariah 7:3 - and to speak to the priests of the house of Yahweh of Armies, and to the prophets, saying, “Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?”
What does "Zechariah 7:3" mean?
This verse from Zechariah 7:3 is part of a larger passage dealing with the question of whether the people should continue to mourn the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, even though it was now being rebuilt. Let's break down the verse and its meaning:
"and to speak to the priests of the house of Yahweh of Armies, and to the prophets...": This identifies who the question is being directed to. "Yahweh of Armies" is a common title for God, emphasizing His power and sovereignty. The people are seeking guidance from the religious authorities: the priests and the prophets.
"...saying, 'Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?'": This is the core of the question. Let's unpack it:
"Should I weep in the fifth month...": The "fifth month" refers to the month of Ab (roughly July/August). This was the month when the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians (specifically, on the 9th of Ab, or Tisha B'Av).
"...separating myself...": This refers to a period of mourning and fasting. Separating oneself often involved abstaining from certain foods, pleasures, and activities as a sign of sorrow and repentance.
"...as I have done these so many years?": This highlights the long-standing tradition of mourning the Temple's destruction. By the time Zechariah was written, the Temple had been destroyed nearly 70 years earlier. The people had been observing this period of mourning annually for decades.
In Essence:
The people are asking the priests and prophets if they should continue to observe the traditional fast and mourning rituals in the fifth month, commemorating the destruction of the Temple. The key question is whether the rebuilding of the Temple means that the time for mourning is over and they should now focus on celebration and restoration. They are wondering if the original reason for the mourning (the Temple's destruction) is no longer valid now that the Temple is being rebuilt.
Context is Key:
To fully understand this verse, you need to consider the historical context. The Temple had been destroyed, the people exiled, and now they were back in the land trying to rebuild. The rebuilding process was slow and challenging, but it was underway. The people are grappling with how to reconcile the past sorrow with the present hope. The answer to their question is not found in this single verse, but in the rest of Zechariah chapter 7 and the following chapter, where God addresses their hearts and motives.
Zechariah's Response (summarized from the rest of the chapter):
The Lord, through Zechariah, doesn't directly say "stop" or "continue." Instead, He emphasizes the importance of:
1. Obedience and Justice: The Lord reminds them (and their ancestors) that the reason for the exile and the Temple's destruction was their disobedience to God's commands, particularly their failure to practice justice, mercy, and compassion. (See Zechariah 7:4-14). The fasting and mourning were empty gestures without genuine repentance and a change of heart.
2. True Worship: The Lord wanted them to focus on true worship: obeying His commands, practicing justice, and loving mercy.
In Conclusion:
The verse reveals a people struggling to understand how to relate to the past in light of the present and future. It also highlights the importance of true worship—not just outward rituals, but inward transformation and obedience to God's will.