Zechariah 1:4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 1:1-6

Here is, I. The foundation of Zechariah's ministry; it is laid in a divine authority: The word of the Lord came to him. He received a divine commission to be God's mouth to the people and with it instructions what to say. He received of the Lord that which also he delivered unto them. The word of the Lord was to him; it came in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit, as a real thing, and not a fancy. For the ascertaining of this, we have here, 1. The time when the word of the Lord came... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:4

Be ye not as your fathers ,.... Who lived before the captivity, and misused the prophets and messengers of the Lord, and despised his word, and fell into gross idolatry; the evil examples of parents and ancestors are not to be followed: unto whom the former prophets have cried : such as Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others: saying, thus saith the Lord of hosts, Turn now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings ; by their "evil ways" may be meant their idolatrous worship; and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:4

Verse 4 In order to correct and to subdue the obstinacy of the people, he here upbraids them with having descended from wicked and perverse parents. The Jews, we know, too much flattered themselves; and we know that they were especially inflated with the vain boasting that they derived their origin from the holy fathers. But the Prophets had something else in view. We indeed know that when anything becomes customary, almost all become hardened and flatter themselves in their vice; for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:1-6

A timely warning. "In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet," etc. Special attention seems invited in the opening verse of this opening prophecy to the question of time. Probably because the time of its utterance was a time of much hope, as shown by the cotemporaneous prophecies of Haggai 1:13-15 ("sixth month"); Haggai 2:1-9 ("seventh month"); and Haggai 2:18 , Haggai 2:19 ("ninth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:1-6

God's call to repentance. Repentance is turning from sin unto God. I. THE CALL IS FOUNDED ON GOD 'S ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO OBEDIENCE . "Lord of hosts." Sublime title. Thrice used, to give the greater impressiveness. Implies that God's rule is wide as creation. Mark the "host" of stars ( Isaiah 40:26 ). Higher, behold the "angels and principalities and powers" ( Psalms 103:20 , Psalms 103:21 ). God is Lord of all, and it is this God that claims our homage. To turn ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:1-6

The importance of repentance. "In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechish, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers," etc. Zechariah and Haggai were contemporaries—prophets of the restoration. The former began to prophesy about two months after Haggai. Like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, he was of priestly descent; a son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo, the chief of one of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:2-6

§ 2. The prophet admonishes the people not to follow their forefathers' evil example, but to turn to the Lord with all their heart. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:4

The former prophets have cried. Omit "have." The prophets referred to are those before the Captivity, both those whoso writings are extant, as Hosea, Joel, Amos, etc; and those whose names are mentioned in the historical books, e.g. Nathan, Gad, Shemaiah, Azariah, Hanaui, Elijah, Elisha, Micaiah (Pusey). (See similar complaints in 2 Kings 17:13 ; 2 Chronicles 36:15 , etc.; Jeremiah 25:3-8 , which last passage seems to have been in Zechariah's mind.) read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 1:4

Be ye not like your fathers - Strangely infectious is the precedent of ill. Tradition of good, of truth, of faith, is decried; only tradition of ill and error are adhered to. The sin of Jeroboam was held sacred by every king of Israel: “The statutes of Omri were diligently kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab” Micah 6:16. “They turned back and were treacherous like their forefathers; they turned themselves like a deceitful bow” Psalms 78:57, is God’s summary of the history of Israel.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 1:3-6

Zechariah 1:3-6. Therefore say Rather, but say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord, Turn ye unto me The word turn, as it related to the people, signified that they should change their corrupt manners and turn to God in newness of life; and by God’s turning to them, was meant, that he would take them again into his favour, and perform for them acts of manifest kindness, instead of displeasure. Be ye not as your fathers Do not persist in impenitence as your fathers did. Instead of... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 1:1-6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:1-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:2-6

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 1:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 1:3-6

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