Zechariah 1:3-4 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 1:3

Therefore say thou unto them ,.... This is an order from the Lord to Zechariah, to say unto them, in the name of the Lord: thus saith the Lord of hosts ; of the hosts above and below, of angels and of men, of heaven and earth, and all that is therein: this is said, that the greater regard might be had to his words: turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts ; by repentance, and acknowledgment of former sins; by reformation for the future; by attending to the worship and service of God,... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:3

Turn ye unto me - This shows that they had power to return, if they would but use it. And I will turn unto you - I will show you mercy and grant you salvation, if you will use the grace I have already given you. Men are lost, because they turn not unto God; but no man is lost because he had not power to return. God gives this, and he will require it. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:3

Verse 3 It then follows, Thou shalt say to them, Return ye to me, and I will return to you (11) The Prophet now expresses more clearly for what purpose he had spoken of God’s vengeance, with which he had visited his chosen people, even that their posterity might take heed to themselves; for the common proverb, “Fools by adversity become wise,” ought in this case to have been verified. For where there is really a teachable spirit, men become instantly attentive to what God says: but even when... 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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:3

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:3

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

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