Zechariah 8:13 - Exposition

As ye were a curse among the heathen. As your fate was used as a formula of imprecation among the heathen; e.g. "May your fate be that of the Jews" (see examples of this, 2 Kings 22:19 ; Isaiah 65:15 ; Jeremiah 24:9 ; Jeremiah 29:22 ). The other way of taking the expression as meaning the object of curse ( i.e. as the heathen once used to curse you), is not so suitable. Judah … Israel. This expression includes the twelve tribes, of all of which some members had returned, and continued to return, from the Captivity. They were united now and formed one nation (see note on Zechariah 9:10 ). So will I save you. In as open and significant a manner will I show that I am delivering and favouring you. Ye shall be a blessing. This must be taken correspondingly to the former phrase, being a "curse;" ye shall be used as a formula for blessing; e.g. "God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh" ( Genesis 48:20 ; comp. Ruth 4:11 , Ruth 4:12 ). Fear not ( Zephaniah 3:16 ). "If God be for us, who can be against us?" ( Romans 8:31 ; comp. Numbers 14:9 ). Let your hands be strong (see note on verse 9). The LXX . takes the paragraph differently and erroneously: "And it shall be that in like manner as ye were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing," i.e. a cause of blessing, ητε ἐν κατάρᾳ … ἔσεσθε ἐν εὐλογίᾳ .