Zechariah 1:16-17

16. Therefore Because Jehovah is jealous for Jerusalem and angry with the nations.

I am returned to Jerusalem The tense is to be understood as a perfect of prophetic certainty. The return is not yet accomplished.

With mercies Or, compassion. Not with judgments or wrath as in the past.

16b and 17 describe the consequences of the divine return.

My house shall be built So long as the temple remains uncompleted Jehovah can have no permanent abiding place in the city. It was completed and dedicated in 516.

A line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem Not only the temple but the city also will be rebuilt. The line is the measuring line which is used to mark off the space on which the city is to stand, and the plan according to which it is to be built (Zechariah 2:2; Jeremiah 31:39). But the blessing will not stop with the rebuilding of the city; the whole land will feel the benefits of Jehovah’s return to Zion.

Cry yet R.V. adds “again.” A new phase of the divine blessing is to be announced.

My cities The cities scattered throughout the land of Jehovah, that is, through Judah.

Through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad P.V., “shall yet overflow with prosperity.” The latter is to be preferred. The verb occurs with the same meaning in Proverbs 5:16 (not so in Zechariah 13:7). At present there is distress everywhere; but when Jehovah returns to his own all will be prosperity (Jeremiah 33:12-13). 17b returns to Jerusalem; it will be the center of the divine government in the period of restoration. There is no ground for despair; Jehovah will yet comfort Zion (see on Zechariah 1:13); LXX. seems to have read a different verb, “will have mercy.”

Choose As his royal residence (compare Zechariah 2:12; Zechariah 3:2).