Zechariah 1:6
But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
Original Language Analysis
אַ֣ךְ׀
H389
דְּבָרַ֣י
But my words
H1697
דְּבָרַ֣י
But my words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
2 of 24
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
וְחֻקַּ֗י
and my statutes
H2706
וְחֻקַּ֗י
and my statutes
Strong's:
H2706
Word #:
3 of 24
an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 24
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הֲל֥וֹא
H3808
הֲל֥וֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
9 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הִשִּׂ֖יגוּ
did they not take hold
H5381
הִשִּׂ֖יגוּ
did they not take hold
Strong's:
H5381
Word #:
10 of 24
to reach (literally or figuratively)
אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֑ם
of your fathers
H1
אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֑ם
of your fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
11 of 24
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ
and they returned
H7725
וַיָּשׁ֣וּבוּ
and they returned
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
12 of 24
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יְהוָ֤ה
Like as the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֤ה
Like as the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
16 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָאוֹת֙
of hosts
H6635
צְבָאוֹת֙
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
17 of 24
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
עָשָׂ֥ה
so hath he dealt
H6213
עָשָׂ֥ה
so hath he dealt
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
18 of 24
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
כִּדְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙
unto us according to our ways
H1870
כִּדְרָכֵ֙ינוּ֙
unto us according to our ways
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
20 of 24
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
וּכְמַ֣עֲלָלֵ֔ינוּ
and according to our doings
H4611
וּכְמַ֣עֲלָלֵ֔ינוּ
and according to our doings
Strong's:
H4611
Word #:
21 of 24
an act (good or bad)
כֵּ֖ן
H3651
כֵּ֖ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
22 of 24
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
Cross References
Lamentations 2:17The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.Deuteronomy 28:15But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:Jeremiah 23:20The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.Jeremiah 44:28Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or their's.Amos 9:10All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.Numbers 23:19God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?Isaiah 44:26That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:Isaiah 55:1Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.Job 6:29Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.
Historical Context
The exile's fulfillment of prophetic warnings vindicated God's word. Jeremiah prophesied seventy years (Jer. 25:11-12); it happened exactly. The returning remnant could testify to prophecy's accurate fulfillment. 'They returned and said' likely refers to the exiled generation's eventual acknowledgment of God's justice in judgment (cf. Lamentations). Historical fulfillment provides empirical evidence of Scripture's reliability.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the certain fulfillment of God's warnings encourage us to take His word seriously before judgment comes?
- What does the fathers' eventual acknowledgment teach us about God's justice being ultimately undeniable?
Analysis & Commentary
God's rhetorical question: 'But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers?' The answer is obviously yes—God's words 'took hold,' meaning judgment caught up with them. The phrase suggests inescapable consequences; divine words accomplish their purpose (Isaiah 55:11). The fathers' return and acknowledgment demonstrates judgment's effectiveness in producing repentance. God's word never fails—whether in blessing obedience or judging rebellion. Prophecy's fulfillment vindicates divine truthfulness.