Zechariah 6:15

Authorized King James Version

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And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Original Language Analysis

וּרְחוֹקִ֣ים׀ And they that are far off H7350
וּרְחוֹקִ֣ים׀ And they that are far off
Strong's: H7350
Word #: 1 of 18
remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)
יָבֹ֗אוּ shall come H935
יָבֹ֗אוּ shall come
Strong's: H935
Word #: 2 of 18
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וּבָנוּ֙ and build H1129
וּבָנוּ֙ and build
Strong's: H1129
Word #: 3 of 18
to build (literally and figuratively)
בְּהֵיכַ֣ל in the temple H1964
בְּהֵיכַ֣ל in the temple
Strong's: H1964
Word #: 4 of 18
a large public building, such as a palace or temple
יְהוָ֥ה of the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֥ה of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 5 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם and ye shall know H3045
וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם and ye shall know
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 6 of 18
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
כִּֽי H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 7 of 18
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יְהוָ֥ה of the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֥ה of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 8 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָא֖וֹת of hosts H6635
צְבָא֖וֹת of hosts
Strong's: H6635
Word #: 9 of 18
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
שְׁלָחַ֣נִי hath sent H7971
שְׁלָחַ֣נִי hath sent
Strong's: H7971
Word #: 10 of 18
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם H413
אֲלֵיכֶ֑ם
Strong's: H413
Word #: 11 of 18
near, with or among; often in general, to
וְהָיָה֙ H1961
וְהָיָה֙
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 12 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אִם H518
אִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 13 of 18
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
תִּשְׁמְע֔וּן me unto you And this shall come to pass if ye will diligently H8085
תִּשְׁמְע֔וּן me unto you And this shall come to pass if ye will diligently
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 14 of 18
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
תִּשְׁמְע֔וּן me unto you And this shall come to pass if ye will diligently H8085
תִּשְׁמְע֔וּן me unto you And this shall come to pass if ye will diligently
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 15 of 18
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
בְּק֖וֹל the voice H6963
בְּק֖וֹל the voice
Strong's: H6963
Word #: 16 of 18
a voice or sound
יְהוָ֥ה of the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֥ה of the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 17 of 18
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ your God H430
אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ your God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 18 of 18
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

Analysis & Commentary

And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you—The prophecy's scope expands: ūrəchōqīm yāḇō'ū ūḇānū bəhēyḵal Yahweh (וּרְחֹקִים יָבוֹאוּ וּבָנוּ בְהֵיכַל יְהוָה, 'and those far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD'). The 'far off' (rəchōqīm, רְחֹקִים) are distant peoples—Gentiles—who will participate in building God's temple. This echoes 2:11, 'many nations shall be joined to the LORD.' Ephesians 2:13, 17 quotes this: 'But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh... and came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.'

Gentiles build the temple by becoming 'living stones' in God's spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). Paul calls Gentile believers 'fellow citizens... built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord' (Ephesians 2:19-21). And ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me—when distant peoples build God's temple (the church), it proves Zechariah spoke by divine commission. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God—conditional: covenant blessing depends on obedience. The promises stand, but individual participation requires faithfulness.

Historical Context

In Zechariah's day, Gentile participation seemed unlikely—Israel was a tiny, struggling remnant. Yet Pentecost inaugurated mass Gentile inclusion (Acts 10-11, 15), and within decades the church was predominantly non-Jewish. Those 'far off' did come and build the temple—not Zerubbabel's physical structure but Christ's spiritual body. The Second Temple was destroyed in AD 70, but the Spirit-temple of believers continues growing, fulfilling this prophecy. Obedience remains the condition for participating in God's building project.

Questions for Reflection