Zechariah Chapter 7 · Verse 11

Authorized King James Version

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But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

Original Language Analysis

וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ But they refused H3985
וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ But they refused
Strong's: H3985
Word #: 1 of 8
to refuse
לְהַקְשִׁ֔יב to hearken H7181
לְהַקְשִׁ֔יב to hearken
Strong's: H7181
Word #: 2 of 8
to prick up the ears, i.e., hearken
וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ and pulled away H5414
וַיִּתְּנ֥וּ and pulled away
Strong's: H5414
Word #: 3 of 8
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
כָתֵ֖ף the shoulder H3802
כָתֵ֖ף the shoulder
Strong's: H3802
Word #: 4 of 8
the shoulder (proper, i.e., upper end of the arm; as being the spot where the garments hang); figuratively, side-piece or lateral projection of anythi
סֹרָ֑רֶת H5637
סֹרָ֑רֶת
Strong's: H5637
Word #: 5 of 8
to turn away, i.e., (morally) be refractory
וְאָזְנֵיהֶ֖ם their ears H241
וְאָזְנֵיהֶ֖ם their ears
Strong's: H241
Word #: 6 of 8
broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
הִכְבִּ֥ידוּ and stopped H3513
הִכְבִּ֥ידוּ and stopped
Strong's: H3513
Word #: 7 of 8
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same
מִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ׃ that they should not hear H8085
מִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ׃ that they should not hear
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 8 of 8
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

Analysis & Commentary

But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder (וַיְמָאֲנוּ לְהַקְשִׁיב וַיִּתְּנוּ כָתֵף סֹרָרֶת, vayma'anu lehaqshiv vayitnu chatef soraret)—Israel's response to prophetic warning was deliberate defiance. The verb ma'en (מָאֵן) means to refuse stubbornly, reject willfully. Haqshiv (הַקְשִׁיב) means to pay attention, give heed—they actively chose not to listen. The idiom natan chatef soraret (gave a stubborn shoulder) pictures a draft animal refusing the yoke, pulling away from the load (Nehemiah 9:29; Hosea 4:16). It suggests rebellious resistance to divine instruction, shrugging off God's authority like an ox refusing to plow.

And stopped their ears, that they should not hear (וְאָזְנֵיהֶם הִכְבִּידוּ מִשְּׁמוֹעַ, ve'oznehem hichbidu mishmo'a)—The verb kavad (כָּבַד, to make heavy, dull) describes deliberate deafening. They made their ears heavy/insensitive so they wouldn't hear. This wasn't accidental misunderstanding but intentional ignorance. Isaiah received similar commission: preach to those who hear but don't understand, see but don't perceive, lest they repent and be healed (Isaiah 6:9-10, quoted by Jesus in Matthew 13:14-15). Paul warns that people suppress truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18) and eventually God gives them over to reprobate minds (Romans 1:28).

This verse diagnoses the pathology of spiritual rebellion. Unbelief isn't primarily intellectual confusion but moral rebellion—refusing to hear, pulling away from God's yoke, stopping up ears against His voice. The problem isn't that God's Word is unclear but that rebellious hearts actively resist. This explains Jesus's repeated formula: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15)—the issue isn't auditory capacity but willingness to submit.

Historical Context

This describes pre-exilic Israel's response to the prophets whom God sent repeatedly to call them to repentance (2 Chronicles 36:15-16). Isaiah prophesied for 40+ years to increasingly hostile audiences. Jeremiah endured beatings, imprisonment, and death threats for delivering God's unwelcome message. Amos was expelled from Israel's royal sanctuary for announcing judgment (Amos 7:10-13). The people's consistent pattern was to reject prophetic calls to social justice and covenant faithfulness, preferring comfortable lies from false prophets who promised peace when there was no peace (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11).

Questions for Reflection