Zechariah 7:12
Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
Original Language Analysis
וְלִבָּ֞ם
their hearts
H3820
וְלִבָּ֞ם
their hearts
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
1 of 22
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
שָׂ֣מוּ
Yea they made
H7760
שָׂ֣מוּ
Yea they made
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
2 of 22
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
שָׁמִ֗יר
as an adamant stone
H8068
שָׁמִ֗יר
as an adamant stone
Strong's:
H8068
Word #:
3 of 22
a thorn; also (from its keenness for scratching) a gem, probably the diamond
מִ֠שְּׁמוֹעַ
lest they should hear
H8085
מִ֠שְּׁמוֹעַ
lest they should hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
4 of 22
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַתּוֹרָ֤ה
the law
H8451
הַתּוֹרָ֤ה
the law
Strong's:
H8451
Word #:
6 of 22
a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַדְּבָרִים֙
and the words
H1697
הַדְּבָרִים֙
and the words
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
8 of 22
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
9 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שָׁלַ֜ח
hath sent
H7971
שָׁלַ֜ח
hath sent
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
10 of 22
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
יְהוָ֥ה
from the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֥ה
from the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
11 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָאֽוֹת׃
of hosts
H6635
צְבָאֽוֹת׃
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
12 of 22
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
בְּרוּח֔וֹ
in his spirit
H7307
בְּרוּח֔וֹ
in his spirit
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
13 of 22
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
בְּיַ֖ד
by
H3027
בְּיַ֖ד
by
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
14 of 22
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים
the former
H7223
הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים
the former
Strong's:
H7223
Word #:
16 of 22
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
וַֽיְהִי֙
H1961
וַֽיְהִי֙
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
17 of 22
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
גָּד֔וֹל
therefore came a great
H1419
גָּד֔וֹל
therefore came a great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
19 of 22
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
מֵאֵ֖ת
H853
מֵאֵ֖ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
20 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Ezekiel 11:19And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:2 Chronicles 36:16But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.Ezekiel 36:26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.Isaiah 6:10Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.Acts 28:27For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.Mark 4:12That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.Matthew 13:15For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.Ezekiel 2:4For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
Historical Context
Written circa 520-518 BC during post-exilic restoration, Zechariah warned the returned remnant not to repeat the sins that brought their fathers into Babylonian captivity (586 BC). The 'former prophets' ministered before the exile, and their unheeded warnings had resulted in seventy years of desolation.
Questions for Reflection
- What spiritual practices or convictions might you be hardening your heart against through repeated exposure without response?
- How does understanding that Scripture comes 'by the Spirit' through prophets affect your approach to biblical authority?
- What connection exists between resisting God's Word and experiencing His wrath rather than blessing?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone (וְלִבָּם שָׂמוּ שָׁמִיר)—the Hebrew shamir denotes the hardest known substance, harder than flint, used metaphorically for willful, incorrigible rebellion. Israel refused to hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets—God's Word came through the Spirit's agency via prophets like Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah, making rejection of prophetic preaching rejection of God Himself.
This hardness wasn't ignorance but deliberate resistance. Therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts—divine judgment was inevitable, not arbitrary. When hearts become adamantine against grace, only wrath remains. This anticipates the New Testament warning against grieving (Ephesians 4:30) and quenching (1 Thessalonians 5:19) the Spirit.