Zechariah 7:13

Authorized King James Version

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Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:

Original Language Analysis

וַיְהִ֥י H1961
וַיְהִ֥י
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 12
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כַאֲשֶׁר H834
כַאֲשֶׁר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 2 of 12
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִקְרְאוּ֙ Therefore it is come to pass that as he cried H7121
יִקְרְאוּ֙ Therefore it is come to pass that as he cried
Strong's: H7121
Word #: 3 of 12
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
וְלֹ֣א H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 4 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֶשְׁמָ֔ע and I would not hear H8085
אֶשְׁמָ֔ע and I would not hear
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 5 of 12
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
כֵּ֤ן H3651
כֵּ֤ן
Strong's: H3651
Word #: 6 of 12
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
יִקְרְאוּ֙ Therefore it is come to pass that as he cried H7121
יִקְרְאוּ֙ Therefore it is come to pass that as he cried
Strong's: H7121
Word #: 7 of 12
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
וְלֹ֣א H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 8 of 12
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אֶשְׁמָ֔ע and I would not hear H8085
אֶשְׁמָ֔ע and I would not hear
Strong's: H8085
Word #: 9 of 12
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אָמַ֖ר saith H559
אָמַ֖ר saith
Strong's: H559
Word #: 10 of 12
to say (used with great latitude)
יְהוָ֥ה the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֥ה the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 11 of 12
(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 12
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

Analysis & Commentary

Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear—divine reciprocity operates: Israel ignored God's prophetic calls, so so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts. This is measure-for-measure justice (middah keneged middah), the principle that divine judgment mirrors human sin. God doesn't capriciously abandon His people; they abandoned Him first.

When Judah faced Babylonian conquest, their desperate prayers went unanswered—not because God is cruel, but because they had systematically rejected His gracious warnings. Jesus echoed this principle: "With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matthew 7:2). Grace has seasons; after persistent hardening comes judicial hardening (cf. Romans 1:24, 26, 28: "God gave them up").

Historical Context

This verse explains why God didn't intervene during the Babylonian siege (588-586 BC). For generations, prophets had warned of coming judgment if Israel persisted in idolatry and social injustice. When catastrophe came, the people's prayers were too late—the time for repentance had passed.

Questions for Reflection

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