Zechariah 8:21
And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
This depicts a reversal of Israel's historical experience. Rather than nations invading Jerusalem to destroy (as Babylon did), they come to worship. Rather than Jews fleeing in exile, Gentiles eagerly pilgrimage to Zion. The urgency and mutual encouragement contrasts with Israel's frequent stubbornness—they often refused God's invitations despite prophetic pleading. Now Gentiles respond more eagerly than ethnic Israel often did (a theme Jesus highlights in Matthew 8:10-12).
The early church experienced this dynamic. At Pentecost, people urgently asked "What shall we do?" (Acts 2:37), and converts spread the gospel enthusiastically (Acts 8:4). The Thessalonians' faith was "proclaimed in every place" (1 Thessalonians 1:8). Paul describes how converts reported "what kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9)—one group telling another, spreading the gospel virally.
The vision ultimately points to the eschaton when redeemed humanity corporately worships the Lamb (Revelation 5:9-14, 7:9-10). The pilgrimage motif appears throughout Scripture—Abraham journeying to the promised land (Hebrews 11:8-10), Israel traveling to Jerusalem for feasts (Psalm 122), believers as pilgrims and exiles seeking a heavenly city (Hebrews 11:13-16, 1 Peter 2:11). The Christian life is pilgrimage toward the New Jerusalem where we will worship God eternally.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the contagious enthusiasm of these pilgrims challenge or encourage your own witness for Christ?
- What would it look like for believers today to 'go speedily' to seek the LORD—to pursue Him with urgent, wholehearted devotion?
- In what ways can the church foster the mutual encouragement depicted here—believers stirring one another up to seek God?
- How does your personal commitment ('I will go also') align with corporate invitations to worship and seek the LORD?
- What obstacles prevent people in your context from responding eagerly to invitations to know God, and how can these be addressed?
Analysis & Commentary
And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. This verse depicts the contagious nature of the pilgrimage described in verse 20. The phrase "the inhabitants of one city shall go to another" (ve-halku yoshvei achat el-achat, וְהָלְכוּ יֹשְׁבֵי אַחַת אֶל־אַחַת) shows horizontal spread—people urging one another to seek the LORD. This isn't top-down decree but grassroots movement, neighbor inviting neighbor, city encouraging city.
The urgent invitation "Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD" (nelkhah halokh le-chalot et-pnei Yahweh, נֵלְכָה הָלוֹךְ לְחַלּוֹת אֶת־פְּנֵי יְהוָה) uses emphatic construction: halokh (הָלוֹךְ, infinitive absolute) intensifies nelkhah (נֵלְכָה, let us go)—"let us go urgently/speedily/earnestly." The verb chalah (חָלָה, "entreat," "seek favor," "pray") means to soften someone's face, to seek favor humbly. The phrase "pray before the LORD" literally means "entreat the face of the LORD"—seeking His presence and favor.
The parallel phrase "and to seek the LORD of hosts" (u-levaqesh et-Yahweh Tzeva'ot, וּלְבַקֵּשׁ אֶת־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת) employs baqash (בָּקַשׁ), meaning to search for, inquire of, seek diligently. Combined with "LORD of hosts," this emphasizes seeking the sovereign, powerful God—not a tribal deity but the universal ruler. The personal commitment "I will go also" (elkhah gam-ani, אֵלְכָה גַם־אָנִי) shows individual response to corporate invitation—each person joins the movement personally. This models evangelistic witness: believers enthusiastically invite others and personally commit to seek God themselves.