Zechariah 8:23
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּֽה
H3541
כֹּֽה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
1 of 24
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֣ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 24
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צְבָאוֹת֒
of hosts
H6635
צְבָאוֹת֒
of hosts
Strong's:
H6635
Word #:
4 of 24
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
בַּיָּמִ֣ים
In those days
H3117
בַּיָּמִ֣ים
In those days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
5 of 24
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
7 of 24
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
וְֽהֶחֱזִ֡יקוּ
even shall take hold
H2388
וְֽהֶחֱזִ֡יקוּ
even shall take hold
Strong's:
H2388
Word #:
8 of 24
to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restra
עֲשָׂרָ֣ה
it shall come to pass that ten
H6235
עֲשָׂרָ֣ה
it shall come to pass that ten
Strong's:
H6235
Word #:
9 of 24
ten (as an accumulation to the extent of the digits)
אִ֨ישׁ
of him that is a Jew
H376
אִ֨ישׁ
of him that is a Jew
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
10 of 24
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
מִכֹּ֖ל
H3605
מִכֹּ֖ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
11 of 24
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
לְשֹׁנ֣וֹת
out of all languages
H3956
לְשֹׁנ֣וֹת
out of all languages
Strong's:
H3956
Word #:
12 of 24
the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame,
הַגּוֹיִ֑ם
of the nations
H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֑ם
of the nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
13 of 24
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
וְֽהֶחֱזִ֡יקוּ
even shall take hold
H2388
וְֽהֶחֱזִ֡יקוּ
even shall take hold
Strong's:
H2388
Word #:
14 of 24
to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restra
בִּכְנַף֩
of the skirt
H3671
בִּכְנַף֩
of the skirt
Strong's:
H3671
Word #:
15 of 24
an edge or extremity; specifically (of a bird or army) a wing, (of a garment or bedclothing) a flap, (of the earth) a quarter, (of a building) a pinna
אִ֨ישׁ
of him that is a Jew
H376
אִ֨ישׁ
of him that is a Jew
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
16 of 24
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
יְהוּדִ֜י
H3064
יְהוּדִ֜י
Strong's:
H3064
Word #:
17 of 24
a jehudite (i.e., judaite or jew), or descendant of jehudah (i.e., judah)
נֵֽלְכָה֙
H1980
נֵֽלְכָה֙
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
19 of 24
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
עִמָּכֶ֔ם
H5973
עִמָּכֶ֔ם
Strong's:
H5973
Word #:
20 of 24
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
כִּ֥י
H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
21 of 24
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ
with you for we have heard
H8085
שָׁמַ֖עְנוּ
with you for we have heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
22 of 24
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
Cross References
Isaiah 45:14Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.Isaiah 55:5Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.Isaiah 60:3And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.1 Corinthians 14:25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.Isaiah 66:18For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.Genesis 31:7And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.Isaiah 4:1And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.Isaiah 3:6When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:Acts 19:12So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.Job 19:3These ten times have ye reproached me: ye are not ashamed that ye make yourselves strange to me.
Historical Context
Contrasts with Israel's exile when they were mocked by nations (Psalm 137:1-3). God promises reversal: His people will be so blessed that Gentiles will seek them out. 'Ten men' represents completeness/many; 'all languages' indicates universal scope. The vision anticipates Acts 2's Pentecost (people from every nation), the Gentile mission (Acts 10-15), and ultimate ingathering of elect from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Revelation 7:9). The mechanism: recognizing 'God is with you'—when Christians embody Christ's presence through transformed lives, outsiders are drawn to the gospel (Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12). The church becomes the vehicle through which nations bless themselves in Abraham's seed (Genesis 12:3, Galatians 3:8-9).
Questions for Reflection
- Is God's presence so evident in my life that others are attracted to know Him through me?
- How does the promise of universal blessing through Israel/the church motivate my evangelistic zeal?
Analysis & Commentary
Eschatological vision of universal seeking: 'Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.' The Hebrew 'yahziq asharah anashim' (ten men will seize) from 'kol leshonot ha-goyim' (all languages/tongues of the nations) the 'kanaph' (corner/hem) of a Jew's garment, pleading to accompany them because 'Elohim immakhem' (God is with you). This reverses Israel's exile disgrace; nations will recognize God's presence with His people and seek inclusion. Partial fulfillment: proselytes. Full fulfillment: gospel creating one body of Jew and Gentile in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22), where salvation is 'of the Jews' (John 4:22) but extends to all who believe.