Zechariah 7:5
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Zechariah 7:5
5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
Chapter Context
Zechariah 7 is a prophetic vision chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of truth, judgment, mercy. Written during the early post-exilic period (c. 520-480 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Persian support for temple rebuilding came with continued imperial control.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-14: Central message and teachings
This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Zechariah and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Zechariah 7:5
5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
Analysis
God's challenging question about religious fasting: 'Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?' The fasts commemorated Jerusalem's destruction: fifth month (temple burning, 2 Kings 25:8-9), seventh month (Gedaliah's assassination, 2 Kings 25:25). For 70 years of exile they fasted, but God asks: was it for Me (haliy samtem tsam)? Or was it self-centered mourning for lost prosperity? True fasting seeks God and His purposes; false fasting is religious performance or self-pity. Isaiah 58:3-7 elaborates: fasting God honors involves loosening injustice's bonds and feeding the hungry. External ritual without heart transformation is meaningless (Matthew 6:16-18).
Historical Context
The question arose in 518 BC (Zechariah 7:1) when delegates asked if they should continue mourning fasts now that the temple was being rebuilt. Their fasts had become traditional rituals divorced from spiritual purpose. God's response (chapters 7-8) emphasizes that He desires justice, mercy, and obedience (7:9-10) more than ritual observance. Pre-exilic ancestors ignored this, bringing judgment (7:11-14). Post-exilic community mustn't repeat the error. The fasts would eventually become feasts (8:19) when God fully restores His people. This teaches that religious practices must flow from genuine devotion and produce ethical transformation. Jesus later confronted similar hypocrisy in Pharisees (Matthew 23:23-28).
Reflection
- Do my spiritual disciplines (fasting, prayer, worship) genuinely seek God, or are they performances or self-focused routines?
- How can I ensure my religious practices produce the fruit God desires—justice, mercy, and humble obedience?
Word Studies
- Priest: כֹּהֵן (Kohen) H3548 - Priest
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Zechariah 1:12, 7:3, 1 Corinthians 10:31