King James Version

What Does Zechariah 7:10 Mean?

Zechariah 7:10 in the King James Version says “And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his ...” — study this verse from Zechariah chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.”

Zechariah 7:10 · KJV

Context

8

And the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah, saying,

9

Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: Execute: Heb. Judge judgment of truth

10

And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

11

But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. pulled: Heb. they gave a backsliding shoulder stopped: Heb. made heavy

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. by: Heb. by the hand of

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor (וְאַלְמָנָה וְיָתוֹם גֵּר וְעָנִי אַל־תַּעֲשֹׁקוּ, ve'almanah veyatom ger ve'ani al-ta'ashoqu)—God's social ethic targets society's most vulnerable. The verb ashaq (עָשַׁק) means to extort, defraud, or oppress through injustice. The four categories—almanah (widow), yatom (orphan), ger (sojourner/alien), ani (poor)—appear repeatedly throughout Torah and prophets as God's special concern (Exodus 22:21-24; Deuteronomy 10:18; Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 7:6). These lack societal power and protection.

And let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart—God penetrates beyond external acts to internal disposition. The verb chashav (חָשַׁב) means to think, plan, devise. External obedience satisfies human law, but God requires heart-purity (1 Samuel 16:7). Jesus intensified this principle: anger equals murder, lust equals adultery (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28). James warns that favoritism toward the rich while despising the poor violates the royal law of love (James 2:1-9).

This verse connects authentic worship with social justice. God rejects religious ritual divorced from ethical practice. The prophets unanimously condemned this divorce: Isaiah's indictment of festivals without justice (Isaiah 1:10-17), Amos's rejection of assemblies while oppressing the poor (Amos 5:21-24), Micah's summary that God requires justice, mercy, and humble walking over sacrifice (Micah 6:6-8).

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Historical & Cultural Context

This oracle came in the fourth year of Darius (518 BC, v. 1), two years after temple rebuilding resumed. Bethel's delegation asked whether they should continue commemorative fasts established during exile (v. 3). God's response cuts to motive: were they mourning for God or themselves? Then He reminds them why the first temple fell—not lack of religious observance but social injustice and hardened hearts. The pre-exilic prophets had warned that ritual without righteousness invited judgment, resulting in 70 years of exile.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse challenge modern Christians who maintain religious observance while ignoring social injustice toward the vulnerable?
  2. In what ways might you 'imagine evil' against others in your heart while maintaining external courtesy or religious correctness?
  3. Who are today's equivalents of 'the widow, orphan, stranger, and poor' in your community—and how is God calling you to defend rather than oppress them?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
וְאַלְמָנָ֧ה1 of 12

“not the widow”

H490

a widow; also a desolate place

וְיָת֛וֹם2 of 12

“nor the fatherless”

H3490

a bereaved person

גֵּ֥ר3 of 12

“the stranger”

H1616

properly, a guest; by implication, a foreigner

וְעָנִ֖י4 of 12

“nor the poor”

H6041

depressed, in mind or circumstances

אַֽל5 of 12
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תַּעֲשֹׁ֑קוּ6 of 12

“And oppress”

H6231

to press upon, i.e., oppress, defraud, violate, overflow

וְרָעַת֙7 of 12

“evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

אִ֣ישׁ8 of 12

“against”

H376

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)

אָחִ֔יו9 of 12

“his brother”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

אַֽל10 of 12
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

תַּחְשְׁב֖וּ11 of 12

“and let none of you imagine”

H2803

properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e., (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a maliciou

בִּלְבַבְכֶֽם׃12 of 12

“in your heart”

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Zechariah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Zechariah 7:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Zechariah 7:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 5:28Psalms 72:41 John 3:15Isaiah 1:16-17James 5:4Isaiah 1:23

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