King James Version

What Does Zechariah 7:12 Mean?

Zechariah 7:12 in the King James Version says “Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts ha...” — study this verse from Zechariah chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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”

Zechariah 7:12 · KJV

Holy Spirit

Context

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

13

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:

14

But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate. pleasant: Heb. land of desire

Read Zechariah 7 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone (וְלִבָּם שָׂמוּ שָׁמִיר)—the Hebrew shamir denotes the hardest known substance, harder than flint, used metaphorically for willful, incorrigible rebellion. Israel refused to hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets—God's Word came through the Spirit's agency via prophets like Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah, making rejection of prophetic preaching rejection of God Himself.

This hardness wasn't ignorance but deliberate resistance. Therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts—divine judgment was inevitable, not arbitrary. When hearts become adamantine against grace, only wrath remains. This anticipates the New Testament warning against grieving (Ephesians 4:30) and quenching (1 Thessalonians 5:19) the Spirit.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Written circa 520-518 BC during post-exilic restoration, Zechariah warned the returned remnant not to repeat the sins that brought their fathers into Babylonian captivity (586 BC). The 'former prophets' ministered before the exile, and their unheeded warnings had resulted in seventy years of desolation.

Reflection Questions

  1. What spiritual practices or convictions might you be hardening your heart against through repeated exposure without response?
  2. How does understanding that Scripture comes 'by the Spirit' through prophets affect your approach to biblical authority?
  3. What connection exists between resisting God's Word and experiencing His wrath rather than blessing?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וְלִבָּ֞ם1 of 22

“their hearts”

H3820

the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything

שָׂ֣מוּ2 of 22

“Yea they made”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

שָׁמִ֗יר3 of 22

“as an adamant stone”

H8068

a thorn; also (from its keenness for scratching) a gem, probably the diamond

מִ֠שְּׁמוֹעַ4 of 22

“lest they should hear”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אֶת5 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַתּוֹרָ֤ה6 of 22

“the law”

H8451

a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch

וְאֶת7 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַדְּבָרִים֙8 of 22

“and the words”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

אֲשֶׁ֨ר9 of 22
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

שָׁלַ֜ח10 of 22

“hath sent”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

יְהוָ֥ה11 of 22

“from the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

צְבָאֽוֹת׃12 of 22

“of hosts”

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

בְּרוּח֔וֹ13 of 22

“in his spirit”

H7307

wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the

בְּיַ֖ד14 of 22

“by”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

הַנְּבִיאִ֣ים15 of 22

“prophets”

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים16 of 22

“the former”

H7223

first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)

וַֽיְהִי֙17 of 22
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

קֶ֣צֶף18 of 22

“wrath”

H7110

a splinter (as chipped off)

גָּד֔וֹל19 of 22

“therefore came a great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

מֵאֵ֖ת20 of 22
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יְהוָ֥ה21 of 22

“from the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

צְבָאֽוֹת׃22 of 22

“of hosts”

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

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 7:12 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 7:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 36:16Ezekiel 11:19Nehemiah 9:29-30Acts 28:27Ezekiel 36:26Psalms 50:17

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