King James Version

What Does Zechariah 7:3 Mean?

Zechariah 7:3 in the King James Version says “And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep i...” — study this verse from Zechariah chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?”

Zechariah 7:3 · KJV

Context

1

And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;

2

When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD, pray: Heb. intreat the face of

3

And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?

4

Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying,

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?

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years? The delegation's question reveals both commendable devotion and potential misunderstanding. They addressed "the priests... and to the prophets"—the twin authoritative sources for understanding God's will. Priests interpreted the law while prophets brought fresh revelation. This dual consultation shows proper recognition of religious authority.

The question itself concerns "weeping in the fifth month" (ha-ebkeh ba-chodesh ha-chamishi, הַאֶבְכֶּה בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁי). The fifth month (Ab, corresponding to July-August) commemorated the temple's destruction by Babylon in 586 BC (2 Kings 25:8-9). The phrase "separating myself" (hinnazer, הִנָּזֵר) uses vocabulary related to the Nazirite vow, suggesting consecration or abstinence—they practiced mourning fasts with ascetic rigor. "As I have done these so many years" indicates this fast had continued for nearly seventy years during and after exile.

Now, with the temple being rebuilt, they questioned whether to continue. The question seems reasonable—if the reason for mourning (temple's destruction) is being remedied, should the mourning cease? Yet God's response (verses 4-14) reveals that their fasting had been self-focused rather than God-centered. They mourned their loss, not their sin. True repentance seeks God's glory and produces justice and mercy (7:9-10), not merely ritual observance.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The fifth month fast commemorated the climactic tragedy of 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar's forces burned Solomon's temple (2 Kings 25:8-9, Jeremiah 52:12-13). For seventy years, pious Jews observed this anniversary with weeping and fasting. Other exile-related fasts included: the fourth month (breaching of Jerusalem's walls), the seventh month (Gedaliah's assassination), and the tenth month (beginning of Babylon's siege—Zechariah 8:19). These fasts weren't commanded in the Mosaic law but arose as spontaneous expressions of grief and repentance. By 518 BC, with temple reconstruction underway, the question became pressing: were these fasts still necessary? God's answer transforms the question—He doesn't directly command cessation or continuation but instead addresses heart attitude. When full restoration comes, these fasts will become "seasons of joy and gladness" (8:19), but that requires genuine spiritual transformation, not just ritual adjustment.

Reflection Questions

  1. Do your spiritual disciplines flow from genuine love for God and concern for His glory, or from self-focused motivations like tradition or emotional catharsis?
  2. How can we distinguish between mourning over sin's consequences (which can be self-centered) and mourning over sin itself (which leads to repentance)?
  3. What does this passage teach about the relationship between outward religious observance and inward heart transformation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
לֵאמֹ֑ר1 of 19

“And to speak”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל2 of 19
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙3 of 19

“unto the priests”

H3548

literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

אֲשֶׁר֙4 of 19
H834

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

לְבֵית5 of 19

“which were in the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יְהוָ֣ה6 of 19

“of the LORD”

H3068

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

צְבָא֔וֹת7 of 19

“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

וְאֶל8 of 19
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים9 of 19

“and to the prophets”

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

לֵאמֹ֑ר10 of 19

“And to speak”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הַֽאֶבְכֶּה֙11 of 19

“Should I weep”

H1058

to weep; generally to bemoan

בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ12 of 19

“month”

H2320

the new moon; by implication, a month

הַחֲמִשִׁ֔י13 of 19

“in the fifth”

H2549

fifth; also a fifth

הִנָּזֵ֕ר14 of 19

“separating”

H5144

to hold aloof, i.e., (intransitivey) abstain (from food and drink, from impurity, and even from divine worship (i.e., apostatize)); specifically, to s

כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר15 of 19
H834

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

עָשִׂ֔יתִי16 of 19

“myself as I have done”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

זֶ֖ה17 of 19
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

כַּמֶּ֥ה18 of 19
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

שָׁנִֽים׃19 of 19

“these so many years”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

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 7:3 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 7:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Zechariah 8:19James 4:8-10Malachi 2:71 Corinthians 7:5Matthew 9:15Hosea 4:6

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