King James Version

What Does Zechariah 8:17 Mean?

Zechariah 8:17 in the King James Version says “And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things ... — study this verse from Zechariah chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

Zechariah 8:17 · KJV


Context

15

So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.

16

These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: execute: Heb. judge truth, and the judgment of peace

17

And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

18

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

19

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. feasts: or, solemn, or, set times


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD. This verse continues the ethical requirements begun in verse 16, addressing internal motivations and oath-taking. The command "let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour" (ve-ish et-ra'at reehu al-tachshvu bi-levavkhem, וְאִישׁ אֶת־רָעַת רֵעֵהוּ אַל־תַּחְשְׁבוּ בִּלְבַבְכֶם) probes beneath external behavior to internal attitudes. The verb chashav (חָשַׁב, "think," "devise," "plan") indicates deliberate mental activity—plotting harm, nursing grudges, planning revenge. This isn't accidental negative thoughts but cultivated malice.

The phrase "in your hearts" (bi-levavkhem, בִּלְבַבְכֶם) locates the problem in the inner person—the center of thought, will, and emotion. God's law addresses not merely actions but motivations (cf. the Tenth Commandment against coveting, Exodus 20:17). Jesus intensifies this principle in the Sermon on the Mount: anger equals murder in the heart (Matthew 5:21-22), lust equals adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:27-28). Covenant righteousness requires transformed hearts, not merely controlled behavior.

Second, "love no false oath" (ve-shavuat sheker al-te'ehavu, וּשְׁבוּעַת שֶׁקֶר אַל־תֶּאֱהָבוּ). A shavuat sheker (שְׁבוּעַת שֶׁקֶר, false oath) invokes God's name to guarantee a lie—perjury in court or deceptive promises made under oath. To "love" such oaths means to be attached to, delight in, or habitually practice them. The conclusion "for all these are things that I hate" (ki et-kol-elleh saneti, כִּי אֶת־כָּל־אֵלֶּה שָׂנֵאתִי) employs the strong verb sane (שָׂנֵא, "hate"), showing God's vehement opposition to these sins. What God hates, His people must avoid.

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Historical & Cultural Context

These commands address sins that destroyed Israel's pre-exilic community. Micah condemned those who "devise iniquity and work evil on their beds" (Micah 2:1), plotting to steal fields and oppress the poor. Jeremiah denounced widespread lying and oath-breaking: "They proceed from evil to evil... everyone deceives his neighbor... they have taught their tongue to speak lies" (Jeremiah 9:3-5). False oaths particularly violated the Third Commandment against taking God's name in vain (Exodus 20:7).

The post-exilic community needed to establish a different social order grounded in truth and integrity. Their visible righteousness would witness to surrounding nations (cf. Zechariah 8:20-23) that Yahweh is the true God. Conversely, community characterized by internal malice and false oaths would dishonor God and repeat the fathers' failures.

Jesus addressed these same issues. He forbade oath-taking altogether because people used oaths to justify lying (Matthew 5:33-37): "Let your 'yes' be yes and your 'no' be no." Simple truthfulness eliminates need for oaths. James echoes this (James 5:12). Paul commands believers to "put away falsehood" and speaks of God-haters as those who are "haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil" (Romans 1:29-30). The ethical standards Zechariah proclaims find fulfillment in the Spirit-transformed community of the new covenant.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can you guard your heart against 'imagining evil' toward others—cultivating malice, nursing grudges, or plotting harm?
  2. What does God's command to avoid even thinking evil against neighbors teach about the depth of righteousness He requires?
  3. In what ways might believers today 'love false oaths'—speaking carelessly, making promises without intention to keep them, or using God's name lightly?
  4. How does knowing God hates these sins motivate genuine heart transformation rather than mere external conformity?
  5. What practices or spiritual disciplines help align our inner attitudes with God's standards of love and truth?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וְאִ֣ישׁ׀1 of 19

And let none

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)

אֶת2 of 19
H853

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

רָעַ֣ת3 of 19

evil

H7451

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

רֵעֵ֗הוּ4 of 19

against his neighbour

H7453

an associate (more or less close)

אַֽל5 of 19
H408

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

תַּחְשְׁבוּ֙6 of 19

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

בִּלְבַבְכֶ֔ם7 of 19

in your hearts

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

וּשְׁבֻ֥עַת8 of 19

oath

H7621

properly, something sworn, i.e., an oath

שֶׁ֖קֶר9 of 19

no false

H8267

an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial)

אַֽל10 of 19
H408

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

תֶּאֱהָ֑בוּ11 of 19

and love

H157

to have affection for (sexually or otherwise)

כִּ֧י12 of 19
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אֶת13 of 19
H853

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

כָּל14 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֵ֛לֶּה15 of 19
H428

these or those

אֲשֶׁ֥ר16 of 19
H834

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

שָׂנֵ֖אתִי17 of 19

for all these are things that I hate

H8130

to hate (personally)

נְאֻם18 of 19

saith

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָֽה׃19 of 19

the LORD

H3068

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


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 8:17 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 8:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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