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Zechariah 7:6

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Zechariah 7:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And when ye eat, and when ye drink, do not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And when ye eat, and when ye drink, do not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
Zechariah 7:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Zechariah 7

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3[and] to speak unto the priests of the house of Jehovah of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
4Then came the word of Jehovah of hosts unto me, saying,
5Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh [month], even these seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
6And when ye eat, and when ye drink, do not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
7[Should ye] not [hear] the words which Jehovah cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?
8And the word of Jehovah came unto Zechariah, saying,
9Thus hath Jehovah of hosts spoken, saying, Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother;
← Zechariah 7:5Zechariah 7:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, etc.] Either at common meals, or at their festivals: did not ye eat [for yourselves], and drink [for yourselves]? merely and only for their own refreshment and pleasure, and not for the glory of God; though that ought to be the principal end in eating and drinking, (<461031>1 Corinthians 10:31).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“did not ye eat for yourselves?--literally, "Is it not ye who eat?" that is, it is not unto Me and My glory. It tends no more to My glory, your feasting than your fasting.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And when ye eat and when ye drink, is it not ye who eat and ye who drink? - Conversely now that, after your return, ye feast for joy, this is no religious act; ye have all the good of it, there is no thanksgiving to God. Contrary to the apostle’s saying, “Whether ye eat or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glow of God” 1 Corinthians 10:31. “He eateth and drinketh to himself, who receiveth the nourishments of the body, which are the common gifts of the Creator, without the needy. And anyone fasts to himself, if he doth not give to the poor what for the time he withdraweth from himself, but keepeth it to be thereafter offered to his appetite. Hence, it is said by Joel, sanctify a fast.…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“For yourselves - I was as little minded by you in your fasts, as in your feasts. Zechariah 7:7”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“did not ye eat for: or, be not ye they that did eat for, etc. Deu 12:7, Deu 14:26; Sa1 16:7; Ch1 29:22; Jer 17:9, Jer 17:10; Hos 8:13, Hos 9:4; Co1 10:31, Co1 11:20, Co1 11:21, Co1 11:26-29; Col 3:17 Zechariah 7:7”
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Related study paths

Read Zechariah 7 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification