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Zechariah 8:21

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Zechariah 8:21 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and the inhabitants of one [city] shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Jehovah, and to seek Jehovah of hosts: I will go also.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and the inhabitants of one [city] shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Jehovah, and to seek Jehovah of hosts: I will go also.
Zechariah 8:21 — American Standard Version

Context — Zechariah 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18And the word of Jehovah of hosts came unto me, saying,
19Thus saith Jehovah 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 truth and peace.
20Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: [It shall] yet [come to pass], that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities;
21and the inhabitants of one [city] shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Jehovah, and to seek Jehovah of hosts: I will go also.
22Yea, many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek Jehovah of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Jehovah.
23Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: In those days [it shall come to pass], that ten men shall take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.
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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 the inhabitants of one [city] shall go to another, etc.] Which shows their concern for the spiritual welfare of each other, their zeal for the honour and glory of God, and their readiness to attend divine worship: saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord; for pardoning, justifying, and sanctifying grace which shows their sense of need of these things, and that they are only to be had of the Lord; and that their case required haste, and would admit of no delay: and to seek the Lord of hosts: by prayer and supplication, as before: the Chaldee paraphrase is, “to seek doctrine from the Lord of hosts”; to learn the truths of his Gospel; to know his will, and be informed of the right…”
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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
“Let us . . . I--manifesting zeal and love: converted themselves, they seek the conversion of others (Sol 1:4). To exhortation in general ("Let us go"), they add individual example ("I will go"). Or, the change from plural to singular implies that the general consent in religious earnestness leads each individual to decide for God. go speedily--literally, "go, going"; implying intense earnestness. pray--Hebrew, "entreat the face" (Zac 7:2); entreat His favor and grace.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The inhabitants of one city shall go to another - It is one unresting extension of the fairly, the restlessness of faith and love. Osorius: “They shall not be satisfied with their own salvation, careless about the salvation of others; they shall employ all labor and industry, with wondrous love, to provide for the salvation of others as if it were their own.” It is a marvelous stirring of minds. Missionary efforts, so familiar with us as to be a household word, were unknown then. The time was not yet come. “Before the faith” in Christ came, the Jewish people were not to be the converters of mankind. They were to await for Him, the Redeemer of the world, through whom and to whom they were to…”
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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
“I will go also - The invited, shall with as much zeal embrace the motion, as others made it. Zechariah 8:22”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Let: Psa 122:1-9 speedily: or, continually, Heb. going, Hos 6:3 pray before the Lord: Heb. intreat the face of the Lord, Zac 7:2 I will: Psa 103:22, Psa 146:1, Psa 146:2 Zechariah 8:22”
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Related study paths

Read Zechariah 8 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification