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Zechariah 8:5

Old Testament Minor Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Zechariah 8:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
Zechariah 8:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Zechariah 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.
3Thus saith Jehovah: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth; and the mountain of Jehovah of hosts, The holy mountain.
4Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
5And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
6Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith Jehovah of hosts.
7Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
8and I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
← Zechariah 8:4Zechariah 8:6 →
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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 streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls, etc.] Denoting a large increase of inhabitants, in a literal sense; and may spiritually signify the large numbers of converts, of new born babes, who are regenerated by the grace and Spirit of God, and are accounted of by the Lord for a generation: playing the streets thereof; being in health and rigour, and in great security. The Targum renders it, “singing” or “praising in the spacious places thereof”; singing the praises of God in Gospel strains; saying their Hosannas to the Son of David; rejoicing in the great salvation by Christ, and magnifying the grace of God, and setting forth the glories of it in psalms, hymns, and…”
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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
“boys and girls playing--implying security and a numerous progeny, accounted a leading blessing among the Jews. Contrast Jer 6:11; Jer 9:21.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“playing: Zac 2:4; Psa 128:3, Psa 128:4, Psa 144:12-15; Jer 30:19, Jer 30:20, Jer 31:27, Jer 33:11; Lam 2:19; Mat 11:16, Mat 11:17 Zechariah 8:6”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification