Zechariah 1:16

¹⁴ So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

¹⁵ And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

¹⁷ Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

¹⁸ Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there My house will be rebuilt, declares the LORD of Hosts, and a measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.’
KJV: Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
WEB: Therefore the LORD says: “I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy. My house shall be built in it,” says the LORD of Armies, “and a line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”’
ASV: Therefore thus saith Jehovah: I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies; my house shall be built in it, saith Jehovah of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem.
DARBY: Therefore thus saith Jehovah: I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith Jehovah of hosts, and the line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
BLB: Therefore, thus says YHWH: ‘I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion; My house will be built within her, a declaration of YHWH of Hosts, and a line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.’

ÅB: Derfor sier Herren så: Jeg vender meg igjen til Jerusalem med miskunnhet; mitt hus skal bygges der, sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud, og målesnoren skal strekkes ut over Jerusalem.
OTB: Derfor, så sier Herren: 'Jeg vil vende tilbake til Jerusalem med barmhjertighet; Mitt hus skal bygges i det,' sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud, 'og en målesnor skal strekkes over Jerusalem.'
B1930: Derfor sier Herren så: Jeg vender mig atter til Jerusalem med miskunnhet; mitt hus skal bygges der, sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud, og målesnoren skal strekkes ut over Jerusalem.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Zechariah 8:3
Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
Read in context
Ezekiel 37:24–28
And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
Read in context
Zechariah 2:10–11
Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
Read in context
Ezra 6:14–15
And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.
Read in context
Zechariah 4:9
The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
Read in context
Isaiah 54:8–10
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
Read in context
Job 38:5
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Read in context
Ezekiel 40:3
And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
Read in context