Zechariah 7:12

10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.

11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.

Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:

14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.

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
They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.
KJV
Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
WEB
Yes, they made their hearts as hard as flint, lest they might hear the law and the words which the LORD of Armies had sent by his Spirit by the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the LORD of Armies.
ASV
Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which Jehovah of hosts had sent by his Spirit by the former prophets: therefore there came great wrath from Jehovah of hosts.
DARBY
And they made their heart [as] an adamant, that they should not hear the law, and the words that Jehovah of hosts sent by his Spirit by the hand of the former prophets: therefore was there great wrath from Jehovah of hosts.
BLB
and their hearts they made flint, from hearing the law and the words that YHWH of Hosts had sent by His Spirit, by the hand of the former prophets. And there was great wrath from YHWH of Hosts.
ÅB
og sitt hjerte gjorde de hårdt som en diamant, så de ikke hørte på loven og de ord Herren, hærskarenes Gud, sendte ved sin Ånd gjennom de forrige profeter; derfor kom det en stor vrede fra Herren, hærskarenes Gud.
OTB
De gjorde sine hjerter harde som stein, så de ikke ville høre loven eller ordene som Herren, Den Allmektige, hadde sendt ved sin Ånd gjennom de tidligere profetene. Derfor kom stor vrede fra Herren, Den Allmektige.
B1930
og sitt hjerte gjorde de hårdt som en diamant, så de ikke hørte på loven og de ord Herren, hærskarenes Gud, sendte ved sin Ånd gjennem de forrige profeter; derfor kom det en stor vrede fra Herren, hærskarenes Gud.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 2 Chronicles 36:16

    But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

    Read in context
  • Nehemiah 9:29–30

    And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 11:19

    And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

    Read in context
  • Acts 28:27

    For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 36:26

    A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 50:17

    Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

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  • Daniel 9:11–12

    Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 3:7–9

    But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.

    Read in context