Zechariah 8:23

God's presence The stranger and outcast Witness and mission

²¹ and the residents of one city will go to another, saying: ‘Let us go at once to plead before the LORD and to seek the LORD of Hosts. I myself am going.’

²² And many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead before the LORD.”

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

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: This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
KJV: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even 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.
WEB: The LORD of Armies says: “In those days, ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
ASV: Thus 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.
DARBY: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: In those days shall ten men take hold, out of all languages of the nations, shall even 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.
BLB: Thus says YHWH of Hosts: “In those days, will take hold ten men from every language of the nations, and they will take hold on the sleeve of a man, a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you⁺, for we have heard [that] God [is] with you⁺.’”

ÅB: Så sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud: I de dager skal det skje at ti menn av alle hedningefolkenes tungemål skal gripe fatt i en jødisk manns kappefald og si: Vi vil gå med dere; for vi har hørt at Gud er med dere.
[^1]: da ble Jerusalem inntatt; JER 39, 2; 52, 6. 7.
[^2]: 7, 5.
[^3]: da begynte Jerusalems beleiring; 2KG 25, 1. ESK 24. 1. 2.
OTB: Dette sier Herren over hærskarene: “I de dager skal ti mennesker fra alle språk og nasjoner ta fast i en jøde ved kanten av hans kappe og si: ‘La oss gå med deg, for vi har hørt at Gud er med deg.’”
B1930: Så sier Herren, hærskarenes Gud: I de dager skal det skje at ti menn av alle hedningefolkenes tungemål skal gripe fatt i en jødisk manns kappefald og si: Vi vil gå med eder; for vi har hørt at Gud er med eder.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 55:5
Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.”
Read in context
1 Corinthians 14:25
and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
Read in context
Isaiah 60:3
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Read in context
Isaiah 45:14
This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you; they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you: ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’”
Read in context
Ruth 1:16–17
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
Read in context
Joshua 2:9–13
and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.
Read in context
Acts 13:47–48
For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Read in context
1 Kings 8:42–43
for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple,
Read in context