Zechariah 8:23

God's presence The stranger and outcast Witness and mission

²¹ And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.

²² Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.

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.

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
Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
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1 Corinthians 14:25
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
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Isaiah 60:3
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Read in context
Isaiah 45:14
Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.
Read in context
Ruth 1:16–17
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Read in context
Joshua 2:9–13
And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
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Acts 13:47–48
For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Read in context
1 Kings 8:42–43
(For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house;
Read in context