The Meaning of Zechariah 8:13 Explained

Zechariah 8:13

KJV: And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.

YLT: And it hath come to pass, As ye have been a reviling among nations, O house of Judah, and house of Israel, So I save you, and ye have been a blessing, Do not fear, let your hands be strong.

Darby: And it shall come to pass, like as ye were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear ye not, let your hands be strong.

ASV: And it shall come to pass that, as ye were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing. Fear not, but let your hands be strong.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it shall come to pass, [that] as ye were a curse  among the heathen,  O house  of Judah,  and house  of Israel;  so will I save  you, and ye shall be a blessing:  fear  not, [but] let your hands  be strong. 

What does Zechariah 8:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Even though the Israelites had been a curse among the nations in the past (cf. Deuteronomy 28:15-68; Jeremiah 24:9; Jeremiah 25:18; Jeremiah 29:22), the Lord would save them and make them a blessing to the world in the future.
"Not only the two tribes [1] but the ten [2]. This has never yet been fulfilled." [3]
One of the purposes of these promises was to remove the Jews" present fear and give them strength to complete the temple. "Let your hands be strong" is the exhortation that frames this sixth message of encouragement (cf. Zechariah 8:9).

Context Summary

Zechariah 8:1-17 - Truth And Love Must Prevail
In his third answer Zechariah dilates on the prosperity awaiting the chosen city. The Lord had returned, to dwell there, and the old men and women who were at the end of life should join with the happy boys and girls who were at the beginning in the enjoyment of the blessings of peace. Exiles also would return to people the former desolations. But with these delightful forecasts ensue reiterated appeals. [source]

Chapter Summary: Zechariah 8

1  The restoration of Jerusalem
9  They are encouraged to build the temple by God's favor to them
16  Good works are required of them
18  Joy and blessing are promised

What do the individual words in Zechariah 8:13 mean?

And it shall come to pass [That] just as you were a curse among the nations house of Judah and house of Israel so I will save you and you shall be a blessing Not do fear let be strong your hands -
וְהָיָ֡ה כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ הֱיִיתֶ֨ם קְלָלָ֜ה בַּגּוֹיִ֗ם בֵּ֤ית יְהוּדָה֙ וּבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כֵּ֚ן אוֹשִׁ֣יעַ אֶתְכֶ֔ם וִהְיִיתֶ֖ם בְּרָכָ֑ה אַל־ תִּירָ֖אוּ תֶּחֱזַ֥קְנָה יְדֵיכֶֽם ס

וְהָיָ֡ה  And  it  shall  come  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כַּאֲשֶׁר֩  [That]  just  as 
Parse: Preposition-k, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
הֱיִיתֶ֨ם  you  were 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
קְלָלָ֜ה  a  curse 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: קְלָלָה  
Sense: curse, vilification, execration.
בַּגּוֹיִ֗ם  among  the  nations 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
בֵּ֤ית  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יְהוּדָה֙  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וּבֵ֣ית  and  house 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
כֵּ֚ן  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
אוֹשִׁ֣יעַ  I  will  save 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
וִהְיִיתֶ֖ם  and  you  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בְּרָכָ֑ה  a  blessing 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּרָכָה  
Sense: blessing.
תִּירָ֖אוּ  do  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
תֶּחֱזַ֥קְנָה  let  be  strong 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
יְדֵיכֶֽם  your  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, second person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation