The Meaning of Zechariah 8:9 Explained

Zechariah 8:9

KJV: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

YLT: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Let your hands be strong, Ye who are hearing in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets, That in the day the house of Jehovah of Hosts Hath been founded, the temple is to be built.

Darby: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, that were in the day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

ASV: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets that were in the day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of hosts was laid, even the temple, that it might be built.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus saith  the LORD  of hosts;  Let your hands  be strong,  ye that hear  in these days  these words  by the mouth  of the prophets,  which [were] in the day  [that] the foundation  of the house  of the LORD  of hosts  was laid,  that the temple  might be built. 

What does Zechariah 8:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord also told the people to gain strength from the words of the prophets who had encouraged them to complete the rebuilding of the temple ever since they began the project (cf. Joshua 1:7; 2 Samuel 2:7; 2 Samuel 16:21; Haggai 2:4). These prophets were Haggai ,, Zechariah , and perhaps others ( Ezra 5:1-2). Probably the resumption of construction in520 B.C. ( Haggai 2:18) is in view rather than the restoration of the foundation in536 B.C. ( Ezra 3:8). Between these dates the people did little work on the temple, especially between530,520 B.C.

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 8:9 mean?

Thus says Yahweh of hosts let be strong your hands You who have been hearing in days these - words these by the mouth of the prophets who [spoke] in the day the foundation was laid for the house of Yahweh of hosts the temple that might be built
כֹּֽה־ אָמַר֮ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאוֹת֒ תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה יְדֵיכֶ֔ם הַשֹּֽׁמְעִים֙ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֵ֖ת הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה מִפִּי֙ הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים אֲ֠שֶׁר בְּי֞וֹם יֻסַּ֨ד בֵּית־ יְהוָ֧ה צְבָא֛וֹת הַהֵיכָ֖ל לְהִבָּנֽוֹת

כֹּֽה־  Thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַר֮  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָאוֹת֒  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה  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.
יְדֵיכֶ֔ם  your  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, second person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
הַשֹּֽׁמְעִים֙  You  who  have  been  hearing 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בַּיָּמִ֣ים  in  days 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הָאֵ֔לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
אֵ֖ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַדְּבָרִ֣ים  words 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הָאֵ֑לֶּה  these 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
מִפִּי֙  by  the  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
הַנְּבִיאִ֔ים  of  the  prophets 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
אֲ֠שֶׁר  who  [spoke] 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בְּי֞וֹם  in  the  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
יֻסַּ֨ד  the  foundation  was  laid 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָסַד 
Sense: to found, fix, establish, lay foundation.
בֵּית־  for  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יְהוָ֧ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָא֛וֹת  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
הַהֵיכָ֖ל  the  temple 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: הֵיכָל  
Sense: palace, temple, nave, sanctuary.
לְהִבָּנֽוֹת  that  might  be  built 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.