Zechariah 1 · Verse 4

Zechariah 1:4

Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord.
Zechariah 1:4, King James Version

Zechariah 1:4 in other translations

BSBDo not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Turn now from your evil ways and deeds.’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me, declares the LORD.
WEBDon’t you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: The LORD of Armies says, ‘Return now from your evil ways and from your evil doings;’ but they didn’t hear nor listen to me, says the LORD.
ASVBe ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets cried, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Return ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith Jehovah.
YLTYe shall not be as your fathers, To whom the former prophets called, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, Turn back I pray you, From your evil ways and from your evil doings, And they did not hearken, Nor attend to Me--an affirmation of Jehovah.
DARBYBe ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets cried, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings; but they did not hearken nor attend unto me, saith Jehovah.
BBEBe not like your fathers, to whom the voice of the earlier prophets came, saying, Be turned now from your evil ways and from your evil doings: but they did not give ear to me or take note, says the Lord.
WebsterBe ye not as your fathers, to whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken to me, saith the LORD.

What does Zechariah 1:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. Be ye not as your fathers--The Jews boasted of their fathers; but he shows that their fathers were refractory, and that ancient example and long usage will not justify disobedience (2Ch 36:15, 16). the former prophets--those who lived before the captivity. It aggravated their guilt that, not only had they the law, but they had been often called to repent by God's prophets.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Zechariah 1:1-6

God's almighty power and sovereign dominion, should engage and encourage sinners to repent and turn to Him. It is very desirable to have the Lord of hosts for our friend, and very dreadful to have him for our enemy. Review what is past, and observe the message God sent by his servants, the prophets, to your fathers. Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings. Be persuaded to leave your sins, as the…

Read the full comment on Zechariah 1:1-6 →

Zechariah 1:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אַל\־'al-may notH408
תִּהְי֣וּtih.Yuyou beH1961
כַאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֡םkha.'a.vo.tei.Khemlike ancestors yourH1
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherwhomH834
קָרְאֽוּ\־ka.re.'u-they proclaimedH7121
אֲלֵיהֶם֩'a.lei.Hemto themH413
הַנְּבִיאִ֨יםha.ne.vi.'Imthe prophetsH5030
הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֜יםha.ri.sho.Nim<the> formerH7223
לֵאמֹ֗רle.Mor<to> sayingH559
כֹּ֤הkohthusH3541
אָמַר֙'a.Marhe saysH559
יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahwehH3068
צְבָא֔וֹתtze.va.'otof hostsH6635
שׁ֤וּבוּShu.vuturn backH7725
נָא֙na'pleaseH4994
מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֣םmi.dar.khei.Khemfrom ways yourH1870
הָרָעִ֔יםha.ra.'Im<the> evilH7451
וּמַֽעֲלְלֵיכֶ֖םu.ma.'a.li.lei.khemand deeds yourH4611
הָֽרָעִ֑יםha.ra.'Im<the> evilH7451
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
שָׁמְע֛וּsha.me.'Uthey listenedH8085
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
הִקְשִׁ֥יבוּhik.Shi.vuthey paid attentionH7181
אֵלַ֖י'e.Laito meH413
נְאֻם\־ne.'um-[the] utterance ofH5002
יְהוָֽה\׃Yah.wehYahwehH3068

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Zechariah 1:4

  • Psalms 78:8

    And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

  • Ezekiel 33:11

    Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

  • Jeremiah 35:15

    I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.

  • Psalms 106:6-7

    We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.

  • Isaiah 1:16-19

    Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

  • Zechariah 1:3

    Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.

  • Jeremiah 11:6-8

    Then the Lord said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them. For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.

  • Matthew 3:8-10

    Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:15-16

    And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: 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.

  • Jeremiah 44:16

    As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee.

  • Jeremiah 13:16-18

    Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness. But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive. Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.

  • Jeremiah 3:12

    Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Context

  • Zechariah 1:3

    Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.

  • Zechariah 1:4

    Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord.

  • Zechariah 1:5

    Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

Read all of Zechariah 1

Zechariah 1:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
No seáis como vuestros padres, á los cuales dieron voces los primeros profetas, diciendo: Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos: Volveos ahora de vuestros malos caminos, y de vuestras malas obras: y no atendieron, ni me escucharon, dice Jehová.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Ne soyez pas comme vos pères, auxquels les premiers prophètes ont crié, disant: Ainsi dit l’ Éternel des armées: Revenez donc de vos mauvaises voies et de vos mauvaises actions!… mais ils n’écoutèrent pas, et ne firent pas attention à moi, dit l’ Éternel.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Seid nicht wie eure Väter, denen die früheren Propheten zuriefen und sprachen: So spricht Jehova der Heerscharen: Kehret doch um von euren bösen Wegen und von euren bösen Handlungen! aber sie hörten nicht und merkten nicht auf mich, spricht Jehova.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Ne sitis sicut patres vestri, ad quos clamabant prophetæ priores, dicentes: Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum: Convertimini de viis vestris malis, et de cogitationibus vestris pessimis: et non audierunt, neque attenderunt ad me, dicit Dominus.