Zechariah 7 · Verse 2

Zechariah 7:2

When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regem–melech, and their men, to pray before the Lord,
Zechariah 7:2, King James Version

Zechariah 7:2 in other translations

BSBNow the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, along with their men, to plead before the LORD
WEBThe people of Bethel sent Sharezer and Regem Melech and their men to entreat the LORD’s favor,
ASVNow they of Beth-el had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to entreat the favor of Jehovah,
YLTAnd Beth-El sendeth Sherezer and Regem-Melech, and its men, to appease the face of Jehovah,
DARBYwhen Bethel had sent Sherezer and Regem-melech, and his men, to supplicate Jehovah,
BBENow they of Beth-el had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech to make a request for grace from the Lord,
WebsterWhen they had sent to the house of God Sherezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,

What does Zechariah 7:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. they ... sent unto ... house of God--The Jews of the country sent to the house of God or congregation at Jerusalem. The altar was long since reared (Ezr 3:3), though the temple was not completed till two years afterwards (Ezr 6:15). The priests' duty was to give decision on points of the law (De 17:9; Mt 2:4). Beth-el is here used instead of Beth-Jehovah, because the religious authorities, rather than the house itself (designated "Beth-Jehovah" in Zec 7:3), are intended. The old Beth-el had long ceased to be the seat of idol-worship, so that the name had lost its opprobrious meaning. "The house of the Lord" is used for the congregation of worshippers headed by their priests (Zec 3:7; Ho 8:1). Maurer makes the "house of God" nominative to "sent." Henderson makes "Beth-el" so. Sherezer--an Assyrian name meaning, "Prefect of the treasury." Regemmelech--meaning, "The king's official." These names perhaps intimate the semi-heathen character of the inquirers, which may also be implied in the name "Beth-el" (Hebrew for "house of God"), so notorious once for its calf-worship. They sent to Jehovah's house as their forefathers sent to old Beth-el, not in the spirit of true obedience. pray before the Lord--literally, "to entreat the face of," that is, to offer sacrifices, the accompaniment of prayers, to conciliate His favor (1Sa 13:12).

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 When they had sent - Sherezer and Regem-melech - To inquire whether the fasts should be continued, which they had hitherto observed on account of their ruined temple; and the reason why they inquired was, that they were rebuilding that temple, and were likely to bring it to a joyful issue.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Zechariah 7:1-7

If we truly desire to know the will of God in doubtful matters, we must not only consult his word and ministers, but seek his direction by fervent prayer. Those who would know God's mind should consult God's ministers; and, in doubtful cases, ask advice of those whose special business it is to search the Scriptures. The Jews seemed to question whether they ought to continue their fasts, seeing that the city and…

Read the full comment on Zechariah 7:1-7 →

Zechariah 7:2 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.

וַיִּשְׁלַח֙vai.yish.Lachand it had sentH7971
בֵּֽית\־beit-Beth-H1008
אֵ֔ל'El-elH1008
שַׂר\־sar-Shar-H8272
אֶ֕צֶר'E.tzer-ezerH8272
וְרֶ֥גֶםve.Re.gemand Regem-H7278
מֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhMelechH7278
וַֽאֲנָשָׁ֑יוva.'a.na.Shavand men hisH582
לְחַלּ֖וֹתle.cha.Lotto entreatH2470
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
פְּנֵ֥יpe.Nei[the] face ofH6440
יְהוָֽה\׃Yah.wehYahwehH3068

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

Cross references for Zechariah 7:2

  • Zechariah 8:21

    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.

  • 1 Samuel 13:12

    Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

  • Jeremiah 26:19

    Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the Lord, and besought the Lord, and the Lord repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.

  • 1 Kings 13:6

    And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.

  • Isaiah 60:7

    All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

  • Zechariah 6:10

    Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;

  • Ezra 7:15-23

    And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem: That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God. …

  • Exodus 32:11

    And Moses besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

  • Ezra 8:28-30

    And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the Lord; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers. Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord. So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.

  • Ezra 6:10

    That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
they.
6:10; Ezr 6:10; 7:15-23; 8:28-30; Isa 60:7
pray before the Lord. Heb. intreat the face of the Lord.
8:21; Ex 32:11; *marg:
1Sa 13:12; 1Ki 13:6; Jer 26:19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Zechariah 7:1

    And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;

  • Zechariah 7:2

    When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regem–melech, and their men, to pray before the Lord,

  • Zechariah 7:3

    And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the Lord of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?

Read all of Zechariah 7

Zechariah 7:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Cuando fué enviado á la casa de Dios, Saraser, con Regem-melech y sus hombres, á implorar el favor de Jehová,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
quand Béthel envoya Sharétser et Réguem-Mélec et ses hommes pour implorer l’ Éternel,
German
Elberfelder 1871
als Bethel den Scharezer und Regem-Melech und seine Männer sandte, um Jehova anzuflehen,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et miserunt ad domum Dei Sarasar et Rogommelech, et viri qui erant cum eo, ad deprecandam faciem Domini: