Zechariah 8 · Verse 5

Zechariah 8:5

And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
Zechariah 8:5, King James Version

Zechariah 8:5 in other translations

BSBAnd the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing there.”
WEBThe streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”
ASVAnd the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
YLTAnd broad places of the city are full of boys and girls, Playing in its broad places.
DARBYAnd the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
BBEAnd the open spaces of the town will be full of boys and girls playing in its open spaces.
WebsterAnd the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.

What does Zechariah 8:5 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5. boys and girls playing--implying security and a numerous progeny, accounted a leading blessing among the Jews. Contrast Jr 6:11; 9:21.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 The streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls - The progeny shall be numerous, healthy, and happy. Their innocent gambols and useful exercises shall be a means of health, and a proof of happiness. To be healthy, children must have exercise. But they cannot take exercise, except in the way of play and diversion: ergo, such playfulness cannot be sinful. Let them be kept from evil words, lying, swearing, and scurrility; and all the rest may be innocent.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Zechariah 8:1-8

The sins of Zion were her worst enemies. God will take away her sins, and then no other enemies shall hurt her. Those who profess religion must adorn their profession by godliness and honesty. When become a city of truth and a mountain of holiness, Jerusalem is peaceable and prosperous. Verses #(4-5), beautifully describe a state of great outward peace, attended with plenty, temperance, and contentment. The…

Read the full comment on Zechariah 8:1-8 →

Zechariah 8:5 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.

וּרְחֹב֤וֹתu.re.cho.Votand [the] open places ofH7339
הָעִיר֙ha.'Irthe cityH5892
יִמָּ֣לְא֔וּyi.Mal.'Uthey will be filledH4390
יְלָדִ֖יםye.la.DimboysH3206
וִֽילָד֑וֹתvi.la.Dotand girlsH3207
מְשַׂחֲקִ֖יםme.sa.cha.KimplayingH7832
בִּרְחֹֽבֹתֶֽיהָ\׃\ \סbir.Cho.o.Tei.hain open places itsH7339

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

Cross references for Zechariah 8:5

  • Jeremiah 31:13

    Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

  • Jeremiah 30:19-20

    And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.

  • Zechariah 2:4

    And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:

  • Jeremiah 31:27

    Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.

  • Jeremiah 33:11

    The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.

  • Psalms 144:12-15

    That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.

  • Lamentations 2:19

    Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.

  • Psalms 128:3-4

    Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

  • Matthew 11:16-17

    But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
playing.
2:4; Ps 128:3,4; 144:12-15; Jer 30:19,20; 31:27; 33:11; La 2:19
Mt 11:16,17

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

Context

  • Zechariah 8:4

    Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.

  • Zechariah 8:5

    And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.

  • Zechariah 8:6

    Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts.

Read all of Zechariah 8

Zechariah 8:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y las calles de la ciudad serán llenas de muchachos y muchachas, que jugarán en las calles.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et les places de la ville seront pleines de jeunes garçons et de jeunes filles, jouant dans ses places.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und die Straßen der Stadt werden voll sein von Knaben und Mädchen, die auf seinen Straßen spielen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et plateæ civitatis complebuntur infantibus et puellis, ludentibus in plateis ejus.