Zechariah 10
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Ask ye of the Lord rain - Rain in the due seasons - 1. To impregnate the seed when sown; and 2. To fill the ear near the time of harvest - was so essential to the fertility of the land, and the well-being of the people, that it stands well among the chief of God's mercies and the promise of it here shows that God designs to ensure the prosperity promised, by using those means by which it was promoted.
Open source ↗PRAYER AND PROMISE. (Zac 10:1-12) Ask . . . rain--on which the abundance of "corn" promised by the Lord (Zac 9:17) depends. Jehovah alone can give it, and will give it on being asked (Jer 10:13; Jer 14:22). rain in . . . time of . . . latter rain--that is, the latter rain in its due time, namely, in spring, about February or March (Job 29:23; Joe 2:23). The latter rain ripened the grain, as the former rain in October tended to fructify the seed. Including all temporal blessings; these again being types of spiritual ones. Though God has begun to bless us, we are not to relax our prayers. The former rain of conversion may have been given, but we must also ask for the latter rain of ripened sanctification. Though at Pentecost there was a former rain on the Jewish Church, a latter rain is still to be looked for, when the full harvest of the nation's conversion shall be gathered in to God. The spirit of prayer in the Church is an index at once of her piety, and of the spiritual blessings she may expect from God. When the Church is full of prayer, God pours out a full blessing. bright clouds--rather, "lightnings," the precursors of rain [MAURER]. showers of rain--literally, "rain of heavy rain." In Job 37:6 the same words occur in inverted order [HENDERSON]. grass--a general term, including both corn for men and grass for cattle.
Open source ↗Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain,.... There was the former and the latter rain, of which see Hos 6:3. The former rain was in autumn, a little before or about seed time; the latter was in the spring, and a little before harvest, which is here referred to. So Hesiod (g) calls those rains the autumnal and vernal rains; and between these two rains there was seldom any more. Jerom says (h) that he never saw in the eastern countries, especially in Judea, any rain at the end of the month of June, or in July; and now, at Aleppo, a little more northerly, for three or four months after May, they have scarce so much as any dew upon the ground, as Pemble on the place observes. So Dr. Shaw says (i), little or no rain falls in this climate (of Algiers and Tunis), during the summer season; and in most parts of the Sahara, particularly in the Jereede, they have seldom any rain at all. It was likewise the same in the holy land, Pro 26:1 where rain is accounted an unusual thing in "harvest", Sa2 21:10 where it is also mentioned, "from harvest till rain dropped on them"; i.e. their rainy season fell out, as in Barbary, in the autumnal and winter months. "The first rains (he observes) fall here some years in September, in others a month later; after which the Arabs break up their ground, in order to sow wheat, and plant beans: this commonly falls out about the middle of October.'' If the latter rains fall as usual in the middle of April, (in the holy land we find they were a month sooner, Joe 2:23.) the crop is reckoned secure; the harvest coming on in the latter end of May, or in the beginning of June, according to the heat and quality of the preceding seasons: wherefore, since there was so little rain fell in these countries, and particularly in Judea; if these form…
Open source ↗"Ask ye of Jehovah rain in the time of the latter rain; Jehovah createth lightnings, and showers of rain will He give them, to every one vegetation in the field. Zac 10:2. For the teraphim have spoken vanity, and the soothsayers have seen a lie, and speak dreams of deceit; they comfort in vain: for this they have wandered like a flock, they are oppressed because there is no shepherd." The summons to prayer is not a mere turn of the address expressing the readiness of God to give (Hengstenberg), but is seriously meant, as the reason assigned in Zac 10:2 clearly shows. The church of the Lord is to ask of God the blessings which it needs for its prosperity, and not to put its trust in idols, as rebellious Israel has done (Hos 2:7). The prayer for rain, on which the successful cultivation of the fruits of the ground depends, simply serves to individualize the prayer for the bestowal of the blessings of God, in order to sustain both temporal and spiritual life; just as in Zac 9:17 the fruitfulness of the land and the flourishing of the nation are simply a concrete expression, for the whole complex of the salvation which the Lord will grant to His people (Kliefoth). This view, which answers to the rhetorical character of the exhortation, is very different from allegory. The time of the latter rain is mentioned, because this was indispensable to the ripening of the corn, whereas elsewhere the early and latter rain are connected together (e.g., Joe 2:23; Deu 11:13-15). The lightnings are introduced as the harbingers of rain (cf. Jer 10:13; Psa 135:7). Metar geshem, rain of the rain-pouring, i.e., copious rain (compare Job 37:6, where the words are transposed). With lâkem (to them) the address passes into the third person: to them, i.e., to every one who asks. עשׂב is not to be…
Open source ↗Gracious things and glorious ones, very glorious and very gracious, were promised to this poor afflicted people in the foregoing chapter; now here God intimates to them that he will for these things be enquired of by them, and that he expects they should acknowledge him in all their ways and in all his ways towards them - and not idols that were rivals with him for their respects. I. The prophet directs them to apply to God by prayer for rain in the season thereof. He had promised, in the close of the foregoing chapter, that there should be great plenty of corn and wine, whereas for several years, by reason of unseasonable weather, there had been great scarcity of both; but the earth will not yield its fruits unless the heavens water it, and therefore they must look up to God for the dew of heaven, in order to the fatness and fruitfulness of the earth (Zac 10:1): "Ask you of the Lord rain. Do not pray to the clouds, nor to the stars, for rain, but to the Lord; for he it is that hears the heavens, when they hear the earth," Hos 2:21. Seasonable rain is a great mercy, which we must ask of God, rain in the time of the latter rain, when there is most need of it. The former rain fell at the seed-time, in autumn, the latter fell in the spring, between March and May, which brought the corn to an ear and filled it. If either of these rains failed, it was very bad with that land; for from the end of May to September they never had any rain at all. Jerome, who lived in Judea, says that he never saw any rain there in June or July. They are directed to ask for it in the time when it used to come. Note, We must, in our prayers, dutifully attend the course of Providence; we must ask for mercies in their proper time, and not expect that God should go out of his usual way and method fo…
Open source ↗10:1–11:3 God will strengthen his people by his power and restore them because of his compassion (10:6, 12). With its references to shepherds (10:2-3; 11:3), the passage prepares for the following allegory of the good and evil shepherds (11:4-17). 10:1-3 This is a rebuke of false shepherds, human leaders who do not have their people’s good at heart. 10:1 Rain was a sign of divine blessing (see Joel 2:23)—the Lord was the source of the rain, but Israel’s leaders had led the people to trust in false gods instead.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
שָׁאַל (shâʼal, H7592) — to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מָטַר (mâṭar, H4306) — rain עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. מַלְקוֹשׁ (malqôwsh, H4456) — the spring rain; figuratively, eloquence עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חֲזִיז (chăzîyz, H2385) — a flash of lightning נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) גֶּשֶׁם (geshem, H1653) — a shower אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… עֶשֶׂב (ʻeseb, H6212) — grass (or any tender shoot) שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat)
Open source ↗תְּרָפִים (tᵉrâphîym, H8655) — Teraphim (singular or plural) a family idol דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… אָוֶן (ʼâven, H205) — strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idol קָסַם (qâçam, H7080) — properly, to distribute, i.e. determine by lot or magical scroll; by implication, to… חָזָה (châzâh, H2372) — to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate (with pleasure); specifically, to have… שֶׁקֶר (sheqer, H8267) — an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial) שָׁוְא (shâvᵉʼ, H7723) — evil (as destructive), literally (ruin) or morally (especially guile); figuratively… חֲלוֹם (chălôwm, H2472) — a dream נָחַם (nâcham, H5162) — properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a… הֶבֶל (hebel, H1892) — emptiness or vanity; figuratively, something transitory and unsatisfactory; often used as… נָסַע (nâçaʻ, H5265) — properly, to pull up, especially the tent-pins, i.e. start on ajourney צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6031) — to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various… רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);…
Open source ↗אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… חָרָה (chârâh, H2734) — to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… עַתּוּד (ʻattûwd, H6260) — prepared, i.e. full grown; spoken only (in plural) of he-goats, or (figuratively) leaders… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… עֵדֶר (ʻêder, H5739) — an arrangement, i.e. muster (of animals) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… הוֹד (hôwd, H1935) — grandeur (i.e. an imposing form and appearance) סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare)
Open source ↗יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… פִּנָּה (pinnâh, H6438) — an angle; by implication, a pinnacle; figuratively, a chieftain יָתֵד (yâthêd, H3489) — a peg מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) קֶשֶׁת (qesheth, H7198) — a bow, forshooting (hence, figuratively, strength) or the iris נָגַשׂ (nâgas, H5065) — to drive (an animal, a workman, a debtor, an army); by implication, to tax, harass,… יַחַד (yachad, H3162) — properly, a unit, i.e. (adverb) unitedly
Open source ↗גִּבּוֹר (gibbôwr, H1368) — powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant בּוּס (bûwç, H947) — to trample (literally or figuratively) טִיט (ṭîyṭ, H2916) — mud or clay; figuratively, calamity חוּץ (chûwts, H2351) — properly, separate by awall, i.e. outside, outdoors מִלְחָמָה (milchâmâh, H4421) — a battle (i.e. the engagement); generally, war (i.e. warfare) לָחַם (lâcham, H3898) — to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God רָכַב (râkab, H7392) — to ride (on an animal or in a vehicle); causatively, to place upon (for riding or… סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) יָבֵשׁ (yâbêsh, H3001) — to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither…
Open source ↗גָּבַר (gâbar, H1396) — to be strong; by implication, to prevail, act insolently בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… יָשַׁע (yâshaʻ, H3467) — properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to… יוֹסֵף (Yôwçêph, H3130) — Joseph, the name of seven Israelites יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… רָחַם (râcham, H7355) — to fondle; by implication, to love, especially to compassionate אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) — who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because,… זָנַח (zânach, H2186) — reject, forsake, fail יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;…
Open source ↗אֶפְרַיִם (ʼEphrayim, H669) — Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory גִּבּוֹר (gibbôwr, H1368) — powerful; by implication, warrior, tyrant לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… שָׂמַח (sâmach, H8055) — probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome יַיִן (yayin, H3196) — wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… גִּיל (gîyl, H1523) — properly, to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion), i.e. usually… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗שָׁרַק (shâraq, H8319) — properly, to be shrill, i.e. to whistle or hiss (as a call or in scorn) קָבַץ (qâbats, H6908) — to grasp, i.e. collect פָּדָה (pâdâh, H6299) — to sever, i.e. ransom; gener. to release, preserve רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — to increase (in whatever respect)
Open source ↗זָרַע (zâraʻ, H2232) — to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… מֶרְחָק (merchâq, H4801) — remoteness, i.e. (concretely) a distant place; often (adverbially) from afar חָיָה (châyâh, H2421) — to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not…
Open source ↗שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt קָבַץ (qâbats, H6908) — to grasp, i.e. collect אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) גִּלְעָד (Gilʻâd, H1568) — Gilad, a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites לְבָנוֹן (Lᵉbânôwn, H3844) — Lebanon, a mountain range in Palestine מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or…
Open source ↗עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… צָרָה (tsârâh, H6869) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival: נָכָה (nâkâh, H5221) — to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively) גַּל (gal, H1530) — something rolled, i.e. a heap of stone or dung (plural ruins), by analogy, a spring of… מְצוֹלָה (mᵉtsôwlâh, H4688) — a deep place (of water or mud) יְאֹר (yᵉʼôr, H2975) — a channel, e.g. a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the Nile, as the one river of Egypt,… יָבֵשׁ (yâbêsh, H3001) — to be ashamed, confused or disappointed; also (as failing) to dry up (as water) or wither… גָּאוֹן (gâʼôwn, H1347) — {arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament} אַשּׁוּר (ʼAshshûwr, H804) — Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them… יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… שֵׁבֶט (shêbeṭ, H7626) — a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking,… מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative)
Open source ↗גָּבַר (gâbar, H1396) — to be strong; by implication, to prevail, act insolently יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
You attend to the earth and water it; with abundance You enrich it. The streams of God are full of water, for You prepare our grain by providing for the earth.
In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
The sky over your head will be bronze, and the earth beneath you iron.
Then He will send rain for the seed that you have sown in the ground, and the food that comes from your land will be rich and plentiful. On that day your cattle will graze in open pastures.
This is what the Lord GOD says: Once again I will hear the plea of the house of Israel and do for them this: I will multiply their people like a flock.
Then the remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind.
Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.
“I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered.