Zechariah 1:16 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God promises to return to Jerusalem with mercy, to see His house rebuilt, and the city restored.
What Does Zechariah 1:16 Mean?
Now comes the heart of the comfort: 'I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies.' God pledges that His house, the temple, will be built and that a measuring line will be stretched over the city, the surveyor's sign that rebuilding will surely proceed. The very work the discouraged people had nearly abandoned is guaranteed by God's own word.
When God returns, He returns with mercy, not merely with power. The measuring line is a promise of restoration laid out in advance, an architect's plan for grace. For people staring at ruins, this is everything: the future is already measured and decreed by the LORD of hosts. What He purposes to rebuild, no opposition can finally prevent, and His presence, not just His blessing, comes home to dwell among them.
Zechariah 1:16 in the Original Language
qav (קָו), 'line' -- a measuring cord, here the surveyor's mark that rebuilding will go forward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 1:16
What does Zechariah 1:16 mean?
God promises to return to Jerusalem with mercy, to see His house rebuilt, and the city restored.