Zechariah 7:9
“Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God names what He truly requires: true justice, and mercy and compassion shown to one's neighbor.
What Does Zechariah 7:9 Mean?
Here is the answer to the fasting question, stated as a positive command. The LORD of hosts asks not for more ceremony but for true judgment in the courts and tender mercy between neighbors, every man to his brother.
This is the worship God prizes: righteousness that protects the vulnerable and kindness that reflects His own heart. The prophets, and later the Lord Jesus, repeatedly press this point, that justice, mercy, and faithfulness outweigh outward observance. To show compassion to a brother is to imitate the God who shows compassion to us.
In the Original Language
hesed (חֶסֶד), 'mercy' -- steadfast, loyal covenant love that acts for another's good.