Zechariah 8:19 Meaning and Explanation
“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →God promises to turn the four fasts that mourned Jerusalem's fall into joyful feasts, calling His people to love truth and peace.
What Does Zechariah 8:19 Mean?
The people had kept four annual fasts marking stages of the city's destruction and exile. God now declares that these days of mourning will become times of joy and gladness, cheerful feasts. The sorrow attached to them will be swallowed up in celebration of His restoring work. He adds the fitting charge: love the truth and peace.
God's great work is to turn mourning into rejoicing, and these transformed fasts are a small picture of that larger redemption. What was kept in grief becomes a feast of gratitude. The proper response to such mercy is a life that loves what God loves, truth and peace. The Lord who exchanges sorrow for joy calls His people to carry that same spirit of integrity and reconciliation into all their days.
Zechariah 8:19 in the Original Language
shalom (שָׁלוֹם), 'peace' -- wholeness and well-being, not merely the absence of conflict.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 8:19
What does Zechariah 8:19 mean?
God promises to turn the four fasts that mourned Jerusalem's fall into joyful feasts, calling His people to love truth and peace.