The Church Fathers on this verse

Zechariah 7:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And they made their heart as the adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts sent in his spirit by the hand of the former prophets: so a great indignation came from Lord of hosts.

Douay-Rheims

וְלִבָּ֞ם שָׂ֣מוּ שָׁמִ֗יר מִ֠שְּׁמוֹעַ אֶת־הַתּוֹרָ֤ה וְאֶת־הַדְּבָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר שָׁלַ֜ח יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ בְּרוּח֔וֹ בְּיַ֖ד הַנְּבִיאִ֣ים הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֑ים וַֽיְהִי֙ קֶ֣צֶף גָּד֔וֹל מֵאֵ֖ת יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

3 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Cyrill of Alexandria

5th centuryChurch Father

Through these statements, it is affirmed that they continually brought upon themselves the ultimate Judge. Instead of heeding the messages delivered by the holy prophets, they should have passionately embraced the will of the Lawgiver, choosing lives marked by honor and righteousness while walking blamelessly. Instead, they became harsh, disregarded the Teacher, and possessed a resistant and unfeeling heart. They remained persistently scornful of divine instruction, reviling the messengers who faithfully fulfilled prophetic duties through the Holy Spirit. Their hearts grew so dull and reckless that they obstinately refused to repent until the foretold events came to pass, leading them to endure the repercussions of divine wrath.

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When God declares: “And I will cast out into every tongue, and the land shall be desolate from him that passeth through, and from him that returneth,” it is clear this speaks to a prophetic insight foretelling their exile. They were indeed exiled to the Persians and Medes, having suffered captivity, and their land lay in ruins, devoid of travelers or returnees. Some perished in war, while others were weighed down by the burden of servitude. Thus, we discern that both this instance and others serve as a prophetic warning. The detrimental effects of disobedience to divine instruction are evident to all, as illustrated by the fate of those in ancient times; it requires no extensive argument to highlight this truth, as anyone who has tasted the fruits of obedience can plainly see.

Ephraem the Syrian

4th centuryChurch Father

In the fourth summer during the reign of King Darius, the Lord's word came to Zechariah in the fourth month of the ninth, known as Conun, or Hasleb. The Jews who remained in Babylon instituted specific fasts for themselves. One was in the fifth month, Tammuz, to remember the destruction of the temple, and another in the seventh month to commemorate the assassination of Gedaliah, whom the Babylonians appointed as governor over those left in Judah. They dispatched emissaries to Jerusalem, seeking guidance from the prophets and priests on whether to continue these fasts, as they felt it inappropriate to grieve in Babylon while their fellow Jews celebrated in Judah.

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The Lord responded through the prophet, instructing the ambassadors to inform their people that they were mistaken in believing their captivity was solely due to their observance of unauthorized rituals. He admonished them, clarifying that the true cause of their exile was their disregard for His commandments and laws. This is reflected in His words: "If ye fast or mourn in the fifth month, as ye say, for seventy years, shall ye fast unto Me?" (Zechariah 7:5). He did not command such fasting, nor did He instruct through the prophets before and after their exile about such practices. Rather, He spoke of administering just judgments and urged their ancestors to "Judge righteous judgment, and do mercy and bounty to everyone to his brother" (Zechariah 7:9). Because they failed to practice these principles, His anger led Him to remove them from their land. He called out to them before the exile, yet they did not listen; now, amidst their captivity, they cry out to Him, but He does not respond. As it is stated, "They have given their shoulders to despise, and they have weighed down their ears, that they should not hear, and they have made their heart like adamantine" (Zechariah 7:11-12).

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

"Render fair judgments and extend mercy and generosity to every individual, particularly to their neighbors. However, do not allow the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, the homeless, and those in distress to be mistreated; let the hostility that one harbors against his brother not be kept in the heart." The Almighty has declared to your ancestors that those who preside over judgments must uphold just and equitable decisions, respond with compassion to their neighbors, and refuse to oppress those burdened by the heavy weight of widowhood, nor should they misuse their authority against those who grieve for their lost parents. Moreover, they should scorn vengeance and not retaliate against those who have wronged others.

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This was the message I imparted to them, yet they chose not to follow it. Instead, they "gave preference to the scornful." They subjected themselves to suffering, growing numb to their plight, for the Prophet referred to this insensitivity as 'plashes despising,' drawing upon imagery of slaves who endure lashings without reforming their ways. "They hardened their ears so as not to hear," and "they made their hearts obstinate to defy my law, and my words, which the Lord Almighty conveyed through His Spirit via the hands of the ancient prophets;" and in doing so, they reaped the consequences of their rebellion. For "there was great anger from the Lord Almighty." "And it shall come to pass, as He speaks, and they shall not listen: this they shall cry out, yet they will be unable to hear," declares the Lord Almighty. In this expression, the narrative shifts; past events are prophesied as future occurrences, stating, "they shall cry" instead of 'they cried,' and "I will not hear" instead of 'I did not hear.'

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.