Zechariah 1:4

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: 'This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.' But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the Lord.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אַל־תִּהְי֣וּ כַאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֡ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר קָרְאֽוּ־אֲלֵיהֶם֩ הַנְּבִיאִ֨ים הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֜ים לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת שׁ֤וּבוּ נָא֙ מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֣ם הָרָעִ֔ים וּמַֽעֲלְלֵיכֶ֖ם הָֽרָעִ֑ים וְלֹ֥א שָׁמְע֛וּ וְלֹֽא־הִקְשִׁ֥יבוּ אֵלַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה

Transliteration

Not-tihᵉyû like-ʾăḇōtêḵem who qārᵉʾû-to-them the nᵉḇîʾîm the rīʾšōnîm lēʾmōr, 'Thus ʾāmar YHWH ṣᵉḇāʾôt, 'šûḇû nāʾ from-darḵêḵem the hārāʿîm and-from-maʿalᵉlêḵem the hārāʿîm'; and-not šāmᵉʿû and-not-hiqšîḇû to-me nᵉʾum-YHWH

Grammar Details

• *tihᵉyû*: verb qal imperfect 2nd masculine plural with negative particle *ʾal* - do not be
• *ʾăḇōtêḵem*: noun masculine plural construct with 2nd person masculine plural suffix with comparative preposition *kᵉ* - like your fathers
• *qārᵉʾû*: verb qal perfect 3rd common plural - called/cried out
• *nᵉḇîʾîm*: noun masculine plural with definite article - the prophets
• *rīʾšōnîm*: adjective masculine plural with definite article - the former/first
• *lēʾmōr*: preposition with qal infinitive construct - saying
• *ʾāmar*: verb qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - said/says
• *YHWH*: proper noun - the LORD/Yahweh
• *ṣᵉḇāʾôt*: noun feminine plural construct - of hosts/armies
• *šûḇû*: verb qal imperative masculine plural - return/turn
• *nāʾ*: particle of entreaty - now/please
• *darḵêḵem*: noun feminine plural construct with 2nd person masculine plural suffix with preposition *min* - from your ways
• *hārāʿîm*: adjective masculine plural with definite article - the evil/bad
• *maʿalᵉlêḵem*: noun masculine plural construct with 2nd person masculine plural suffix with conjunction *wᵉ* and preposition *min* - and from your deeds/practices
• *šāmᵉʿû*: verb qal perfect 3rd common plural with negative particle *lōʾ* - they did not hear/listen
• *hiqšîḇû*: verb hiphil perfect 3rd common plural with negative particle *lōʾ* - they did not pay attention/heed
• *nᵉʾum*: noun masculine singular construct - declaration of

Word Meanings

• *šûḇû*: return/turn/repent
• *nāʾ*: please/now (particle of entreaty)
• *hārāʿîm*: evil/wicked/harmful
• *maʿalᵉlêḵem*: deeds/practices/actions
• *šāmᵉʿû*: hear/listen/obey
• *hiqšîḇû*: pay attention/heed/listen attentively
• *nᵉʾum*: declaration/oracle/utterance

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts: Turn now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds. But they did not hear nor listen to Me, says the LORD.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Be ye not as your fathers,{H1} unto whom the former{H7223} prophets{H5030} cried,{H7121} saying,{H559} Thus saith{H559} Jehovah{H3068} of hosts,{H6635} Return{H7725} ye now from your evil{H7451} ways,{H1870} and from your evil{H7451} doings:{H4611} but they did not hear,{H8085} nor hearken{H7181} unto me, saith{H5002} Jehovah.{H3068}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Be ye not as your fathers{H1}, unto whom the former{H7223} prophets{H5030} have cried{H7121}{(H8804)}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} of hosts{H6635}; Turn{H7725}{(H8798)} ye now from your evil{H7451} ways{H1870}, and from your evil{H7451} doings{H4611}: but they did not hear{H8085}{(H8804)}, nor hearken{H7181}{(H8689)} unto me, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Be not ye like youre forefathers, vnto whom the prophetes cried a fore tyme, sayege: Thus saieth the LORDE God of hoostes: Turne you from youre euell wayes, & from youre wicked ymaginacions. But they wolde not heare, ner regarde me, saieth the LORDE.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Be ye not as your fathers, vnto whome the former prophets haue cried, saying, Thus sayth the Lord of hostes, Turne you nowe from your euill wayes, and from your wicked workes: but they would not heare, nor hearken vnto me, saith the Lorde.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Be ye not like your forefathers, vnto whom prophetes cryed, saying, thus sayth the Lorde of hoastes, Turne you from your euyl wayes, and from your wicked imaginations: But they woulde not heare nor regarde me, sayth the Lorde.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and [from] your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Don't you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Thus says Yahweh of hosts, 'Return now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings;' but they did not hear, nor listen to me, says Yahweh.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Ye shall not be as your fathers, To whom the former prophets called, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, Turn back I pray you, From your evil ways and from your evil doings, And they did not hearken, Nor attend to Me -- an affirmation of Jehovah.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets cried, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Return ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith Jehovah.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets cried, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Return ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith Jehovah.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  Be not like your fathers, to whom the voice of the earlier prophets came, saying, Be turned now from your evil ways and from your evil doings: but they did not give ear to me or take note, says the Lord.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Don't you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Thus says Yahweh of Armies, 'Return now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings;' but they did not hear, nor listen to me, says Yahweh.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  “Do not be like your ancestors, to whom the former prophets called out, saying,‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has said,“Turn now from your evil wickedness,”’ but they would by no means obey me,” says the LORD.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 78:8 : 8 They would not be like their ancestors—a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal, whose spirits were not faithful to God.
• Ps 106:6-7 : 6 We have sinned, just as our ancestors did; we have committed iniquity and acted wickedly. 7 Our ancestors in Egypt did not consider Your miracles; they did not remember the abundance of Your lovingkindness but rebelled at the sea, the Red Sea.
• Isa 1:16-19 : 16 Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean. Remove your evil deeds from My sight; stop doing evil. 17 Learn to do what is good; seek justice, correct the oppressor. Defend the cause of the fatherless and plead the case of the widow. 18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land.
• 2 Chr 36:15-16 : 15 The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them repeatedly through His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and His dwelling place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against His people beyond remedy.
• Jer 35:15 : 15 I sent all My servants the prophets to you persistently, saying: 'Turn now, each one of you, from your evil ways and correct your deeds. Do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you shall dwell in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.' But you did not incline your ear or listen to Me.
• Zech 1:3 : 3 Therefore, say to them: 'This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Return to me,' declares the Lord of Hosts, 'and I will return to you,' says the Lord of Hosts.
• Ezek 33:11 : 11 Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from their ways and live. Turn back! Turn back from your evil ways! Why should you die, house of Israel?'
• Hos 14:1 : 1 Samaria will be found guilty, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their infants will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.
• Amos 5:13-15 : 13 Therefore, the prudent person will keep silent in such a time, for it is an evil time. 14 Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and so the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. 15 Hate evil and love good; establish justice at the gate. Perhaps the Lord, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
• Amos 5:24 : 24 But let justice flow like a river, and righteousness like a never-ending stream.
• Mic 2:6 : 6 'Do not preach,' they preach. 'Do not preach about such things; disgrace will not overtake us.'
• Zech 7:11-13 : 11 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder. They stopped their ears so they would not hear. 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint, refusing to hear the law and the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore, great wrath came from the LORD of Hosts. 13 'Just as I called, and they did not listen, so when they call, I will not listen,' says the LORD of Hosts.
• Matt 3:8-9 : 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 10 Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
• Acts 3:19 : 19 Repent, therefore, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away.
• Acts 7:51-52 : 51 You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did. 52 Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have betrayed and murdered him—
• Acts 26:20 : 20 Instead, I preached first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and then to all the region of Judea and to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.
• 1 Thess 2:15-16 : 15 They killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and they drove us out. They do not please God and are hostile to everyone. 16 They forbid us to speak to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way, they constantly fill up the measure of their sins. But the wrath of God has come upon them fully.
• 1 Pet 1:18 : 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life, inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold,
• Jer 36:2-9 : 2 Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the days of Josiah until today. 3 Perhaps the house of Judah will hear about all the disaster I intend to bring upon them, so that each one may turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin. 4 So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote on the scroll from Jeremiah’s dictation all the words that the LORD had spoken to him. 5 Jeremiah then commanded Baruch, saying, "I am detained; I cannot go to the house of the LORD. 6 But you, go and read aloud from the scroll, which you have written at my dictation, the words of the LORD in the hearing of the people in the house of the LORD on a day of fasting. Also read them in the hearing of all Judah, who come from their cities. 7 Perhaps they will bring their plea before the LORD, and each one will turn from his wicked way, for great are the anger and wrath that the LORD has pronounced against this people. 8 Baruch son of Neriah did everything Jeremiah the prophet commanded him. He read from the scroll the words of the LORD in the house of the LORD. 9 In the fifth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, a fast was proclaimed before the LORD for all the people in Jerusalem and those who had come from the towns of Judah. 10 Then Baruch read from the scroll the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper court at the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD’s house, in the hearing of all the people.
• Jer 36:23-24 : 23 As Jehudi read three or four columns of the scroll, the king would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the fire in the firepot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire. 24 Neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words were afraid or tore their garments in sorrow.
• Jer 44:4-5 : 4 I sent you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying: 'Do not do this detestable thing that I hate.' 5 But they did not listen or incline their ears to turn from their wickedness and to stop burning incense to other gods.
• Jer 44:16 : 16 The word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you.
• Ezek 3:7-9 : 7 But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me. The entire house of Israel is hard-headed and stubborn-hearted. 8 Look, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as strong as their foreheads. 9 I have made your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not fear them or be dismayed by their faces, even though they are a rebellious house.
• Ezek 18:14-17 : 14 Now suppose this person has a son who sees all the sins his father has committed. Though he sees them, he does not do such things: 15 He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift his eyes to the idols of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife. 16 He does not oppress anyone, or require a pledge for a loan, or commit robbery. He gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing. 17 He refrains from harming the poor, does not lend at interest or take a profit, and obeys my rules and walkthroughs my statutes. Such a person will not die for his father's sins; he will surely live.
• Ezek 18:30-32 : 30 Therefore, house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
• Ezra 9:7 : 7 'From the days of our ancestors until now, we have been steeped in great guilt. Because of our sins, we, our kings and priests, have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, captivity, plunder, and humiliation, as it is today.'
• Neh 9:16 : 16 But they, our ancestors, acted arrogantly. They stiffened their necks and did not obey Your commandments.
• Neh 9:26 : 26 But they were disobedient and rebelled against You. They cast Your law behind their backs and killed Your prophets who warned them to turn back to You. They committed terrible blasphemies.
• Neh 9:30 : 30 For many years, You were patient with them. You warned them by Your Spirit through Your prophets, yet they would not listen. So You gave them into the hands of the peoples of the lands.
• 2 Chr 24:19-22 : 19 The Lord sent prophets among them to bring them back to Him, but though the prophets testified against them, they refused to listen. 20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest. Standing above the people, he said to them, 'This is what God says: Why do you disobey the Lord's commands and bring about your own failure? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has also forsaken you.' 21 But they conspired against him, and at the king's command, they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the house of the Lord. 22 King Joash did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him but killed his son. As Zechariah was dying, he said, 'May the Lord see this and call you to account.'
• 2 Chr 29:6-9 : 6 For our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned Him, turned their backs on His dwelling place, and walked away. 7 They also shut the doors of the vestibule, extinguished the lamps, and did not burn incense or offer burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore, the wrath of the LORD fell upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He made them an object of horror, devastation, and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. 9 This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons, daughters, and wives are in captivity today. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that His fierce anger may turn away from us.
• 2 Chr 30:7 : 7 Do not be like your ancestors and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the LORD, the God of their ancestors, so that He made them an object of horror, as you can see.
• 2 Chr 34:21 : 21 "Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah about the words of this scroll that has been found. For great is the LORD's wrath that is poured out on us because our ancestors did not obey the words of the LORD by following everything written in this scroll."
• Isa 30:9-9 : 9 These are a rebellious people, deceitful children, unwilling to listen to the LORD's instruction. 10 They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.' 11 'Leave the way, turn aside from the path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!'
• Isa 31:6 : 6 Return to the One you have so deeply rebelled against, O sons of Israel.
• Jer 3:12 : 12 Go, proclaim these words toward the north: 'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD. 'I will not look on you with anger, for I am faithful,' declares the LORD, 'and I will not be angry forever.
• Jer 6:16-17 : 16 This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' 17 I appointed watchmen over you and said, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.'
• Jer 7:3-7 : 3 This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.' 4 Do not trust deceitful words, saying: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’ 5 For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice between a person and their neighbor, 6 if you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or follow other gods, bringing harm upon yourselves, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your ancestors forever and ever.
• Jer 11:6-8 : 6 The LORD said to me, ‘Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Listen to the words of this covenant and do them.’ 7 For I earnestly warned your ancestors on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt until this very day, persistently saying: Listen to my voice. 8 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear; instead, each one followed the stubbornness of their own evil heart. So I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to obey but they did not.
• Jer 13:9-9 : 9 "This is what the LORD says: 'In this way I will ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 These evil people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts, and who follow other gods to serve and worship them, will become like this waistband—useless for anything.
• Jer 13:16-18 : 16 Give glory to the LORD your God before He brings darkness, and before your feet stumble on the darkening mountains. You hope for light, but He will turn it to gloom and thick darkness. 17 But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will weep bitterly and overflow with tears, for the LORD’s flock has been taken captive. 18 Say to the king and the queen mother, ‘Come down from your thrones, for your glorious crowns have fallen from your heads.’
• Jer 17:19-23 : 19 This is what the LORD said to me: 'Go and stand at the gate of the people through which the kings of Judah come in and go out, and also at all the gates of Jerusalem.' 20 Say to them, 'Listen to the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem who enter through these gates.' 21 This is what the LORD says: 'Be careful not to carry any load on the Sabbath day, or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem.' 22 Do not bring any load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors. 23 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear. They stiffened their necks and would not listen or take correction.
• Jer 18:11 : 11 And now, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, each one from his evil way, and reform your ways and deeds.’
• Jer 25:3-7 : 3 From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, until this very day—these twenty-three years—the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you repeatedly, but you have not listened. 4 The LORD has sent all His servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or inclined your ears to hear. 5 They said, 'Turn now, each of you, from your evil way and from your evil actions. Dwell in the land that the LORD gave to you and your ancestors forever and ever. 6 Do not follow other gods to serve them or worship them. Do not provoke me to anger with the works of your hands; then I will not bring disaster upon you.' 7 But you have not listened to me, declares the LORD, and you have provoked me to anger with the works of your hands, to your own harm.
• Jer 26:5 : 5 ...and listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have persistently sent to you (though you have not listened),