Zechariah 3:7

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among those standing here.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כֹּה־אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֗וֹת אִם־בִּדְרָכַ֤י תֵּלֵךְ֙ וְאִ֣ם אֶת־מִשְׁמַרְתִּ֣י תִשְׁמֹ֔ר וְגַם־אַתָּה֙ תָּדִ֣ין אֶת־בֵּיתִ֔י וְגַ֖ם תִּשְׁמֹ֣ר אֶת־חֲצֵרָ֑י וְנָתַתִּ֤י לְךָ֙ מַהְלְכִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָעֹמְדִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

Transliteration

Thus kōh-ʾāmar YHWH ṣəḇāʾôt, If in my dərāḵay you tēlēḵ and if ʾet-my mišmartî you tišmōr, and also you tādîn ʾet-my bêtî, and also tišmōr ʾet-my ḥăṣērāy; and I will nātattî to you mahləḵîm between the ʿōmdîm the ʾēlleh.

Grammar Details

• *kōh*: Adverb - thus/so
• *ʾāmar*: Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - said
• *YHWH*: Divine name, tetragrammaton
• *ṣəḇāʾôt*: Noun, feminine plural construct - of hosts/armies
• *dərāḵay*: Noun, feminine plural construct with 1st person singular suffix - my ways
• *tēlēḵ*: Qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine singular - you will walk
• *mišmartî*: Noun, feminine singular construct with 1st person singular suffix - my charge/duty
• *tišmōr*: Qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine singular - you will keep
• *tādîn*: Qal imperfect, 2nd person masculine singular - you will judge
• *bêtî*: Noun, masculine singular construct with 1st person singular suffix - my house
• *ḥăṣērāy*: Noun, feminine plural construct with 1st person singular suffix - my courts
• *nātattî*: Qal perfect, 1st person singular - I will give
• *mahləḵîm*: Noun, masculine plural - places to walk/access
• *ʿōmdîm*: Qal active participle, masculine plural with definite article - the ones standing
• *ʾēlleh*: Demonstrative pronoun, plural with definite article - these

Word Meanings

• *dərāḵay*: my ways/my paths/my manner
• *tēlēḵ*: walk/go/follow
• *mišmartî*: my charge/my duty/my service/my ordinance
• *tišmōr*: keep/guard/observe
• *tādîn*: judge/govern/rule
• *bêtî*: my house/my temple/my household
• *ḥăṣērāy*: my courts/my courtyards
• *mahləḵîm*: places to walk/access/movement/right of entry
• *ʿōmdîm*: ones standing/attendants/those present

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Thus says the LORD of hosts; If you will walk in my ways, and if you will keep my charge, then you shall also judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place to walk among these who stand by.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thus says{H559} Jehovah{H3068} of hosts:{H6635} If you will walk{H3212} in my ways,{H1870} and if you will keep{H8104} my charge,{H4931} then you also shall judge{H1777} my house,{H1004} and shall also keep{H8104} my courts,{H2691} and I will give{H5414} you a place of access{H4108} among these that stand by.{H5975}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} of hosts{H6635}; If thou wilt walk{H3212}{(H8799)} in my ways{H1870}, and if thou wilt keep{H8104}{(H8799)} my charge{H4931}, then thou shalt also judge{H1777}{(H8799)} my house{H1004}, and shalt also keep{H8104}{(H8799)} my courts{H2691}, and I will give{H5414}{(H8804)} thee places to walk{H4108}{(H8688)} among these that stand by{H5975}{(H8802)}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  thus sayeth the LORDE of hoostes: Yf thou wilt walke in my wayes, & kepe my watch: thou shalt rule my house, & kepe my courtes, & I wil geue the place amoge these that stonde here.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Thus saith the Lord of hostes, If thou wilt walke in my wayes, and keepe my watch, thou shalt also iudge mine House, and shalt also keepe my courtes, and I will giue thee place among these that stand by.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes: If thou wylt walke in my wayes, & keepe my watch, thou shalt iudge my house, & kepe my courtes, and I wyll geue thee place among these that stande here.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  "Thus says Yahweh of hosts: 'If you will walk in my ways, and if you will keep my charge, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  `Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: If in My ways thou dost walk, And if My charge thou dost keep, Then also thou dost judge My house, And also thou dost keep My courts, And I have given to thee conductors among these standing by.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou also shalt judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee a place of access among these that stand by.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou also shalt judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee a place of access among these that stand by.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  These are the words of the Lord of armies: If you will go in my ways and keep what I have put in your care, then you will be judge over my Temple and have the care of my house, and I will give you the right to come in among those who are there.

• World English Bible (2000)

  "Thus says Yahweh of Armies: 'If you will walk in my ways, and if you will follow my instructions, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  “The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says,‘If you follow my ways and keep my requirements, you will be able to preside over my temple and attend to my courtyards, and I will allow you to come and go among these others who are standing by you.

Referenced Verses

• Gen 26:5 : 5 This is because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My instructions.
• Lev 8:35 : 35 You must remain at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days and keep the Lord's charge so that you will not die, for this is what I was commanded.
• Ezek 44:15-16 : 15 But the Levitical priests, the descendants of Zadok who faithfully preserved the charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, shall come near Me to serve Me. They shall stand in My presence to offer fat and blood, declares the Lord GOD. 16 They alone shall enter My sanctuary, and they shall approach My table to serve Me. They will keep My charge.
• Heb 12:22-23 : 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the assembly of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
• Rev 3:4-5 : 4 Yet you have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed in white garments, and I will never blot out their name from the book of life. I will confess their name before my Father and before His angels.
• Rev 3:21 : 21 The one who conquers I will grant to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on His throne.
• Rev 5:9-9 : 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were slain, and with your blood, you purchased for God people from every tribe, language, people, and nation." 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth. 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. Their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. 12 In a loud voice they said: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, and wealth, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea, and everything in them, saying, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing, honor, glory, and power forever and ever!" 14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the one who lives forever and ever.
• Ezek 48:11 : 11 It shall be for the consecrated priests of the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary and did not go astray when the Israelites and the Levites did.
• Zech 1:8-9 : 8 I saw during the night, and behold, a man was riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. 9 Then I asked, 'What are these, my lord?' The angel who was speaking with me answered, 'I will show you what they are.' 10 And the man standing among the myrtle trees said, 'These are the ones the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.' 11 And they reported to the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, saying, 'We have gone throughout the earth, and behold, the whole earth is at rest and quiet.'
• Zech 4:14 : 14 He said, 'These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of all the earth.'
• Zech 6:5 : 5 The angel answered me, 'These are the four winds of heaven, going out after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.'
• Mal 2:5-7 : 5 My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth, and nothing false was found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from sin. 7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.
• Matt 19:28 : 28 Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
• Luke 20:35-36 : 35 But those who are considered worthy to take part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. 36 In fact, they can no longer die, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.
• Luke 22:30 : 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
• John 14:2 : 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
• 1 Cor 6:2-3 : 2 Don't you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to decide trivial matters? 3 Don't you know that we will judge angels? How much more the matters of this life!
• 1 Tim 6:13-14 : 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, I charge you. 14 Keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2 Tim 4:1-2 : 1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.
• Lev 10:3 : 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, 'This is what the LORD has said: I will be shown as holy to those who draw near me, and I will be honored in the sight of all the people.' And Aaron remained silent.
• Deut 17:8-9 : 8 If a case arises that is too difficult for you to judge—whether bloodshed, lawsuits, or assaults—matters of dispute in your towns, you are to go up to the place the LORD your God will choose. 9 Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them, and they will give you the verdict. 10 You must act according to the decision they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you. 11 Follow exactly the law they teach you and the judgment they declare to you. Do not turn aside from the decision they give you, to the right or to the left. 12 Anyone who acts arrogantly and refuses to listen to the priest who stands to serve the LORD your God or the judge must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel. 13 Then all the people will hear and be afraid, and they will never be arrogant again.
• 1 Sam 2:28-30 : 28 Did I not choose them from all the tribes of Israel to be My priests, to go up to My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod in My presence? And I gave to your forefather’s family all the offerings made by fire from the Israelites. 29 Why do you scorn My sacrifice and offering that I commanded for My dwelling? Why do you honor your sons more than Me by fattening yourselves on the best of all the offerings of My people Israel? 30 Therefore, the LORD, the God of Israel, declares: I certainly said that your house and your father’s house would walk before Me forever. But now the LORD declares: Far be it from Me! For those who honor Me I will honor, but those who despise Me will be disdained.
• 1 Kgs 2:3 : 3 Obey the charge of the LORD your God by walking in His ways, keeping His statutes, commandments, judgments, and testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses. In this way, you will prosper in all you do and wherever you turn.
• 1 Chr 23:32 : 32 In this way they fulfilled their duty to care for the Tent of Meeting, the holy place, and their brothers, the descendants of Aaron, for the service of the house of the Lord.
• Jer 15:19-21 : 19 Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'If you return, then I will restore you; you will stand before Me. If you extract the precious from the worthless, you will be My spokesman. They must turn to you, but you must not turn to them.' 20 I will make you a fortified bronze wall to these people. They will fight against you but will not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you,' declares the LORD. 21 'I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked and redeem you from the grasp of the violent.'
• Ezek 44:8 : 8 You did not keep charge of My holy things, but appointed others to be in charge of My sanctuary for you.