Zechariah 1:4

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.

📖 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

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 And might not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that did not set their heart aright, and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
• Ps 106:6-7 : 6 We have sinned with our ancestors, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly. 7 Our ancestors did not understand your wonders in Egypt; they did not remember the multitude of your mercies, but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red Sea.
• Isa 1:16-19 : 16 Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil; 17 Learn to do well; seek justice, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and 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 be as wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land:
• 2 Chr 36:15-16 : 15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by his messengers, rising up early and sending them, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place. 16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, until there was no remedy.
• Jer 35:15 : 15 I have sent also to you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and you shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but you have not inclined your ear, nor listened to me.
• Zech 1:3 : 3 Therefore say to them, Thus says the LORD of hosts: Turn to Me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will turn to you, says the LORD of hosts.
• Ezek 33:11 : 11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
• Hos 14:1 : 1 O Israel, return to the LORD your God; for you have fallen by your iniquity.
• Amos 5:13-15 : 13 Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. 14 Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as you have spoken. 15 Hate evil, and love good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
• Amos 5:24 : 24 But let judgment run down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
• Mic 2:6 : 6 Do not prophesy, they say to those who prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they may not take shame.
• Zech 7:11-13 : 11 But they refused to heed, and shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears, so they should not hear. 12 Yes, they made their hearts like an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts sent in His Spirit by the former prophets: therefore, great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. 13 Therefore it has come to pass, that just as He called and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear, says the LORD of hosts:
• Matt 3:8-9 : 8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance: 9 And do not think to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father: for I say to you, that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees: therefore every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
• Acts 3:19 : 19 Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
• Acts 7:51-52 : 51 You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they have killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you have now become the betrayers and murderers,
• Acts 26:20 : 20 But showed first to those of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works fitting for repentance.
• 1 Thess 2:15-16 : 15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always; but the wrath has come upon them to the utmost.
• 1 Pet 1:18 : 18 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
• Jer 36:2-9 : 2 Take yourself a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster I intend to do to them; that every man may turn from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin. 4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken to him, on a scroll. 5 And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD: 6 Therefore go, and read in the scroll which you have written from my mouth the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD'S house on the fasting day; and you shall also read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities. 7 It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and each will turn from his evil way; for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people. 8 And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD'S house. 9 And it happened in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem. 10 Then Baruch read in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S house, in the ears of all the people.
• Jer 36:23-24 : 23 And it happened, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24 Yet they were not afraid, nor did they tear their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
• Jer 44:4-5 : 4 However I sent to you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate. 5 But they did not listen, nor incline their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense to other gods.
• Jer 44:16 : 16 As for the word that 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 listen to you; for they will not listen to me: for all the house of Israel are obstinate and hardhearted. 8 Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. 9 Like an adamant harder than flint have I made your forehead: do not fear them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
• Ezek 18:14-17 : 14 Now, if he begets a son who sees all his father's sins which he has done, and considers and does not do such like, 15 Who has not eaten upon the mountains, nor lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbor's wife, 16 Nor has oppressed anyone, has not withheld the pledge, nor spoiled by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with a garment, 17 Who has taken off his hand from the poor, who has not received interest nor increase, has executed My judgments, has walked in My statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live.
• Ezek 18:30-32 : 30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed; and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him who dies, says the Lord GOD: therefore turn yourselves, and live.
• Ezra 9:7 : 7 Since the days of our fathers we have been in a great trespass to this day; and because of our iniquities, we, our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
• Neh 9:16 : 16 But they and our forefathers acted proudly, hardened their necks, and did not heed Your commandments.
• Neh 9:26 : 26 Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against You, cast Your law behind their backs, and killed Your prophets who testified against them, to turn them back to You, and they performed great provocations.
• Neh 9:30 : 30 Yet for many years You had patience with them and testified against them by Your Spirit in Your prophets. Yet they would not give ear; therefore, You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
• 2 Chr 24:19-22 : 19 Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them again to the LORD; and they testified against them, but they would not listen. 20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, Thus says God, Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has also forsaken you. 21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the command of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. 22 So Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.
• 2 Chr 29:6-9 : 6 For our fathers have trespassed, and done evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken Him, and turned away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs. 7 They have also shut up the doors of the porch, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8 Therefore, the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He has delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as you see with your eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us.
• 2 Chr 30:7 : 7 And do not be like your fathers, and like your brethren, who trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as you see.
• 2 Chr 34:21 : 21 Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book.
• Isa 30:9-9 : 9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the LORD: 10 Who say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Do not prophesy to us right things, speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 11 Get out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
• Isa 31:6 : 6 Turn to Him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.
• Jer 3:12 : 12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, backsliding Israel, says the LORD; and I will not cause my anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, says the LORD, and I will not keep anger forever.
• Jer 6:16-17 : 16 Thus says the LORD, Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk in it. 17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Listen to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not listen.
• Jer 7:3-7 : 3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will allow you to dwell in this place. 4 Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these. 5 For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your deeds; if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbor; 6 If you do not oppress the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your harm; 7 Then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and ever.
• Jer 11:6-8 : 6 Then the LORD said to me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear the words of this covenant, and do them. 7 For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. 8 Yet they did not obey nor incline their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart. Therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not do.
• Jer 13:9-9 : 9 Thus says the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem. 10 This evil people, who refuse to hear my words, who walk in the imagination of their heart, and follow other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, will be like this belt, which is good for nothing.
• Jer 13:16-18 : 16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he causes darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while you look for light, he turns it into the shadow of death, and makes it gross darkness. 17 But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and my eye shall weep bitterly, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is taken captive. 18 Say to the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
• Jer 17:19-23 : 19 Thus said the LORD to me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem; 20 And say to them, Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates: 21 Thus says the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; 22 Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do any work, but hallow the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. 23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.
• Jer 18:11 : 11 Now therefore go, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus says the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a plan against you: return now everyone from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.
• Jer 25:3-7 : 3 From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even to this day, that is the twenty-third year, the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking; but you have not listened. 4 And the LORD has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but you have not listened, nor inclined your ear to hear. 5 They said, 'Turn now every one from his evil way and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD has given to you and to your fathers forever and ever: 6 And do not go after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and do not provoke me to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no harm.' 7 Yet you have not listened to Me, says the LORD; that you might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own harm.
• Jer 26:5 : 5 To listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened;