Zechariah 1:4

Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Turn now from your evil ways and deeds.’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me, declares the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD of Hosts speaks through the prophet Zechariah to the returned exiles in Judah, immediately following a direct command to return to Him.

The words — The prohibition opens with אַל־ (al-) and תִּהְי֣וּ (tih.Yu), literally "may not" and "you be," forbidding the people from becoming like their ancestors. The text records that the former prophets קָרְאֽוּ\־ (ka.re.'u-) proclaimed a call to turn from evil ways and deeds, which the fathers refused to heed.

The thread — This pattern of ancestral disobedience and prophetic warning recurs in Psalms 78:8 and Psalms 106:6, where the people are condemned for repeating their fathers' stubbornness. Jeremiah 35:15 documents the same repeated prophetic summons to abandon wicked ways.

Why it lands — The text demands immediate, conscious rejection of inherited spiritual apathy and a direct response to God's spoken command. It requires the reader to align with the prophets' warning rather than repeat the ancestors' refusal to listen.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אַל־'al-may not תִּהְי֣וּtih.Yuyou be כַאֲבֹֽתֵיכֶ֡םkha./'a.vo.tei./Khemlike/ ancestors/ your אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhom קָרְאֽוּ־ka.re.'u-they proclaimed אֲלֵיהֶם֩'a.lei./Hemto/ them הַנְּבִיאִ֨יםha./ne.vi.'Imthe/ prophets הָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֜יםha./ri.sho.Nim<the>/ former לֵאמֹ֗רle./Mor<to>/ saying כֹּ֤הkohthus אָמַר֙'a.Marhe says יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh צְבָא֔וֹתtze.va.'otof hosts שׁ֤וּבוּShu.vuturn back נָא֙na'please מִדַּרְכֵיכֶ֣םmi./dar.khei./Khemfrom/ ways/ your הָרָעִ֔יםha./ra.'Im<the>/ evil וּמַֽעֲלְלֵיכֶ֖םu./ma.'a.li.lei./khemand/ deeds/ your הָֽרָעִ֑יםha./ra.'Im<the>/ evil וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not שָׁמְע֛וּsha.me.'Uthey listened וְלֹֽא־ve./lo'-and/ not הִקְשִׁ֥יבוּhik.Shi.vuthey paid attention אֵלַ֖י'e.La/ito/ me נְאֻם־ne.'um-[the] utterance of יְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehYahweh

King James 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.

Cross-references

Psalms 78:8 Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Psalms 106:6 We have sinned like our fathers; we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
Jeremiah 35:15 Again and again I have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn now, each of you, from your wicked ways, and correct your actions. Do not go after other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.
Ezekiel 33:11 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 should turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’
2 Chronicles 36:15 Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place.
Isaiah 1:16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!
Jeremiah 11:6 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 carry them out.
Zechariah 1:3 So tell the people that 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.’
Matthew 3:8 Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
2 Chronicles 24:19 Nevertheless, the LORD sent prophets to bring the people back to Him and to testify against them, but they would not listen.