Bible Strands
Zechariah 7:10
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD of Hosts speaks through the prophet to the returned exiles who have gathered to inquire about fasting. This command follows a direct order to administer true justice and show compassion, immediately preceding the account of their stubborn refusal to listen.
The words — The verb תַּעֲשֹ֑קוּ (ta.'a.sho.ku) commands "you oppress," targeting the exploitation of vulnerable groups like the widow (אַלְמָנָ֧ה, 'al.ma.nah) and the sojourner (גֵּר, ger). The phrase רָעַת אִישׁ (ra.'at 'ish) literally denotes "the harm of each," warning against internal malice toward one another.
The thread — This prohibition against exploiting the foreigner, fatherless, and widow echoes Deuteronomy 27:19, which pronounces a curse on those who withhold justice from them. The warning against plotting evil in one's heart aligns with the theme of thwarted malicious schemes in Psalm 21:11.
Why it lands — The text demands active protection for the socially vulnerable and internal purity, forbidding both external exploitation and private malice. It requires readers to examine their own conduct and motives against a standard of concrete justice and uncorrupted intent.
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
King James Version
And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 5:28 They have grown fat and sleek, and have excelled in the deeds of the wicked. They have not taken up the cause of the fatherless, that they might prosper; nor have they defended the rights of the needy.
- Deuteronomy 27:19 ‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’
- Psalms 21:11 Though they intend You harm, the schemes they devise will not prevail.
- Psalms 72:4 May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.
- Proverbs 22:22 Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
- Isaiah 1:16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!
- Isaiah 1:23 Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.
- James 5:4 Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.
- 1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.
- Exodus 23:9 Do not oppress a foreign resident, since you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.