Zechariah 8:23

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD of Hosts speaks to the remnant in Jerusalem, projecting a future day when the nations themselves come seeking the LORD (v. 22) and then seize the opportunity to join them.

The words — יַחֲזִ֙יקוּ (yachaziqû, H2388) from the root חזק, "they will take hold" — not a tentative touch but a firm, forceful grasping, the same root behind "strength" and "to be strong."

The thread — Isaiah 55:5 and 45:14 both picture nations running to or coming to Israel; 1 Corinthians 14:25 gives the closest verbal parallel, with the Gentile observer falling down and declaring "God is truly among you."

Why it lands — The verse reverses the expected direction of religious pursuit: the outsider is the one who grabs and who wants to go with the Jew, making the claim "God is with you" the thing that compels them rather than any argument or ritual.

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

כֹּ֥הkohthus אָמַר֮'a.Marhe says יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh צְבָאוֹת֒tze.va.'Otof hosts בַּיָּמִ֣יםba/i.ya.Mimin the/ days הָהֵ֔מָּהha./He.mah<the>/ those אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.Sherthat יַחֲזִ֙יקוּ֙ya.cha.Zi.kuthey will take hold עֲשָׂרָ֣ה'a.sa.Rahten אֲנָשִׁ֔ים'a.na.Shimpeople מִכֹּ֖לmi./Kolfrom/ all לְשֹׁנ֣וֹתle.sho.Not[the] tongues of הַגּוֹיִ֑םha./go.Yimthe/ nations וְֽהֶחֱזִ֡יקוּve./he.che.Zi.kuand/ they will take hold בִּכְנַף֩bi/kh.Nafon/ [the] skirt of אִ֨ישׁ'isha person יְהוּדִ֜יye.hu.DiJewish לֵאמֹ֗רle./Mor<to>/ saying נֵֽלְכָה֙ne.le.Khahwe want to go עִמָּכֶ֔ם'i.ma./Khemwith/ you כִּ֥יkifor שָׁמַ֖עְנוּsha.Ma'.nuwe have heard אֱלֹהִ֥ים'E.lo.HimGod עִמָּכֶֽם׃ ס'i.ma./Khem[is] with/ you

King James Version

Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.

Cross-references

Isaiah 55:5 Surely you will summon a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you will run to you. For the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, has bestowed glory on you.”
Isaiah 45:14 This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you; they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you: ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’”
1 Corinthians 14:25 and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
Isaiah 60:3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Acts 13:47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Joshua 2:9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you.
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.
1 Kings 8:42 for they will hear of Your great name and mighty hand and outstretched arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple,
Isaiah 66:18 “And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.
Genesis 31:7 And although he has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, God has not allowed him to harm me.