Zechariah 8:6

This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “If this is impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be impossible in My eyes?” declares the LORD of Hosts.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD of Hosts addresses the surviving remnant of Israel concerning the restoration of Jerusalem. He delivers this declaration directly after describing the city's future safety and immediately before promising to gather His people from the east and west.

The words — The verb יִפָּלֵא (yi.pa.Le') literally means it will be difficult or astonishing, describing the remnant's perception of the promised restoration. The noun שְׁאֵרִית (she.'e.Rit) identifies the surviving remnant whose doubt provides the premise for the divine challenge.

The thread — This rhetorical challenge runs parallel to Jeremiah 32:27, which declares that nothing is too difficult for God. It corresponds to Luke 1:37, which affirms that no word from God fails, and Luke 18:27, which contrasts human impossibility with divine possibility.

Why it lands — The text first establishes that the remnant views the restoration as impossible before God questions whether that limitation applies to Him. It requires the reader to subordinate human assessment of feasibility to God's declared power and timing.

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

כֹּ֤הkohthus אָמַר֙'a.Marhe says יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh צְבָא֔וֹתtze.va.'otof hosts כִּ֣יkiif יִפָּלֵ֗אyi.pa.Le'it will be difficult בְּעֵינֵי֙be./'ei.Neiin/ [the] eyes of שְׁאֵרִית֙she.'e.Rit[the] remnant of הָעָ֣םha./'Amthe/ people הַזֶּ֔הha./Zeh<the>/ this בַּיָּמִ֖יםba/i.ya.Mimin the/ days הָהֵ֑םha./Hem<the>/ those גַּם־gam-also בְּעֵינַי֙be./'ei.Na/iin/ view/ my יִפָּלֵ֔אyi.pa.Le'will it be difficult?נְאֻ֖םne.'Um[the] utterance of יְהוָ֥הYah.wehYahweh צְבָאֽוֹת׃ פtze.va.'otof hosts

King James Version

Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 32:27 “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?
Luke 1:37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
Luke 18:27 But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
Romans 4:20 Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
Genesis 18:14 Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”
Numbers 11:22 If all our flocks and herds were slaughtered for them, would they have enough? Or if all the fish in the sea were caught for them, would they have enough?”
2 Kings 7:2 But the officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God, “Look, even if the LORD were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen?” “You will see it with your own eyes,” replied Elisha, “but you will not eat any of it.”
Jeremiah 32:17 “Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!
Luke 1:20 And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”
Psalms 118:23 This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.