Bible Strands
Zechariah 9:17
How lovely they will be, and how beautiful! Grain will make the young men flourish, and new wine, the young women.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses Israel concerning a future day when the Lord will deliver them as His flock and cause them to shine over the land.
The words — The phrase מַה־טּוּבּ֥וֹ וּמַה־יָּפְיֽוֹ (mah-tubbo u-mah-yafyo) literally renders "how [is] its goodness and how [is] its beauty," pairing that description with the concrete blessings of grain and new wine.
The thread — The motif of divine beauty appears in Isaiah 33:17, while the protection of grain from enemies is sworn in Isaiah 62:8.
Why it lands — The text declares that God's saving action directly produces tangible prosperity and aesthetic renewal for His people, requiring the reader to acknowledge material blessing as a function of divine deliverance.
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
For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 33:17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty and behold a land that stretches afar.
- 1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
- Isaiah 62:8 The LORD has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain to your enemies for food, nor will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled.
- Exodus 15:11 Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
- Psalms 31:19 How great is Your goodness which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have bestowed before the sons of men on those who take refuge in You!
- Psalms 36:7 How precious is Your loving devotion, O God, that the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings!
- Psalms 45:2 You are the most handsome of men; grace has anointed your lips; therefore God has blessed you forever.
- Psalms 50:2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
- Psalms 90:17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands—yes, establish the work of our hands!
- Song of Solomon 5:10 My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.