Zechariah 7:10
New International Version
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’

New Living Translation
Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.

English Standard Version
do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”

Berean Standard Bible
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.’

New American Standard Bible
and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’

NASB 1995
and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’

NASB 1977
and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’

Legacy Standard Bible
and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the sojourner or the afflicted; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’

Amplified Bible
and do not oppress or exploit the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise or even imagine evil in your hearts against one another.’

Christian Standard Bible
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the resident alien or the poor, and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor, and do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.

American Standard Version
and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the sojourner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.

Contemporary English Version
Don't mistreat widows or orphans or foreigners or anyone who is poor, and stop making plans to hurt each other."

English Revised 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and poor people. And don't even think of doing evil to each other.

Good News Translation
Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners who live among you, or anyone else in need. And do not plan ways of harming one another.'

International Standard Version
You are not to wrong the widow, orphans, the foreigner, or the poor, and you are not to plan evil against each other.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.?

NET Bible
You must not oppress the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, or the poor, nor should anyone secretly plot evil against his fellow human being.'

New Heart English Bible
Do not oppress the widow, nor the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.'

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
Don’t oppress the widow, the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And do not oppress widow, and fatherless, "" Sojourner, and poor, "" And you do not devise the calamity of one another in your heart.

Young's Literal Translation
And widow, and fatherless, Sojourner, and poor, ye do not oppress, And the calamity of one another ye do not devise in your heart.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the widow and the orphan, the stranger and the poor, ye shall not oppress; and ye shall not purpose evil in your heart a man to his brother.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And oppress not the widow, and the fatherless, and the stranger, and the poor: and let not a man devise evil in his heart against his brother.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And do not find fault with the widow, and the orphan, and the newcomer, and the poor. And let not a man consider evil in his heart towards his brother.

New American Bible
Do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the resident alien or the poor; do not plot evil against one another in your hearts.

New Revised Standard Version
do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the alien, or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And do not oppress the widow nor the orphan, the poor nor the proselyte; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in his heart.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the widow and the orphan and the poor and the convert to me you shall not cheat and you shall not oppress, neither shall you devise evil, any man against his brother, in your heart
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and oppress not the widow, or the fatherless, or the stranger, or the poor; and let not one of you remember in his heart the injury of his brother.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Call to Justice and Mercy
9“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another. 10Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’ 11But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing.…

Cross References
James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.”

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 25:35-40
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ...

Proverbs 31:8-9
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. / Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.

Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.

Exodus 22:21-24
You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt. / You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. / If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to Me in distress, I will surely hear their cry. ...

Deuteronomy 10:18-19
He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. / So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

Luke 10:30-37
Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. / Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. / So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side. ...

Psalm 82:3-4
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed. / Rescue the weak and needy; save them from the hand of the wicked.

Malachi 3:5
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against sorcerers and adulterers and perjurers, against oppressors of the widowed and fatherless, and against those who defraud laborers of their wages and deny justice to the foreigner but do not fear Me,” says the LORD of Hosts.

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Isaiah 58:6-7
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke? / Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Amos 5:14-15
Seek good, not evil, so that you may live. And the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed. / Hate evil and love good; establish justice in the gate. Perhaps the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.”

Romans 12:13
Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

oppress.

Exodus 22:21-24
Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt…

Exodus 23:9
Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Deuteronomy 24:14-18
Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: …

imagine.

Psalm 21:11
For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform.

Psalm 36:4
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

Psalm 140:2
Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.

Jump to Previous
Afflicted Alien Calamity Child Country Devise Evil Fatherless Foreigner Hard Heart Hearts Imagine Oppress Orphan Poor Sojourner Strange Stranger Think Widow
Jump to Next
Afflicted Alien Calamity Child Country Devise Evil Fatherless Foreigner Hard Heart Hearts Imagine Oppress Orphan Poor Sojourner Strange Stranger Think Widow
Zechariah 7
1. The captives enquire concerning the set fasts.
4. Zechariah reproves the hypocrisy of their fasting.
8. Sin the cause of their captivity.














Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless
In ancient Israel, widows and orphans were among the most vulnerable members of society, lacking the protection and provision typically provided by a male head of household. The Mosaic Law repeatedly emphasizes the need to care for these groups (Exodus 22:22-24, Deuteronomy 10:18). This command reflects God's character as a defender of the helpless (Psalm 68:5). The prophets often rebuked Israel for failing to uphold justice for these individuals, highlighting societal corruption and neglect (Isaiah 1:17, Jeremiah 7:6). This call to justice is a recurring theme, underscoring the importance of compassion and righteousness in community life.

the foreigner or the poor
Foreigners, or sojourners, were non-Israelites residing in the land. The Law instructed Israel to treat them with kindness and fairness, remembering their own history as foreigners in Egypt (Leviticus 19:33-34). The poor, often marginalized, were to be supported through provisions like gleaning laws (Leviticus 19:9-10) and the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25). This reflects a broader biblical principle of social justice and care for the marginalized, which Jesus also emphasized in His ministry (Matthew 25:35-40). The inclusion of foreigners and the poor in this command highlights God's inclusive love and justice.

And do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.
This phrase addresses the internal attitudes that lead to external actions. The heart, in biblical terms, is the center of thought, intention, and emotion (Proverbs 4:23). Plotting evil indicates premeditated harm, which is condemned throughout Scripture (Proverbs 6:16-19). Jesus expanded on this concept, teaching that evil thoughts and intentions defile a person (Matthew 15:19-20). The call to purity of heart aligns with the New Testament's emphasis on love and unity within the body of Christ (1 John 3:15). This command encourages believers to cultivate hearts of integrity and peace, reflecting God's nature.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Zechariah
A prophet in the post-exilic period who received visions and messages from God to encourage the Israelites in rebuilding the temple and renewing their covenant with God.

2. The Israelites
The people of God who had returned from Babylonian exile and were in the process of rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple.

3. Widows, Orphans, Foreigners, and the Poor
Groups specifically mentioned in Zechariah 7:10 as those who should not be oppressed, representing the vulnerable and marginalized in society.
Teaching Points
God's Heart for Justice
God consistently calls His people to act justly and show mercy, reflecting His character.

The Call to Compassion
Believers are called to actively care for and protect those who are vulnerable in society, such as widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor.

Avoiding Oppression
The command to not oppress others is a timeless principle that requires self-examination and societal awareness.

Reflecting God's Love
Our treatment of the marginalized is a reflection of our relationship with God and understanding of His love.

Practical Obedience
True faith is demonstrated through actions that align with God's commands, including social justice and mercy.Verse 10. - Oppress not the widow, etc. (Exodus 22:21, 22; Deuteronomy 10:18, 19); Vulgate, nolite calumniari, where calumniari is used in the sense "to vex, torment." Imagine evil against his brother in year heart. God's Law forbids even a thought of revenge or injury against a neighbour, for this is only the first step to wrong doing (comp. Micah 2:1). Septuagint, Κακίαν ἕκαστος τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ μὴ μνησικακείτω ἐν ταῖς καρδίας ὑμῶν, "Let none of you remember in your hearts the malice of your brother."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Do not
אַֽל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

oppress
תַּעֲשֹׁ֑קוּ (ta·‘ă·šō·qū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6231: To press upon, oppress, defraud, violate, overflow

the widow
וְאַלְמָנָ֧ה (wə·’al·mā·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 490: A widow, a desolate place

or the fatherless,
וְיָת֛וֹם (wə·yā·ṯō·wm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3490: A bereaved person

the foreigner
גֵּ֥ר (gêr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1616: A guest, a foreigner

or the poor.
וְעָנִ֖י (wə·‘ā·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6041: Poor, afflicted, humble

And do not
אַֽל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

plot
תַּחְשְׁב֖וּ (taḥ·šə·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 2803: To think, account

evil
וְרָעַת֙ (wə·rā·‘aṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

in your hearts
בִּלְבַבְכֶֽם׃ (bil·ḇaḇ·ḵem)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

against one
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

another.’
אָחִ֔יו (’ā·ḥîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )


Links
Zechariah 7:10 NIV
Zechariah 7:10 NLT
Zechariah 7:10 ESV
Zechariah 7:10 NASB
Zechariah 7:10 KJV

Zechariah 7:10 BibleApps.com
Zechariah 7:10 Biblia Paralela
Zechariah 7:10 Chinese Bible
Zechariah 7:10 French Bible
Zechariah 7:10 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Zechariah 7:10 Don't oppress the widow nor the fatherless (Zech. Zec Zc)
Zechariah 7:9
Top of Page
Top of Page