Zechariah 8:17 do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things," declares the LORD.

Bible > Zechariah > Chapter 8 > Verse 17

◄ Zechariah 8:17 ►

New International Version
do not plot evil against each other, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this,” declares the LORD.

New Living Translation
Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the LORD.”

English Standard Version
do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD.”

Berean Standard Bible
do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD.

King James Bible
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

New King James Version
Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the LORD.”

New American Standard Bible
Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these things are what I hate,’ declares the LORD.”

NASB 1995
‘Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,’ declares the LORD.”

NASB 1977
‘Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,’ declares the LORD.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love false oaths; for all these are what I hate,’ declares Yahweh.”

Amplified Bible
And let none of you devise or even imagine evil in your heart against another, and do not love lying or half-truths; for all these things I hate,’ declares the LORD.”

Christian Standard Bible
Do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love perjury, for I hate all this”—this is the LORD’s declaration.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love perjury, for I hate all this"—this is the LORD’s declaration.

American Standard Version
and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
Don't ever plan evil things against others or tell lies under oath. I, the LORD, hate such things.

English Revised Version
and let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't even think of doing evil to each other. Don't enjoy false testimony. I hate all these things, declares the LORD.

Good News Translation
Do not plan ways of harming one another. Do not give false testimony under oath. I hate lying, injustice, and violence."

International Standard Version
don't plot evil in your heart against a neighbor, and don't tolerate false testimonies, because I hate all these things,' declares the LORD."

Majority Standard Bible
do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD.

NET Bible
Do not plan evil in your hearts against one another. Do not favor a false oath--these are all things that I hate,' says the LORD."

New Heart English Bible
and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate," says the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

World English Bible
and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate,” says Yahweh.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And do not devise the evil of his neighbor in your heart, "" And do not love a false oath, "" For all these [are] things that I have hated, "" A declaration of YHWH.”

Young's Literal Translation
And each the evil of his neighbour ye do not devise in your heart, And a false oath ye do not love, For all these are things that I have hated, An affirmation of Jehovah.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And ye shall not purpose evil, a man to his neighbor, in your heart; and ye shall not love the oath of falsehood: for all these which I hated, says Jehovah.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his friend: and love not a false oath: for all these are the things that I hate, saith the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And let not anyone think up evil against his friend in your hearts. And do not choose to swear falsely. For all these are things that I hate, says the Lord.

New American Bible
Let none of you plot evil against another in your heart, nor love a false oath. For all these things I hate—oracle of the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, says the LORD.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And let none of you devise evil in your heart against his neighbor; and love no false oaths; for all these are things that I hate, says the LORD of hosts.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall not intend evil in your heart, each man with his neighbor, and you shall not love a lying oath, because I have hated them all of these things, says LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath; for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and let none of you devise evil in his heart against his neighbour; and love not a false oath: for all these things I hate, saith the Lord Almighty.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Restoration of Jerusalem
…16These are the things you must do: Speak truth to one another, render true and sound judgments in your gates, 17 do not plot evil in your hearts against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, for I hate all these things,” declares the LORD. 18Then the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me, saying,…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

Leviticus 19:16-18
You must not go about spreading slander among your people. You must not endanger the life of your neighbor. I am the LORD. / You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him. / Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Psalm 34:13-14
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. / Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Isaiah 1:16-17
Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! / 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?

Jeremiah 7:9-10
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’?

Psalm 15:1-3
A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain? / He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart, / who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend,

Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

Isaiah 33:15
He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil—

Jeremiah 9:3-5
“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD. / “Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander. / Each one betrays his friend; no one tells the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they wear themselves out committing iniquity.

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Romans 12:17-19
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. / If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. / Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

Ephesians 4:25-27
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. / “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, / and do not give the devil a foothold.

Colossians 3:8-9
But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. / Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,

1 Peter 3:10-11
For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. / He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

Treasury of Scripture

And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, said the LORD.

let.

Zechariah 7:10
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.

Proverbs 3:29
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

Proverbs 6:14
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

love.

Zechariah 5:3,4
Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it…

Jeremiah 4:2
And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

Malachi 3:5
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

things.

Psalm 5:5,6
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity…

Psalm 10:3
For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: …

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Zechariah 8

1. The restoration of Jerusalem.
9. They are encouraged to build the temple by God's favor to them.
16. Good works are required of them.
18. Joy and blessing are promised.

Berean Study Bible

Do not plot evil in your hearts
The phrase "do not plot evil in your hearts" calls for an introspective examination of one's intentions and desires. The Hebrew word for "plot" is "חָשַׁב" (chashab), which means to think, plan, or devise. This word suggests a deliberate and conscious effort to scheme or plan something harmful. In the biblical context, the heart is often seen as the seat of thought and intention, not just emotion. Thus, this command is a call to purity of thought and intention, aligning with the broader biblical theme of internal righteousness. Historically, the Israelites were often reminded to maintain purity of heart, as their actions were to reflect God's holiness.

against your neighbor
The term "neighbor" in Hebrew is "רֵעַ" (rea), which can refer to a friend, companion, or fellow citizen. This word emphasizes the communal aspect of the command, highlighting the importance of maintaining harmonious relationships within the community. In ancient Israel, the concept of community was vital, as the people were bound together not only by social ties but also by their covenant relationship with God. This phrase underscores the biblical principle of loving one's neighbor, which is central to both the Old and New Testaments.

and do not love to swear falsely
The phrase "do not love to swear falsely" addresses the issue of integrity and truthfulness. The Hebrew word for "swear" is "שָׁבַע" (shaba), which means to take an oath or make a solemn promise. To "swear falsely" is to make a promise or oath with the intention of deceiving. This command reflects the high value placed on truth in the biblical tradition. In ancient times, oaths were serious commitments, often invoking God's name, and to break them was to dishonor God. This phrase calls believers to a life of honesty and reliability, reflecting God's own faithfulness.

for I hate all these things
The declaration "for I hate all these things" reveals God's character and His standards for His people. The Hebrew word for "hate" is "שָׂנֵא" (sane), which conveys a strong aversion or detestation. This word indicates that these actions are not merely discouraged but are deeply offensive to God. The use of "hate" here underscores the seriousness with which God views these sins, as they are contrary to His nature and His desire for His people to live in truth and love.

declares the LORD
The phrase "declares the LORD" is a prophetic formula that emphasizes the authority and certainty of the message. The Hebrew word for "declares" is "נְאֻם" (ne'um), which is often used in prophetic literature to introduce a divine pronouncement. This phrase assures the reader that the message comes directly from God, carrying His authority and reflecting His will. It serves as a reminder that the standards set forth are not human inventions but divine commands, calling believers to align their lives with God's revealed will.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - Let none of you imagine (see note on Zechariah 7:10, where these words occur). Love no false oath. The prevalent sins at this time were not idolatry, but cheating and lying and injustice, vices learned in the land of exile, where they had turned their energies to traffic and commerce (see Zechariah 5:2-4, and note on ver. 3 there).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

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

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

evil
רָעַ֣ת (rā·‘aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

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

against your neighbor,
רֵעֵ֗הוּ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

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

love
תֶּאֱהָ֑בוּ (te·’ĕ·hā·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 157: To have affection f

perjury,
וּשְׁבֻ֥עַת (ū·šə·ḇu·‘aṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7621: Something sworn, an oath

for
כִּ֧י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I hate
שָׂנֵ֖אתִי (śā·nê·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8130: To hate

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

these things,”
אֵ֛לֶּה (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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OT Prophets: Zechariah 8:17 And let none of you devise evil (Zech. Zec Zc)