The Meaning of Zechariah 8:10 Explained

Zechariah 8:10

KJV: For before these days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.

YLT: For, before those days there hath been no hiring of man, Yea, a hiring of beasts there is none; And to him who is going out, And to him who is coming in, There is no peace because of the adversary, And I send all men -- each against his neighbour.

Darby: For before those days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; and there was no peace for him that went out or that came in, because of the distress: for I let loose all men, every one against his neighbour.

ASV: For before those days there was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in, because of the adversary: for I set all men every one against his neighbor.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For before  these days  there was  no hire  for man,  nor any hire  for beast;  neither [was there any] peace  to him that went out  or came in  because of the affliction:  for I set  all men  every one  against his neighbour. 

What does Zechariah 8:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Before the returnees began to rebuild in earnest, there was severe unemployment, so there were no wages for many of the people (cf. Haggai 1:6). Even the animals were not earning their keep. There was also no peace because the enemies of the Jews oppressed them (cf. Ezra 4:1-5; Haggai 1:6-11; Haggai 2:15-19). The Lord Himself was ultimately responsible for the antagonism that existed then.
"This verse presents a contrast of the present, when they had begun to obey the Word of God, with the past, when they did not." [1]

Context Summary

Zechariah 8:1-17 - Truth And Love Must Prevail
In his third answer Zechariah dilates on the prosperity awaiting the chosen city. The Lord had returned, to dwell there, and the old men and women who were at the end of life should join with the happy boys and girls who were at the beginning in the enjoyment of the blessings of peace. Exiles also would return to people the former desolations. But with these delightful forecasts ensue reiterated appeals. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Zechariah 8:10 mean?

For before days those wages for man no [There [were] nor any hire for beast nor for whoever went out or came in no [There was] peace from the enemy for I set - all men everyone against his neighbor
כִּ֗י לִפְנֵי֙ הַיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם שְׂכַ֤ר הָֽאָדָם֙ לֹ֣א נִֽהְיָ֔ה וּשְׂכַ֥ר הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה אֵינֶ֑נָּה וְלַיּוֹצֵ֨א וְלַבָּ֤א אֵין־ שָׁלוֹם֙ מִן־ הַצָּ֔ר וַאֲשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶת־ כָּל־ הָאָדָ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ בְּרֵעֵֽהוּ

לִפְנֵי֙  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הַיָּמִ֣ים  days 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הָהֵ֔ם  those 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
שְׂכַ֤ר  wages  for 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׂכָר  
Sense: hire, wages.
הָֽאָדָם֙  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
לֹ֣א  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
נִֽהְיָ֔ה  [There  [were] 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
וּשְׂכַ֥ר  nor  any  hire  for 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שָׂכָר  
Sense: hire, wages.
הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה  beast 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
אֵינֶ֑נָּה  nor 
Parse: Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
וְלַיּוֹצֵ֨א  for  whoever  went  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
וְלַבָּ֤א  or  came  in 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֵין־  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
שָׁלוֹם֙  [There  was]  peace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
הַצָּ֔ר  the  enemy 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צַר 
Sense: narrow, tight.
וַאֲשַׁלַּ֥ח  for  I  set 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאָדָ֖ם  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
אִ֥ישׁ  everyone 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
בְּרֵעֵֽהוּ  against  his  neighbor 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.