The Meaning of Zechariah 8:17 Explained

Zechariah 8:17

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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.'

Darby: 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 Jehovah.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Zechariah 8:17 Mean?

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 8:17 mean?

And none of you - evil against your neighbor not let think in your heart and a oath FALSE do love for all these [are things] that I hate says Yahweh -
וְאִ֣ישׁ ׀ אֶת־ רָעַ֣ת רֵעֵ֗הוּ אַֽל־ תַּחְשְׁבוּ֙ בִּלְבַבְכֶ֔ם וּשְׁבֻ֥עַת שֶׁ֖קֶר תֶּאֱהָ֑בוּ כִּ֧י כָּל־ אֵ֛לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׂנֵ֖אתִי נְאֻם־ יְהוָֽה ס

וְאִ֣ישׁ ׀  And  none  of  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
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.
רָעַ֣ת  evil 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
רֵעֵ֗הוּ  against  your  neighbor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֵעַ  
Sense: friend, companion, fellow, another person.
תַּחְשְׁבוּ֙  let  think 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: חָשַׁב 
Sense: to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count.
בִּלְבַבְכֶ֔ם  in  your  heart 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
וּשְׁבֻ֥עַת  and  a  oath 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שָׁבַע  
Sense: oath, curse.
שֶׁ֖קֶר  FALSE 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁקֶר  
Sense: lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood.
תֶּאֱהָ֑בוּ  do  love 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
אֵ֛לֶּה  these  [are  things] 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
שָׂנֵ֖אתִי  I  hate 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
נְאֻם־  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation