The Meaning of Zechariah 8:20 Explained

Zechariah 8:20

KJV: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:

YLT: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Yet come do peoples, and inhabitants of many cities,

Darby: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Yet again shall there come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities;

ASV: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: It shall yet come to pass , that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus saith  the LORD  of hosts;  [It shall] yet [come to pass], that there shall come  people,  and the inhabitants  of many  cities: 

What does Zechariah 8:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Zechariah 8:18-23 - The Nations Will Seek The God Of Israel
In his final answer the prophet gives a delightful picture of the future, which was on the eve of complete realization. So entirely would the memory of the past be obliterated that fateful anniversaries would soon fade from their minds. Indeed they would discover that their dark days had been the source and origin of their glad ones. In all subsequent ages, even when persecuting the Jews, the foremost nations have taken hold of their skirts, appropriating their sacred writings, venerating their lawgivers, prophets, and saints; and believing in the noblest representative of their race.
The prophet passes his eye over the surrounding nations, showing that his people need fear no more, because their oppressors had been effectually silenced. [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 8:20 mean?

Thus says Yahweh of hosts yet that shall come Peoples and Inhabitants of cities many
כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֑וֹת עֹ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָבֹ֣אוּ עַמִּ֔ים וְיֹשְׁבֵ֖י עָרִ֥ים רַבּֽוֹת

כֹּ֥ה  Thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֖ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָא֑וֹת  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
עֹ֚ד  yet 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יָבֹ֣אוּ  shall  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
עַמִּ֔ים  Peoples 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וְיֹשְׁבֵ֖י  and  Inhabitants 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
עָרִ֥ים  of  cities 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
רַבּֽוֹת  many 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.