Zechariah 8:10
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse reveals that before this hopeful time, "hire" wasn't just about wages; it was about the fruitfulness of labor. God declared He had "sent forth" (or "set") people against each other, meaning He had withdrawn His restraining hand, allowing internal conflict to erupt due to the preceding lack of prosperity.
For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Zechariah is speaking to the returned exiles in Jerusalem, encouraging them to complete the rebuilding of the Temple. He reminds them of the dire straits they faced before they recommitted to this work, a period characterized by economic hardship where labor yielded no profit and internal strife was rampant, leading to a general sense of insecurity for everyone. This stark contrast between their past troubles and the promised future blessings serves as a powerful motivator for their present task.
Ever feel like you're working hard but getting nowhere? Zechariah paints a stark picture of a community where effort yielded no reward.
Before the people recommitted to rebuilding the Temple, their labor was cursed. The text highlights this with vivid imagery:
Zechariah describes a society teetering on the brink, not just from outside enemies, but from within. How does this internal breakdown amplify external threats?
The people's suffering wasn't just a lack of prosperity; it was a pervasive insecurity, described in two ways:
Ask a follow-up
Who is ultimately in charge when society crumbles into chaos? Zechariah makes a bold declaration about God's active role.
The verse doesn't just describe a bad situation; it attributes the cause to God's direct action. This is crucial for understanding God's sovereignty, even in judgment:
Understand the original words
shalom · Hebrew Noun
A state of security, peace, and protection from threats; in biblical theology, it is often tied to trust in God’s provision and presence rather than human strength.
This verse vividly contrasts the dire circumstances of stalled Temple construction—marked by economic blight and social chaos—with the hope of restoration that comes from obedience to God's commands.
c. 538 BC
First Return of Exiles
The decree of Cyrus allows Jewish exiles in Babylon to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple.
c. 520 BC
Temple Foundation Laid
The foundation of the Second Temple is laid, but progress halts due to opposition and internal disinterest.
520 BC
Haggai and Zechariah Prophesy
The prophets Haggai and Zechariah encourage the people to resume rebuilding the Temple, addressing their apathy and fear.
c. 520 BC - 515 BC— this verse
Period of Disruption and Resumption
This period saw severe economic hardship and social strife, characterized by lack of productivity and internal conflict, blamed by the prophets on the neglect of the Temple.
515 BC
Temple Completion
The Second Temple is finally completed, marking a significant moment of restoration for the returning Jewish community.
This passage describes a similar situation where the people's labor yielded little return, directly linking it to their neglect of rebuilding the temple, just as Zechariah does.
Deuteronomy 28:20Zechariah's description of internal strife and lack of peace echoes the curses for disobedience in Deuteronomy, highlighting God's judgment when His people turn away from Him.
Leviticus 26:6This passage in Leviticus promises peace and safety when Israel is obedient to God, providing a stark contrast to the turmoil described by Zechariah and emphasizing the consequences of disobedience.
Nehemiah 4:10-12This passage illustrates the external threats and internal demoralization faced by the people rebuilding Jerusalem's walls, mirroring the 'no peace' and 'every man against his neighbor' experienced by those in Zechariah's time.
Romans 13:8-10While Zechariah describes the breakdown of societal peace, Romans speaks to the ideal of mutual love and fulfilling the law through neighborly conduct, showing the stark difference between God's design and the reality of sin's effects.
calvinZechariah 8:9-11: "Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built."
- Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might…
jfbZechariah 8:10: "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."
- before these days—before the time in which ye again proceeded with the building of the temple (Zec 8:9), namely, at the time that the temple lay neglected.no hire for man … beast—that is, no produce of the field to repay the labor of man and beast on it (Hag 1:6, 9,…
The verse reveals that before this hopeful time, "hire" wasn't just about wages; it was about the fruitfulness of labor. God declared He had "sent forth" (or "set") people against each other, meaning He had withdrawn His restraining hand, allowing internal conflict to erupt due to the preceding lack of prosperity.
Zechariah is speaking to the returned exiles in Jerusalem, encouraging them to complete the rebuilding of the Temple. He reminds them of the dire straits they faced before they recommitted to this work, a period characterized by economic hardship where labor yielded no profit and internal strife was rampant, leading to a general sense of insecurity for everyone. This stark contrast between their past troubles and the promised future blessings serves as a powerful motivator for their present task.
Zechariah is speaking to the returned exiles in Jerusalem, encouraging them to complete the rebuilding of the Temple. He reminds them of the dire straits they faced before they recommitted to this work, a period characterized by economic hardship where labor yielded no profit and internal strife was rampant, leading to a general sense of insecurity for everyone. This stark contrast between their past troubles and the promised future blessings serves as a powerful motivator for their present task.
"For before those days there was no wage for man or any wage for beast, neither was there any safety from the foe for him who went out or came in, for I set every man against his neighbor." — The verse reveals that before this hopeful time, "hire" wasn't just about wages; it was about the fruitfulness of labor. God declared He had "sent forth" (or "set") people against each other, meani…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
