Zechariah 9:17
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The prophet bursts out in awe, not just at earthly prosperity like grain and wine, but at the goodness and beauty of God Himself. This isn't just about a good harvest; it's about recognizing the overflowing divine favor that nourishes and enlivens His people, making them flourish like the young men and women described.
For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Zechariah is painting a picture of joyous celebration and abundant blessing following a great deliverance. This verse bursts forth as an exclamation of awe at God's goodness and beauty, directly linked to the preceding promise of a glorious King who will bring salvation. The prophecy foretells a future of flourishing prosperity, where young men and women will thrive with the abundance of grain and new wine, symbolizing God's favor and the renewal of life.
The prophet bursts out with an almost overwhelming sense of wonder. What is he so amazed by?
Zechariah's cry, "For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!" isn't just a casual observation. It's a profound exclamation of awe that springs from understanding who God is and what He does.
God's Unmatched Attributes
When Zechariah speaks of "his" goodness and beauty, the scholars point out it most fittingly refers to God Himself. This exclamation sets the stage for understanding the blessings that follow as direct results of His magnificent character.
Grain and new wine might seem like simple, earthly blessings, but they carry a deeper meaning in this verse.
The prophecy speaks of "grain" making young men flourish and "new wine" cheering young women. This imagery paints a picture of abundant prosperity and flourishing life.
More Than Just a Good Harvest
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Understand the original words
tub · Hebrew Noun
A quality of God representing His moral excellence, kindness, benevolence, and generous provision toward His creation. It signifies both God's nature and the tangible blessings He bestows.
yopi · Hebrew Noun
The aesthetic, moral, and glorious splendor that characterizes God's presence and works. It inspires awe and adoration in the believer as they behold the perfection of His character.
dagan · Hebrew Noun
A primary agricultural product in the ancient Near East, symbolizing the physical sustenance, blessing, and fruitful provision of God in the land.
tirosh · Hebrew Noun
The fermented juice of the grape, which in Scripture represents the joy, celebration, and abundance of God's kingdom and His favor upon a restored people.
Zechariah's prophecy of abundance comes at a time when the Jewish people are still in the process of rebuilding their lives and their Temple after the devastation of exile. The promise of flourishing grain and wine would have been a powerful assurance of God's favor and a vision of a future full of prosperity and joy, looking beyond their present struggles.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Jerusalem is destroyed by the Babylonians, and many of its citizens are deported, marking a period of great loss and distress for the Jewish people.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus, conquers Babylon, leading to the eventual decree allowing Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.
c. 538 BC
First Return of Exiles to Jerusalem
Under Zerubbabel, a significant number of Jews return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, signifying a restoration of national and religious life.
c. 515 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
The Second Temple is completed and dedicated, a symbol of hope and continuity for the returned exiles, though it lacked the grandeur of Solomon's Temple.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah leads the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, strengthening the city's defenses and restoring a sense of security and order.
c. 520-518 BC— this verse
Prophecies of Zechariah
Zechariah, alongside Haggai, prophesies during the rebuilding of the Second Temple, encouraging the people to continue their work with faith in God's promises of future restoration and blessing.
This verse echoes Zechariah's exclamation about God's goodness, suggesting that reflecting on God's abundant goodness should lead to expressions of praise and remembrance.
Isaiah 35:1-2Similar to Zechariah's prophecy of flourishing, Isaiah describes a redeemed land where the wilderness blooms and rejoices, painting a picture of abundant life and beauty resulting from God's intervention.
Joel 2:18-19This passage directly parallels Zechariah's imagery of grain and new wine, promising that God will restore His people's harvests and abundance, leading to rejoicing and prosperity.
1 John 2:13-14This New Testament passage refers to believers as 'young men' and 'children' who have overcome evil, resonating with Zechariah's depiction of spiritual vitality and strength derived from God's provisions.
Psalm 8:1This verse captures a similar sense of awe at God's magnificent name and creation, which can be seen as a parallel to the prophet's wonder at God's goodness and beauty manifested in His people's prosperity.
cambridgeZechariah 9:17: "For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids."
17 . his goodness … his beauty ] i.e. either Israel’s ( their prosperity , R. V. margin), as thus delivered and honoured by God (comp. Hosea 14:6 ), or God’s, the exclamation being drawn from the prophet by the consideration of the great things he had been commissioned to make known. “The goodness and the beauty are the goodness and beauty of God, whose g…
barnesZechariah 9:17: "For how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty! corn shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids."
For how great is His goodness - For it is unutterable! As the Psalmist said, "O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:1 , and Jacob, "How awful is this place!" Genesis 28:17 , and the Psalmist, "How awful are Thy doings!" The goodness and the beauty are the goodness and beauty of God, whose great doings had been his theme th…
The prophet bursts out in awe, not just at earthly prosperity like grain and wine, but at the goodness and beauty of God Himself. This isn't just about a good harvest; it's about recognizing the overflowing divine favor that nourishes and enlivens His people, making them flourish like the young men and women described.
The prophet Zechariah is painting a picture of joyous celebration and abundant blessing following a great deliverance. This verse bursts forth as an exclamation of awe at God's goodness and beauty, directly linked to the preceding promise of a glorious King who will bring salvation. The prophecy foretells a future of flourishing prosperity, where young men and women will thrive with the abundance of grain and new wine, symbolizing God's favor and the renewal of life.
The prophet Zechariah is painting a picture of joyous celebration and abundant blessing following a great deliverance. This verse bursts forth as an exclamation of awe at God's goodness and beauty, directly linked to the preceding promise of a glorious King who will bring salvation. The prophecy foretells a future of flourishing prosperity, where young men and women will thrive with the abundance of grain and new wine, symbolizing God's favor and the renewal of life.
"For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women." — The prophet bursts out in awe, not just at earthly prosperity like grain and wine, but at the goodness and beauty of God Himself. This isn't just about a good harvest; it's about recognizing the…
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Last reviewed October 2026
