Zechariah 1:13 (KJV)

What does Zechariah 1:13 mean?

Zechariah 1:13 describes the LORD answering an angel with words that are kind and reassuring. The answer comes after the angel asks how long Jerusalem and the towns of Judah will remain under the LORD’s anger. The verse marks a turn from that urgent question toward a hopeful answer.

The angel who speaks with Zechariah is the one who receives the answer. Zechariah hears the exchange during a vision, and the angel then tells him what to announce.

The Hebrew behind Zechariah 1:13

• “comfortable” — נִחֻמִים (niḥumim): This word carries the sense of comfort or consolation. Here, “comfortable words” means words that give reassurance, not words about physical comfort.
• “LORD” — יהוה (YHWH): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, traditionally represented by “LORD” in capital letters in the KJV. It identifies the one who answers the angel.

Why Zechariah 1:13 matters

• The answer is connected to a specific plea about Jerusalem and Judah. The angel’s question in verse 12 gives the “good words” their setting: people are waiting to hear how the LORD will respond to their distress.
• The verse introduces the answer without giving its full content. The message that follows speaks of the LORD’s concern for Jerusalem and of the city being rebuilt (verses 14–16).
• The answer reaches Zechariah through the angel who talks with him. In verse 14, that angel tells Zechariah to proclaim the message, moving the exchange toward a public announcement.