In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

ZECHARIAH 3:10KJV
Know the Bible

Zechariah 3:10 (KJV)

What does Zechariah 3:10 mean?

Zechariah 3:10 describes a future time of peace and security when each person will invite their neighbor to sit together under their own vine and fig tree, symbolizing safety, prosperity, and friendship. The verse presents a vision of the LORD of hosts promising a day when people will live without fear and enjoy the blessings of their land in harmony.

In this verse, the prophet Zechariah is sharing a message from God to the returned exiles of Judah, who had come back from Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. The phrase about sitting under the vine and fig tree was a familiar image in ancient Israel, often used to express a peaceful and settled life. The LORD of hosts (a title for God as the commander of heavenly armies) is assuring the people that, despite their current struggles, a time of restoration and well-being is coming.

The Hebrew behind Zechariah 3:10

  • "day" (יוֹם, yom): This word points to a specific future time, often used by prophets to refer to a significant moment when God acts in history. Here, it highlights a promised turning point for the people.
  • "neighbour" (רֵעַ, re'a): This term means a close companion or fellow member of the community. The invitation to the neighbor stresses the communal aspect of the blessing, not just individual comfort.
  • "vine" (גֶּפֶן, gephen) and "fig tree" (תְּאֵנָה, te'enah): Both are common symbols in the Hebrew Bible for peace, prosperity, and settled life. Their use together emphasizes a complete sense of security and abundance.

Why Zechariah 3:10 matters

  • Zechariah 3:10 clears up the idea that God’s promises are only spiritual or distant; it shows that God cares about real, everyday well-being and community life.
  • The verse connects to the wider theme of Zechariah, where God is encouraging a discouraged people with hope for a restored future, both physically and spiritually.
  • The image of inviting a neighbor under the vine and fig tree underlines the importance of relationships and shared peace, not just personal blessing.

Where else these words appear

“tree” Hebrew H8384 · used in 35 verses

  • Genesis 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
  • Proverbs 27:18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
  • Jeremiah 24:8 And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the LORD, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:

“vine” Hebrew H1612 · used in 53 verses

  • Genesis 40:9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
  • Psalms 105:33 He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
  • Jeremiah 48:32 O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.