And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;

ZECHARIAH 7:1KJV
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Zechariah 7:1 (KJV)

What does Zechariah 7:1 mean?

Zechariah 7:1 marks a specific moment in history when God’s message came to the prophet Zechariah: it was during the fourth year of King Darius, on the fourth day of the ninth month, called Chisleu. This verse sets the exact time when the following words and events in the book take place.

The verse is a historical note, letting readers know that what follows is not general advice but a message given at a real time, to real people. Zechariah, a prophet among the Jewish people who had returned from exile, is receiving a word from God during the reign of the Persian king Darius, which helps us understand the context and urgency of the message.

The Hebrew behind Zechariah 7:1

  • "Chisleu" (כִּסְלֵו, Kislev) is the Hebrew name for the ninth month in the Jewish calendar, usually falling around November–December. Naming the month shows the careful record-keeping and the importance of the timing for the events that follow.
  • "Word" (דָּבָר, davar) is the Hebrew term for "word" or "message." Here, it emphasizes that what Zechariah receives is not just an idea, but a direct communication from God.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH) is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, highlighting that the message comes from Israel’s covenant God, not a generic deity.

Why Zechariah 7:1 matters

  • This verse anchors the prophecy in a real historical setting, which helps readers see that the events and messages are not abstract or mythical.
  • By naming King Darius and the month Chisleu, Zechariah 7:1 connects the Jewish people's story to the wider world events of their time, showing how their faith and questions fit into global history.
  • The careful dating signals that what follows is a response to a specific situation, inviting readers to pay attention to the issues and questions that prompted God’s message.

Where else these words appear

“Chisleu” Hebrew H3691 · used in 2 verses

  • Nehemiah 1:1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,

“Darius” Hebrew H1867 · used in 10 verses

  • Ezra 4:5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
  • Daniel 11:1 Also I in the first year of Darius the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen him.
  • Haggai 2:10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,

“ninth” Hebrew H8671 · used in 17 verses

  • Leviticus 25:22 And ye shall sow the eighth year, and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store.
  • 1 Chronicles 24:11 The ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shecaniah,
  • Jeremiah 36:22 Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.

“Zechariah” Hebrew H2148 · used in 43 verses

  • 2 Kings 14:29 And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.
  • 1 Chronicles 26:14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
  • Ezra 8:11 And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males.