Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

ZECHARIAH 8:19KJV
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Zechariah 8:19 (KJV)

What does Zechariah 8:19 mean?

Zechariah 8:19 says that the special fasts the people of Judah observed in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become times of joy, gladness, and celebration instead of mourning. God tells the people to love truth and peace as they move from sorrow to rejoicing.

Zechariah is speaking God’s message to the people of Judah after their return from exile. These fasts remembered tragic events in their history, but God promises to turn their sadness into happy festivals. The verse closes by urging the people to value honesty and peace, showing what God wants their renewed community to be like.

The Hebrew behind Zechariah 8:19

  • "fast" (צוֹם, tsom): This word means a time of abstaining from food, usually for mourning or repentance. The verse repeats it for each month, highlighting how these sad occasions will be transformed.
  • "joy" (שִׂמְחָה, simchah) and "gladness" (שָׂשׂוֹן, sason): Both words describe happiness, but "simchah" often means a deep, festive joy, while "sason" is more about cheerful delight. The pairing shows a complete reversal of mood.
  • "cheerful" (טוֹב, tov) "feasts" (מוֹעֵד, moed): "Tov" means good or pleasant, and "moed" refers to an appointed festival. Together, they stress that these will be positive, God-appointed celebrations, not just ordinary parties.
  • "truth" (אֱמֶת, emet) and "peace" (שָׁלוֹם, shalom): "Emet" means faithfulness or reliability, and "shalom" is about wholeness and harmony, not just the absence of conflict. God wants these qualities to shape the new community.

Why Zechariah 8:19 matters

  • Zechariah 8:19 explains that God intends to change the meaning of Judah’s fasts from reminders of disaster to joyful festivals, showing His power to restore and renew.
  • The verse highlights that God’s blessings are tied to the people’s commitment to truth and peace, not just ritual observance.
  • This verse connects to the wider message of Zechariah 8, where God promises restoration, peace, and a new beginning for His people after exile.

Where else these words appear

“fast” Hebrew H6685 · used in 22 verses

  • 2 Samuel 12:16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
  • Esther 9:31 To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
  • Jeremiah 36:6 Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD'S house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.

“joy” Hebrew H8342 · used in 22 verses

  • Esther 8:16 The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
  • Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
  • Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

“tenth” Hebrew H6224 · used in 26 verses

  • Genesis 8:5 And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
  • Deuteronomy 23:2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD.
  • Esther 2:16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

“fifth” Hebrew H2549 · used in 44 verses

  • Genesis 1:23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
  • Numbers 29:26 And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot:
  • 1 Chronicles 26:3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.