Clarke's Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:3
Verse 3. Turn ye unto me] This shows that they had power to return, if they would but use it. And I will turn unto you] I will show you mercy and grant you salvation, if you will use the grace I have already given you. Men are lost, because they turn not unto God; but no man is lost because he had not power to return. God gives this, and he will require it.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. Therefore say thou unto them , etc.] This is an order from the Lord to Zechariah, to say unto them, in the name of the Lord: thus saith the Lord of hosts ; of the hosts above and below, of angels and of men, of heaven and earth, and all that is therein: this is said, that the greater regard might be had to his words: turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts ; by repentance, and acknowledgment of former sins; by reformation for the future; by attending to the worship and service of God, and seeking to glorify him. So the Targum, “return to my worship”: this is not the condition of what follows, but what follows is the motive and encouragement to this: and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts ; to dwell among them, manifest himself unto and protect them. Three times the phrase, “the Lord of hosts”, is used in this verse: it may be with respect to the three Persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Spirit; who manifest themselves unto, and take up their abode with, such as love the Lord, and keep his commandments; (see John 14:21).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - God's almighty power and sovereign dominion, should engage an encourage sinners to repent and turn to Him. It is very desirable to have the Lord of hosts for our friend, and very dreadful to have his for our enemy. Review what is past, and observe the message God sent by his servants, the prophets, to your fathers. Turn ye now from your evi ways, and from your evil doings. Be persuaded to leave your sins, a the only way to prevent approaching ruin. What is become of ou fathers, and of the prophets that preached to them? They are all dea and gone. Here they were, in the towns and countries where we live passing and repassing in the same streets, dwelling in the same houses trading in the same shops and exchanges, worshipping God in the sam places. But where are they? When they died, there was not an end of them; they are in eternity, in the world of spirits, the unchangeabl world to which we hasten apace. Where are they? Those of them who live and died in sin, are in torment. Those who lived and died in Christ are in heaven; and if we live and die as they did, we shall be with them shortly and eternally. If they minded not their own souls, is tha a reason why their posterity should ruin theirs also? The prophets ar gone. Christ is a Prophet that lives for ever, but all other prophet have a period put to their office. Oh that this consideration had it due weight; that dying ministers are dealing with dying people abou their never-dying souls, and an awful eternity, upon the brink of whic both are standing! In another world, both we and our prophets shal live for ever: to prepare for that world ought to be our great care in this. The preachers died, and the hearers died, but the word of God died not; not one jot or title of it fell to the ground; for he is righteous.
Original Hebrew
ואמרת 559 אלהם 413 כה 3541 אמר 559 יהוה 3068 צבאות 6635 שׁובו 7725 אלי 413 נאם 5002 יהוה 3068 צבאות 6635 ואשׁוב 7725 אליכם 413 אמר 559 יהוה 3068 צבאות׃ 6635
