Zechariah 7:4
“Then the word of Yahweh of Armies came to me, saying,”
What does Zechariah 7:4 mean?
This is a simple transitional phrase that appears throughout the prophetic books, signaling that what follows is God's message rather than the prophet's own thoughts. Zechariah is receiving a direct word from God to share with the people, and he's letting us know that what he's about to say comes with divine authority. It's similar to how a messenger might say, "I have something to tell you from my boss," to make clear they're speaking on someone else's behalf. In the Jewish tradition of prophecy, these announcements help readers distinguish between the prophet's narrative and God's actual words to His people.