Day 263: Grace, Grace to It (Zechariah 4:7)

Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’

Zechariah 4:7, ESV

Through the Bible: Zechariah 1–4

I’ve always been fascinated by how English translations render certain words. Take grace, for example. In the Old Testament, the ESV only uses the word six times. Compare that to 37 in the KJV, 18 in the NKJV, 7 in the NIV and CSB, and 9 in the NASB. Two of those rare appearances in the ESV come in Zechariah.

The Hebrew word is chane (rhymes with “chain,” but with a guttural “ch” like in Bach). It’s not rare in the Old Testament—69 times in all. Usually it gets translated “favor” or “acceptance,” as in “if I have found favor (chane) in your eyes.”

Its usage falls about evenly between human-to-human (like Jacob with Esau, or Joseph with Pharaoh); and human-to-God (like Noah, Moses, and the upright in Psalms and Proverbs).

So why does the ESV choose “grace” in Zechariah 4:7 and 12:10? I’m not sure, but I’m glad it does, because these two moments shine all the brighter for it.

In Zechariah 4:7, the people shout “Grace! Grace to it!” as Zerubbabel places the finishing stone on the rebuilt temple. Nearly all translations keep that wording, except the NIV and NLT, which go with, “God bless it! God bless it!” That’s closer to, “May God’s favor rest on this work.”

But notice what they don’t say. They don’t shout, “Way to go, Zerubbabel!” or, as I might hear it in Alabama, “Whooo-wee! Git ‘r done!” They don’t pat themselves on the back. Why not? Because God had already said, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit” (v. 6).

Grace was what moved Cyrus, king of Persia, to send Zerubbabel and his crew back to Jerusalem in the first place. Grace was what enabled the workers to keep building, even when the older generation wept because the second temple looked smaller than Solomon’s. So when the work was finished and the top stone laid, the only right response was a chorus of “Grace! Grace!”

Zechariah is one of the most grace-soaked books in the Old Testament. And in just a couple of days, when we get to Zechariah 12:10, we’ll see the other place this rare word appears. Spoiler: it’s going to sound—wait for it—amazing.

This blog will always be a free resource for anyone who wants to grow in their love for God’s Word. If it has blessed you and you would like to support the ministry of 66in52, please consider a one time or recurring donation. Thank you!