Zechariah 7:12

"But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear."

Key Reflection

Zechariah 7:12 vividly portrays the Israelites' stubborn resistance to God's word. They actively chose to ignore divine messages by physically turning away and blocking their ears, a gesture that symbolizes both literal deafness and spiritual blindness. This cultural context reflects a people who were willfully deaf to prophecy—behavior that aligns with the broader biblical theme of God’s persistent calls met with human rebellion.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Harder than adamant -The stone, whatever it be, was hard enough to cut ineffaceable characters : it was harder than flint . It would cut rocks; it could not be graven itself, or receive the characters of God. This is the last sin, obduracy, persevering impenitence, which “resisted the Holy Spirit”Acts 7:51. and “did despite to the Spirit of grace”Hebrews 10:29. Not through infirmity, but of set purpose, they hardened themselves, lest “they should convert”Isaiah 6:10and be healed. They feared to trust themselves to God’s word, lest He should convert them by it.

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