Definition: Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which [is] the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Zechariah 1:7. It's a really significant passage in the Bible that talks about a prophecy and God’s message. Here’s a simplified explanation: What it Means: “Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which [is] the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying…” This is essentially a recording of God speaking to Zechariah. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month…” : This tells us when this happened – it was in the 11th month of the year, which is often called “Sebat” in Hebrew. It’s a specific date. “…which [is] the month Sebat…” : "Sebat" is a Hebrew word that means "the month of the second year." So, it's referring to the second year under Darius, a powerful king of Persia. “came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah…” : This is the key part! God spoke directly to Zechariah. “…the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet…” : These are Zechariah’s names – he was a prophet who had previously been speaking with King Darius. It's important to note that this is a previous conversation . "...saying..." : This indicates that God is delivering a message, an instruction, or a revelation to Zechariah. What does it mean in simple terms? This verse describes a crucial moment where God initiated a prophecy – a prediction about the future. It's like He was telling Zechariah something important before it happened. The precise details of what the prophecy is are not revealed, but it’s understood to be a warning or an instruction about a significant event that would occur in the future. Why is this important? This passage is considered one of the earliest and most important prophecies in the Bible. It's believed to be a foundational part of the Old Testament, setting up events that would eventually lead to the rise of Jewish kingdoms and the destruction of Babylon. It’s a pivotal moment in God’s plan for humanity. --- To help me explain it even better, could you tell me: Are you curious about why this passage is significant? Are you interested in learning more about the context of the time (like what Darius was doing)?