Definition: Yea, they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Zechariah 7:12. It’s a really powerful and dramatic passage about God’s judgment. Here's what it means, explained in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a moment of intense anger and rebellion by the people of Israel who were listening to the prophets. Basically, they wanted to ignore the important messages coming from God – the laws he gave them and the words he sent through messengers. And when they refused to listen, God’s anger flared up tremendously. Let's unpack it word-by-word: “Zechariah 7:12” : This is a specific passage in the Old Testament book of Zechariah. “Yea, they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone…” : This is where it gets a little symbolic. “Adamant” means incredibly hard and unyielding. So, “they made their hearts as an adamant stone” means they became completely rigid and unwilling to understand or obey God’s message. They were so determined to reject what God was telling them that they refused to listen. “…lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets:” This part explains why they were rejecting the messages. "The law" refers to the commandments and rules given to the Israelites. “The words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets” means that God had already spoken these laws through messengers (like Moses) before, and they didn’t want to hear them again. “Therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.” : This is the result of their stubborn refusal. “Great wrath” means intense anger and fury. It wasn't just mild annoyance; it was a very strong, overwhelming feeling of displeasure with God’s judgment. What does this mean in a broader sense? This verse speaks to a crucial moment in history – the time when Israel disobeyed God and began to wander away from his will. It represents a turning point where God's plan was threatened. It’s a reminder that: God is just and powerful: He doesn’t tolerate disobedience. His judgment can be severe: The wrath of God is a consequence of rejecting him. He still cares for his people: Despite the anger, God remains committed to bringing them back to him. In short, this verse tells us that when people refuse to listen to God's message, it leads to a very serious and powerful reaction from God. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these parts in more detail? Compare this passage to another Bible story with a similar theme (like the story of Noah)?