Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous in mine eyes? - However impossible these things just promised by me seem to you, they are not so with God. The "remnant" that had returned from the captivity, beholding the city desolate, and the walls and houses in ruins, could hardly believe what God promised. The expression "remnant" implies their preservation by the grace of God amidst all the trials of the Babylonian captivity, and glances at their ingratitude in rating so low God's power, though they had experienced it so 'marvelously' displayed in their restoration. A great source of unbelief is, men 'limit' the power of "the Holy One of Israel" by their own (Psalms 77:19-20,41).
In these days - "of small things" (Zechariah 4:10), when such great things promised seemed incredible. Maurer, after Jerome, translates 'in those days;' i:e., if the thing which I have promised to do, in those days yet to come, seem 'marvelous,' etc. The Hebrew х haaheem (H1992)] here used usually means those. A different Hebrew word (Zechariah 8:9) х haa'eeleh (H428)] is used of "these days,"