This verse and the next go closely together, and emphasize that it is the LORD, and not idols, who is the source of rain (and therefore of crops and food).
Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain: In the Holy Land the main rains were in October/November (sometimes called “the former rains”) and in March/April (sometimes called “the latter rains”). The earlier rainy season was the time to prepare the soil for plowing, and the later rain stimulated good growth of the crops. Only the later rain is mentioned here in the Hebrew, and there is no need to copy New English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible, which follow the ancient Greek translation in mentioning both seasons. In the Hebrew the word order indicates that the focus is on the LORD (rather than on rain), establishing a contrast between him and the false gods mentioned in the following verse. In some languages it may be better to say “It is the LORD you should ask for rain….” In the season of the spring rain may also be expressed as “the rain at the beginning of the year.”
From the LORD who makes the storm clouds: The term translated storm clouds is a rare word that occurs elsewhere only in Job 28.26; Job 38.25. In those places it is rendered by “lightning” or “thunderbolt,” and indeed Revised Version and Jerusalem Bible retain “lightning” here. Since lightning often accompanies heavy rain rather than causing it, many modern versions use a more general expression here: storm clouds (Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised English Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation), “storms” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Bible en français courant), or “rain clouds” (Good News Translation, Beck). Makes the storm clouds is expressed in Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version as “sends….” In some languages this line can be rendered as “The LORD is the one who sends the clouds that produce [or, are full of] rain.”
Who gives men showers of rain: The word rendered men is actually a pronoun form meaning “to them” (compare King James Version, Revised Version, New Jerusalem Bible). This does not fit easily with the second person form of the sentence and has troubled many commentators and translators. New English Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Bible en français courant, and Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente change to “you,” probably on translational rather than textual grounds, though some Hebrew manuscripts do have “to you.” This is a valid possibility when translating into English or French. But translators need to remember that there are many changes of person within this chapter, and if their own language tolerates them without loss of understanding, then such adaptations may not be necessary. Other modern versions restructure so as to avoid the problem. Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, and New International Version have “men,” while Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch do not name any recipient. This is perhaps the best solution. Jerusalem Bible adopts a suggested variant form of the Hebrew which has “bread” instead of “to them” (a change of only one consonant); but this is not necessary, and has been abandoned by New Jerusalem Bible. The word translated showers has the sense of heavy rain or “pouring rain” (New American Bible). So translators may also say “and makes the rain pour down.”
To every one the vegetation in the field: The rain that the LORD sends brings blessings to each individual in that it causes the crops to grow well. Revised Standard Version is rather awkward in structure, and most modern versions produce a more natural expression. New American Bible for instance has “for everyone, grassy fields”; Revised English Bible has “grass in the fields for everyone”; and Good News Translation has “making the fields green for everyone.” Translators could also say, for example, “making the crops grow well in the fields.”
It is possible to restructure this verse as follows:
• The LORD is the one who sends rain clouds and makes the rain pour down. He causes the crops to grow well in the fields. So when the crops need rain at the beginning of the year, you [plural] should pray to the LORD.
Quoted with permission from Clark, David J. & Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Zechariah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2002. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .