Many peoples and strong nations: These words would remind the hearers of such passages as Isa 2.2-4 and Micah 4.1-3. The peoples and nations would be non-Jews, so their coming to worship the God of Israel in Jerusalem would represent a great change from the circumstances of Zechariah’s own day. In some languages it may be good to follow the example of Contemporary English Version and combine these phrases so as to say “Many people from strong nations.”

To seek the LORD of hosts: See the comments on verse 21.

In Jerusalem: If Jerusalem has been mentioned in verse 20, it may not be necessary to mention it again. Translators should be guided by the patterns of cross-reference in their own language.

To entreat the favor of the LORD: See the comments on 7.2. Translators should note that the expressions entreat the favor of the LORD and seek the LORD of hosts occur in verse 22 in the opposite order from verse 21. Thus they form altogether an A-B-B-A pattern, a chiasmus. In Hebrew the variation in order creates a literary effect rather than conveying a difference of meaning, and translators should decide whether it would be better to keep this pattern in their language or to use the same order both times.

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 .