Albert Barnes Commentary Zechariah 8:3

"Thus saith Jehovah: I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth; and the mountain of Jehovah of hosts, The holy mountain." — Zechariah 8:3 (ASV)

I am returned - Dionysius states: “Without change in Myself, I am turned to that people from the effect of justice to the sweetness of mercy, and I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, in the temple and the people, indwelling the hearts of the good by charity and grace. Christ also, Very God and Very Man, visibly conversed and was seen in Zion.” Osorius adds: “When He says, ‘I am turned,’ He shows that she was turned too. He had said, Turn to Me and I will turn to you; otherwise she would not have been received into favor by Him. As the fruit of this conversion, He promises her His presence, the ornaments of truth, the hope of security, and adorns her with glorious titles.”

God had symbolized to Ezekiel the departure of His special presence, in that the glory of the God of Israel which was over the temple, at the very place where they placed the image of jealousy, went up from the Cherub (Ezekiel 8:4–5), after which it was to the threshold of the house (Ezekiel 9:3); then stood over the Cherubim (Ezekiel 10:4, 18); and then went up from the midst of the city and stood upon the mountain, which is on the east side of the city (Ezekiel 11:23), so removing from them.

He had prophesied its return in the vision of the symbolic temple, how the glory of the Lord came into the house by the way of the gate looking toward the East, and the Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner court, and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house (Ezekiel 43:4). This renewed dwelling in the midst of them, Zechariah too prophesies, in the same terms as in his third vision , I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem (Zechariah 2:10; which is Zechariah 2:14 in the Hebrew text).

And Jerusalem shall be called the city of truth - being what she is called, since God would not call her falsely. So Isaiah says, afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city (Isaiah 1:26), and they shall call you the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. So Zephaniah had prophesied, The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies (Zephaniah 3:13).

Truth embraces everything opposite to falsehood: faithfulness, as opposed to faithlessness; sincerity, as opposed to pretense; veracity, as opposed to falsehood; honesty, as opposed to dishonesty in action; truth of religion or faith, as opposed to false doctrine. Dionysius states: “It shall be called the city of truth, that is, of the True God or of truth of life, doctrine, and justice.”

It is chiefly verified by the Coming of Christ, who often preached in Jerusalem, in whom the city afterward believed.

And the mountain of the Lord of hosts - Mount Zion, on which the temple shall be built, shall be called and be the mountain of holiness. This had been the favorite title of the Psalmists and Isaiah (Isaiah 11:9; Isaiah 56:7; Isaiah 57:13; Isaiah 65:11, 25; Isaiah 66:20; Joel 3:17; Obadiah 1:16; Zephaniah 3:11; Daniel 9:16, 20).

Obadiah had foretold, upon Mount Zion there shall be holiness (Obadiah 1:17); and Jeremiah, As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities of them, when I shall bring again their captivity; The Lord shall bless you, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness (Jeremiah 31:23).

It should be called and be; it should fulfill the significance of its titles. For example, in the Apostles’ Creed we profess our belief in “the holy Catholic Church,” and holiness is one of its characteristics.