Category: Zechariah

A Call to Repentance

1 Inthe eighth month of the second year [of the reign] ofDarius [the king of Persia], the word of the Lordcame to Zechariah (the Lordremembers) the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,

2 “The Lordwas extremely angry with your fathers.

3 Therefore say to the Jews, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts (armies), “Return to Me,” declares the Lordof hosts, “and I shall return to you.

4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “Repent [that is, change your way of thinking]andreturn now from your evil way [of life] and from your evil deeds.” ’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me,” declares the Lord.

5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?

6 But did not My words (warnings) and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘As the Lordof hosts planned to do to us [in discipline and punishment], in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so has He dealt with us.’ ” ’ ”

Patrol of the Earth

7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (Feb 15, 519b.c.), which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of [the reign of] Darius, the word of the Lordcame to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, as follows:

8 In the night I saw [a vision] and behold, aMan was riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees that were in the ravine; and behind Him were horses: red, sorrel (reddish-brown), and white.

9 Then I said, “O my lord, what are these?” And theangel who was speaking with me said, “I will show you what these are.”

10 And the Man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the Lordhas sent to go throughout the earthandpatrol it.”

11 And the men on the horses answered theAngel of the Lordwho stood among the myrtle trees and said, “We have gone throughout the earth [patrolling it] and behold, all the earth sits at rest [in peace and free from war].”

12 Then the Angel of the Lordsaid, “O Lordof hosts, how long will You withhold mercyandcompassion from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which You have had indignationandanger these seventy years [of the Babylonian captivity]?”

13 And the Lordanswered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious and comforting words.

14 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “I am jealous [with a burning, fiery passion] for Jerusalem and for Zion [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine] with a great jealousy.

15 But I am very angry with thenations who are at easeandfeel secure; for while I was only a little angry, theyfurthered the disaster [against the people of Israel].”

16 Therefore, thus says the Lord, “I have returned to Jerusalem with mercyandcompassion. My house shall be built in it,” says the Lordof hosts, “and ameasuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.” ’

17 Proclaim again, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lordshall again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.” ’ ”

18 Then I looked up, and saw four horns (powers)!

19 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he answered me, “These are the horns [the powerful Gentile nations] that have scattered Judah (the Southern Kingdom), Israel (the Northern Kingdom), and Jerusalem (capital city of Judah).”

20 Then the Lordshowed me four craftsmen.

21 I asked, “What are these [horns and craftsmen] coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns (powers) that have scattered Judah so that no man raised up his head [because of the suffering inflicted by the Gentile nations]. But thesecraftsmenhave come to terrify themandmake them panic, and throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.”

God’s Favor to Zion

1 And I looked up, and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.

2 So I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see how wide it is and how long it is.”

3 And behold, the angel who was speaking with me was going out, and another angel was coming out to meet him,

4 and he said to the second angel, “Run, speak to that young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited [like villages] without walls [spreading out into the open country] because of the great number of people and livestock in it.

5 For I,’ declares the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire around her [protecting her from enemies], and I will be the glory in her midst.’ ”

6 “Hear this! Flee from [Babylon] the land of the north [which shall come under judgment],” declares the Lord, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of the heavens,” declares the Lord.

7 “Hear, Zion (Jerusalem)! Escape,you who are living with the daughter of Babylon!”

8 For thus says the Lordof hosts, “Afterglory He has sent Me against the nations which plunder you—for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.

9 Behold, I will wave my hand over them and they shall become plunder for their own slaves. Then you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the Lordof hosts has sent Me.

10 Sing for joy and rejoice, O Daughter of Zion; for behold, I am coming, and I will dwell in your midst,” declares the Lord.

11 “Many nations shall join themselves to the Lordin that day and shall be My people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know (recognize, understand fully) that the Lordof hosts has sent Me to you.

12 The Lordwill take possession of Judah as His portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.

13 “Be still before the Lord, all mankind; for He is roused (raised up) from His holy habitation [in response to His persecuted people].”

Joshua, the High Priest

1 Then the guiding angel showed me Joshua the high priest [representing disobedient, sinful Israel] standing before theAngel of the Lord, and Satan standing at Joshua’s right hand to be his adversaryandto accuse him.

2 And the Lordsaid to Satan, “The Lordrebuke you, Satan! Even the Lord, who [now and ever] has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is this not alog snatchedandrescued from the fire?”

3 Now Joshua was clothed withfilthy (nauseatingly vile) garments and was standing before the Angel [of the Lord].

4 He spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And He said to Joshua, “See, I have caused your wickedness to be taken away from you, and I will clotheandbeautify you with rich robes [of forgiveness].”

5 And I (Zechariah) said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with [rich] garments. And the Angel of the Lordstood by.

6 And the Angel of the Lord[solemnly and earnestly] admonished Joshua, saying,

7 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways [that is, remain faithful] and perform My service, then you will also govern My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you free access [to My presence] among these who are standing here.

The Branch

8 Now listen, Joshua, the high priest, you and your colleagues who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol [of what is to come]—for behold, I am going to bring in My servant theBranch [in Messianic glory].

9 For behold, thestone which I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes (symbolizing infinite intelligence, omniscience). Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the Lordof hosts, ‘and I will remove the wickednessandguilt of this land in a single day.

10 In that day,’ declares the Lordof hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and his fig tree [enjoying peace and prosperity in the kingdom].’ ”

The Golden Lampstand and Olive Trees

1 And the angel who was speaking with me came back and awakened me, like a man who is awakened out of his sleep.

2 He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I see, and behold, alampstand all of gold, with its bowl [for oil] on the top of it and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it.

3 And there are two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side [supplying it continuously with oil].”

4 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5 Then the angel who was speaking with me answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

6 Then he said to me, “This [continuous supply of oil] is the word of the Lordto Zerubbabel [prince of Judah], saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of whom the oil is a symbol],’ says the Lordof hosts.

7 ‘What are you, O great mountain [of obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who will rebuild the temple]you will becomea plain (insignificant)! And he will bring out the capstone [of the new temple] with loud shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”

8 Also the word of the Lordcame to me, saying,

9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know (recognize, understand fully) that the Lordof hosts has sent me [as His messenger] to you.

10 Who [with reason] despises the day of small things (beginnings)? For theseseven [eyes] shall rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lordwhich roam throughout the earth.”

11 Then I said to him [who was speaking with me], “What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on its left?”

12 And a second time I said to him, “What are these two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes by which the golden oil is emptied?”

13 And he answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”

14 Then he said, “These are the twosons of fresh oil [Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the prince of Judah] who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth [as His anointed ones].”

The Flying Scroll

1 Again I looked up, and I saw a scroll flyingin the air!

2 And the angel said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see aflying scroll; its length is twenty cubits (thirty feet) and its width is ten cubits (fifteen feet).”

3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of the whole land; for everyone who steals will be cut off according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears [oaths falsely] shall be cut off according to the writing on the other side.

4 I will send the curse out,” declares the Lordof hosts, “and it will enter the house of the thief and the house of the one who swears falsely by My name; and it will spend the night in that house and consume it, both its timber and its stones.”

5 Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and said to me, “Now look up and see what this is going forth.”

6 And I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is theephah (grain basket) going forth. This,” he continued, “is their appearance throughout the land

7 (and behold, a [round, flat] leadcover was lifted up); and there sat a woman inside the ephah.”

8 Then he said, “This is Wickedness (Godlessness)!” And he threw her back down into the middle of the ephah and threw the lead cover on its opening.

9 Then I looked up, and there were two women coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens.

10 I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “Where are they taking the ephah?”

11 And he said to me, “To the land of Shinar (Babylon) to build a temple for her; and when it is prepared,she shall be set there on her own pedestal.”

The Four Chariots

1 Now again I looked up, andfour chariots were coming out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of [firm, immovable] bronze (divine judgment).

2 The first chariot had red horses (war, bloodshed), the second chariot had black horses (famine, death),

3 the third chariot had white horses (victory), and the fourth chariot had strong dappled horses (death through judgment).

4 Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5 The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go out after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth,

6 with the chariot with the black horses going toward the north country; then the one with the white horses follows after them [because there are two northern powers to overcome], and the chariot with the dappled horses goes toward the south country.”

7 When the strong horses went out, they were eager to patrol the earth. And the Lordsaid, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth [watching and protecting it].

8 Then He called out to me and said to me, “See, those who are going to the north country have quieted My Spirit [of wrath] in the north country.”

9 The word of the Lordalso came to me, saying,

10 “Takean offeringfrom the exiles, from Heldai, from Tobijah, and from Jedaiah [as representatives]; and you go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon.

The Symbolic Crowns

11 Take silver and gold [from them], and make anornatecrown and set it on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

12 Then say to Joshua, ‘Thus says the Lordof hosts, “Behold (look, keep in sight, watch), a Man (Messiah) whose name is Branch, for He shall branch out from His place (Israel, the Davidic line); and He shall build the [ultimate] temple of the Lord.

13 Yes, [you are to build a temple of the Lord, but] it is He who shall build the [ultimate] temple of the Lord, and He shall bear the honorandmajesty [as the only begotten of the Father] and sit and rule on His throne. And He shall be aPriest on His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between the two offices [Priest and King].” ’

14 Now the crown shall become a reminder in the temple of the Lordto Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.

15 And those who are far away will come and [help] build the temple of the Lord.” Then you shall know [without any doubt] that the Lordof hosts sent me (Zechariah) to you. And it will come about if you will diligently obey the [voice of the] Lordyour God.

Hearts like Flint

1 In the fourth year of [the reign of] King Darius [of Persia], the word of the Lordcame to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month,which isChislev (Dec 7, 518b.c.).

2 Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to seek the favor of the Lord,

3 speaking to the priests who belong to the house of the Lordof hosts and to the prophets, saying, “[Now that I am returned from exile] shall I weep in the fifth month [mourning the destruction of the temple], and fast as I have done these many years [in Babylon]?”

4 Then the word of the Lordof hosts came to me (Zechariah), saying,

5 “Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years [that you were in exile], was it actually for Me that you fasted?

6 When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and do you not drink for yourselves [to satisfy your own needs]?

7 Should you not hear the words which the Lordproclaimed by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and prosperous along with her cities around her, and the South (the Negev) and the foothills were inhabited?’ ”

8 Then the word of the Lordcame to Zechariah, saying,

9 “Thus has the Lordof hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion, to each other;

10 and do not oppressorexploit the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor; and do not deviseoreven imagine evil in your hearts against one another.’

11 But they refused to listenandpay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder [stiffening themselves in resistance] and stopped up their ears.

12 They made their hearts [hard] like flint, so that they could not hear the law and the words which the Lordof hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the Lordof hosts.

13 And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,” says the Lordof hosts;

14 “but I scattered them with a storm wind among all the nations whom they have not known. Thus the land was desolate after they had gone, so that no one passed through or returned, for they [by their sins] had made the pleasant land desolateanddeserted.”

The Coming Peace and Prosperity of Zion

1 Then the word of the Lordof hosts came [to me], saying,

2 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘I amjealous for Zion with great jealousy [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine], and I am jealous for her with great wrath [against her enemies].’

3 Thus says the Lord, ‘I shall return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the [faithful] City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lordof hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.’

4 Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘Old men and old women will again sit in thestreets (public places) of Jerusalem, each man with his staff in his hand because of his advanced age.

5 And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.’

6 Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘If it is difficult in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days [in which this comes to pass], will it also be difficult in My sight?’ declares the Lordof hosts.

7 Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘Behold, I am going to save My people from the east country and from the west,

8 and I will bring them home and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God in truth (faithfulness) and in righteousness.’

9 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘Let your hands be strong, you who in these days hear these words from the mouths of the prophets who, on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lordof hosts was laid, foretold that the temple might be rebuilt.

10 For before those days there were no wages for man or animal; nor was there any peaceorsuccess for him who went out or came in because of his enemies, for I set all men against one another.

11 But now [in this time since you began to build] I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the Lordof hosts.

12 ‘For there the seed will produce peaceandprosperity; the vine will yield its fruit, and the ground will produce its increase, and the heavens will give their dew. And I will cause the remnant of this people to inheritandpossess all these things.

13 And as you have been a curse among the nations, O house of Judah (Southern Kingdom) and house of Israel (Northern Kingdom), so I will save you, that you may be a blessing. Fear not; let your hands be strong.’

14 “For thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘Just as I planned to do harm to you when your fathers provoked Me to wrath,’ says the Lordof hosts, ‘and I did not relent,

15 so I have again planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not fear!

16 These are the things which you should do: speak the truth with one another; judge with truth and pronounce the judgment that brings peace in [the courts at] your gates.

17 And let none of you deviseoreven imagine evil in your heart against another, and do not love lyingorhalf-truths; for all these things I hate,’ declares the Lord.”

18 Then the word of the Lordof hosts came to me (Zechariah), saying,

19 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘The fast of the fourth [month to mourn the breaching of Jerusalem’s walls], the fast of the fifth [month to mourn the temple’s destruction], the fast of the seventh [month to mourn Gedaliah’s assassination], and the fast of the tenth [month to mourn the siege of Jerusalem] will become times of joy and gladness and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah; so [to bring this about] love truth and peace.’

20 “Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘It will come to pass that peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will come [to Jerusalem].

21 The inhabitants of one [city] will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to ask the favor of the Lordand to seek the Lordof hosts. I will go also.”

22 So many peoples and powerful nations will come to seek the Lordof hosts in Jerusalem and to ask the Lordfor His favor.’

23 Thus says the Lordof hosts, ‘In those days ten men [as representatives] from all the nations will grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ”

Prophecies against Neighboring Nations

1 Theoracle (a burdensome message) of the word of the Lordis against the land of Hadrach [in Syria], with Damascus as its resting place (for the eyes of men, especially of all the tribes of Israel, are toward the Lord),

2 And Hamath also, which borders on it (Damascus),

Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.

3 For Tyre built herself an [impregnable] stronghold [on an island offshore],

And she has heaped up silver like dust

And gold like the mire of the streets.

4 Behold, the Lord willdispossess her

And throw her wealth into the sea;

And Tyre will be devoured by fire.

5 Ashkelon will see it and fear;

Gaza will writhe in pain,

And Ekron, for her hopeandexpectation, has been ruined.

The king will perish from Gaza,

And Ashkelon will not be inhabited.

6 And a mongrel race will live in Ashdod,

And I will put an end to the prideandarrogance of the Philistines.

7 I will take the blood from their mouths

And their detestable things from between their teeth [those repulsive, idolatrous sacrifices eaten with the blood].

Then they too will be a remnant for our God,

And be like a clan in Judah,

And Ekron will be like one of theJebusites.

8 Then I will camp around My house [as a guard] because of an army,

Because of him who passes by and returns;

And no oppressor will again overrun them (Israel),

For now My eyes are upon them [providentially protecting them].

9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O Daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your King (Messianic King) is coming to you;

He is righteous and endowed with salvation,

Humbleandunassuming [in submission to the will of the Father] and riding on adonkey,

Upon a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will cut off the [war] chariot from Ephraim

And the [war] horse from Jerusalem,

And the bow of war will be cut off.

And He will speak [words of] peace to the nations,

And His dominion shall be from sea to sea [absolutely endless],

And from the River [Euphrates] to the ends of the earth.

Salvation of Judah and Ephraim

11 As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you [My chosen people, the covenant that was sealed with blood]

I have freed your prisoners from the waterless pit.

12 Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], O prisoners who have the hope;

Even today I am declaring that I will restore double [your former prosperity] to you [as firstborn among nations].

13 For I will bend Judah as My bow,

I will fit the bow with Ephraim [as My arrow].

And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece,

And will make you [Israel] like the sword of a warrior.

14 Then the Lordwill be seen [hovering] over them [protecting His people],

And His arrow will go forth like lightning;

And the Lord Godwill blow the trumpet

And will march in the windstorms of the south.

15 The Lordof hosts shall defendandprotect them;

And they will devour [the enemy] and trample down the slingstones [that have missed their mark],

And they will drink [of victory] and be boisterous as with wine;

And they shall be filled likesacrificialbowls [used to catch the blood],

Drenchedlike the corners of the [sacrificial] altar.

16 And the Lordtheir God shall save them on that day

As the flock of His people;

For they are like the [precious] jewels of a crown,

Displayedandglittering in His land.

17 For how great is God’s goodness and how great is His beauty! And how great [He will make Israel’s] goodliness and [Israel’s] beauty!

Grain and new wine will make the young men and virgins flourish.

God Will Bless Judah and Ephraim

1 Askforrain from the Lordat the time of the spring rain.

It is the Lordwho makes the thunder clouds;

And He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field to everyone.

2 For the teraphim (household idols) speak wickedness (emptiness, worthlessness),

And the diviners see lying visions

And tell false dreams;

They comfort in vain.

Therefore the people wander like sheep,

They are afflictedandsuffer because there is no shepherd.

3 “My anger is kindled against the shepherds [who are not true shepherds],

And I shall punish the male goats (leaders);

For the Lordof hosts has visited His flock, the house of Judah (the Southern Kingdom),

And will make them like His beautifulandmajestic horse in the battle.

4 From them (Judah) shall come theCornerstone,

From them the tent peg,

From them the bow of battle,

From them every ruler, all of them together.

5 They will be like mighty men

Trampling downtheir enemiesin the mire of the streets in the battle;

And they will fight because the Lordis with them,

And the [enemies’] riders on horses will be shamed.

6 I will strengthen the house of Judah [making it superior],

And I will save the house of Joseph.

I will bring them back [and allow them to live securely],

Because I have had compassion on them.

They will be as though I had not rejected them,

For I am the Lordtheir God, and I will listenandanswer them.

7 ThenEphraim will be like a mighty warrior,

And their heart will rejoice as if from wine;

Yes, their children will see it and rejoice;

Their heart will rejoiceandshout triumphantly in the Lord.

8 I willwhistle for them and gather them together,

For I have redeemed them;

And they will increase [again] as they have increased before [in Egypt].

9 When I scatter them among the nations,

They will remember Me in far countries,

And with their children they will live and come back [to Me and the land I gave them].

10 I will bring them (all Israel) back home again from the land of Egypt

And gather them from Assyria,

And I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon [the land on the east and on the west of the Jordan]

Until no room can be found for them.

11 And they will pass through the sea of distressandanxiety [with the Lordleading His people, as at the Red Sea]

And He will strike the waves in the sea,

So that all the depths of the Nile will dry up;

And the pride of Assyria will be brought down

And the scepter [of the taskmasters] of Egypt will pass away.

12 And I will strengthen Israel in the Lord,

And they will walk [and glory] in His name,” declares the Lord.