Zechariah 6
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
There came four chariots - Four monarchies or empires. This is supposed to mean the same with the vision of the four horns, in chap. 1. Mountains of brass - The strong barriers of God's purposes, which restrained those powers within the times and limits appointed by Jehovah.
Open source ↗EIGHTH VISION. THE FOUR CHARIOTS. (Zac 6:1-8) four chariots--symbolizing the various dispensations of Providence towards the Gentile nations which had been more or less brought into contact with Judea; especially in punishing Babylon. Compare Zac 6:8 ("the north country," that is, Babylon); Zac 1:15; Zac 2:6. The number "four" is specified not merely in reference to the four quarters of the horizon (implying universal judgments), but in allusion to the four world kingdoms of Daniel. from between two mountains--the valley of Jehoshaphat, between Moriah and Mount Olivet [MOORE]; or the valley between Zion and Moriah, where the Lord is (Zac 2:10), and whence He sends forth His ministers of judgment on the heathen [MAURER]. The temple on Mount Moriah is the symbol of the theocracy; hence the nearest spot accessible to chariots in the valley below is the most suitable for a vision affecting Judah in relation to the Gentile world powers. The chariot is the symbol of war, and so of judgments. of brass--the metal among the ancients representing hard solidity; so the immovable and resistless firmness of God's people (compare Jer 1:18). CALVIN explains the "two mountains" thus: The secret purpose of God from eternity does not come forth to view before the execution, but is hidden and kept back irresistibly till the fit time, as it were between lofty mountains; the chariots are the various changes wrought in nations, which, as swift heralds, announce to us what before we knew not. The "two" may thus correspond to the number of the "olive trees" (Zac 4:3); the allusion to the "two mountains" near the temple is not necessarily excluded in this view. HENDERSON explains them to be the Medo-Persian kingdom, represented by the "two horns" (Dan 8:3-4), now employed to execute God's purpo…
Open source ↗And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked,.... When he saw another vision, as follows: and, behold, there came four chariots; by which are meant, not the four Gospels; rather the apostles of Christ, who had their commission from Christ; were sent into all the world by him, and carried his name and Gospel thither; were the instruments Christ made use of in bringing many souls to him, and into his church, and for the defence of his Gospel, and of his interest; and were military chariots, who fought the good fight of faith; and triumphal ones, who were made to triumph in Christ, being more than conquerors through him; though others think angels are here meant, the chariots of the Lord, Psa 68:17 since they are called the four spirits of the heavens; and are said to go forth from standing before the Lord of the earth, and are sent by him into each of the parts of it, Zac 6:5 and are represented by horses of various colours, as in Zac 1:8 these may be signified by chariots, for their glory, strength, and swiftness, in which Jehovah rides about the world, and executes his will; and are made use of for the destruction of the church's enemies, and for its protection and defence. The Jewish writers, after the Targum, generally interpret them of the four monarchies, the Persian, Grecian, and Roman, by whom were done the will of God in the world; and seem to be greatly the design of the vision: these came out from between two mountains: and the mountains were mountains of brass; such in which this metal is found, as in Chalcis, where it is said to be first found (o); and from thence it has its name in the Greek tongue; or in the island of Cyprus, from whence it may be is the name of copper; and such mountains were in Judea, Idumea, and Arabia, formerly; as Carmel, accordin…
Open source ↗Zac 6:1. "And again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold four chariots coming forth between the two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of brass. Zac 6:2. In the first chariot were red horses, and in the second chariot black horses. Zac 6:3. And in the third chariot white horses, and in the fourth chariot speckled powerful horses. Zac 6:4. And I answered and said to the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? Zac 6:5. And the angel answered and said to me, These are the four winds of heaven going out, after having stationed themselves by the Lord of the whole earth. Zac 6:6. Those in which the black horses are, go out into the land of the north, and the white have gone out behind them, and the speckled have gone out into the land of the south. Zac 6:7. And the powerful ones have gone out, and sought to go, to pass through the earth; and he said, Go ye, and pass through the earth; and they passed through the earth. Zac 6:8. And he called to me, and spake to me thus: Behold, those which go out into the land of the north let down my spirit in the land of the north." The four chariots are explained in Zac 6:5 by the interpreting angel to be the four winds of heaven, which go forth after they have taken their stand by the Lord of the whole earth, i.e., have appeared before Him in the attitude of servants, to lay their account before Him, and to receive commands from Him (התיצּב על, as in Job 1:6; Job 2:1). This addition shows that the explanation is not a real interpretation; that is to say, the meaning is not that the chariots represent the four winds; but the less obvious figure of the chariots is explained through the more obvious figure of the winds, which answers better to the reality. Since, for example, according to Zac 6:8, the chariots are de…
Open source ↗The prophet is forward to receive this vision, and, as if he expected it, he turned and lifted up his eyes and looked. Though this was the seventh vision he had had, yet he did not think he had had enough; for the more we know of God and his will, if we know it aright, the more desirous we shall be to get a further acquaintance with God. Now observe here the sight that the prophet had offour chariots drawn by horses of divers colours, together with the explication of the sight, Zac 6:1-5. He did not look long before he discovered that which was worth seeing, and which would serve very much for the encouraging of himself and his friends in this dark day. We are very much in the dark concerning the meaning of this vision. Some by the four chariots understand the four monarchies; and then they read (Zac 6:5), These are the four winds of the heavens, and suppose that therein reference is had to Dan 7:2, where Daniel saw, in vision, the four winds of the heavens striving upon the great sea, representing the four monarchies. The Babylonian monarchy, they think, is here represented by the red horses, which are not afterwards mentioned, because that monarchy was now extinct. The second chariot with the black horses is the Persian monarchy, which went forth northward against the Babylonians, and quieted God's Spirit in the north country, by executing his judgments on Babylon and freeing the Jews from their captivity. The white, the Grecians, go forth after them in the north, for they overthrow the Persians. The grizzled, the Romans, who conquered the Grecian empire, are said to go forth towards the south country, because Egypt, which lay southward, was the last branch of the Grecian empire that was subdued by the Romans. The bay horses had been with the grizzled, but afterwards…
Open source ↗6:1-8 In Zechariah’s first and last visions, God sends horses to patrol the earth. Both visions show God’s sovereignty and his concern for the nations, a vital component of Zechariah’s message of comfort and encouragement to postexilic Judah. 6:1 Chariots symbolize the swift and decisive power of God’s intervention in human affairs. • The two bronze mountains are enhanced images of the two bronze pillars that once flanked the entrance to Solomon’s Temple (1 Kgs 7:13-22). Bronze symbolizes the impregnable strength of God’s dwelling.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ, H702) — four מֶרְכָּבָה (merkâbâh, H4818) — a chariot שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) נְחֹשֶׁת (nᵉchôsheth, H5178) — copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as…
Open source ↗רִאשׁוֹן (riʼshôwn, H7223) — first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun) מֶרְכָּבָה (merkâbâh, H4818) — a chariot אָדֹם (ʼâdôm, H122) — rosy סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) שֵׁנִי (shênîy, H8145) — properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again שָׁחֹר (shâchôr, H7838) — properly, dusky, but also (absol.) jetty
Open source ↗שְׁלִישִׁי (shᵉlîyshîy, H7992) — third; feminine athird (part); by extension, a third (day, year or time); specifically, a… מֶרְכָּבָה (merkâbâh, H4818) — a chariot לָבָן (lâbân, H3836) — white סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) רְבִיעִי (rᵉbîyʻîy, H7243) — fourth; also (fractionally) a fourth בָּרֹד (bârôd, H1261) — spotted (as if with hail) אָמֹץ (ʼâmôts, H554) — of a strong color, i.e. red (others fleet)
Open source ↗עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֲלְאָךְ (mălʼâk, H4397) — a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher) דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine)
Open source ↗מֲלְאָךְ (mălʼâk, H4397) — a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher) עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אַרְבַּע (ʼarbaʻ, H702) — four רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… יָצַב (yâtsab, H3320) — to place (any thing so as to stay); reflexively, to station, offer, continue אָדוֹן (ʼâdôwn, H113) — sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗שָׁחֹר (shâchôr, H7838) — properly, dusky, but also (absol.) jetty סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) לָבָן (lâbân, H3836) — white אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… בָּרֹד (bârôd, H1261) — spotted (as if with hail) תֵּימָן (têymân, H8486) — the south (as being on the right hand of a person facing the east)
Open source ↗אָמֹץ (ʼâmôts, H554) — of a strong color, i.e. red (others fleet) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) הָלַךְ (hâlak, H1980) — to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗זָעַק (zâʻaq, H2199) — to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene… אֵת (ʼêth, H853) — properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… צָפוֹן (tsâphôwn, H6828) — properly, hidden, i.e. dark; used only of the north as aquarter (gloomy and unknown) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) נוּחַ (nûwach, H5117) — to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and… רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,…
Open source ↗דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) גּוֹלָה (gôwlâh, H1473) — exile; concretely and collectively exiles חֶלְדַּי (Chelday, H2469) — Cheldai, the name of two Israelites טוֹבִיָּה (Ṭôwbîyâh, H2900) — Tobijah, the name of three Israelites and of one Samaritan יְדַעְיָה (Yᵉdaʻyâh, H3048) — Jedajah, the name of two Israelites בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) בָּבֶל (Bâbel, H894) — Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יֹאשִׁיָּה (Yôʼshîyâh, H2977) — Joshijah, the name of two Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… צְפַנְיָה (Tsᵉphanyâh, H6846) — Tsephanjah, the name of four Israelites
Open source ↗לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) כֶּסֶף (keçeph, H3701) — silver (from its pale color); by implication, money זָהָב (zâhâb, H2091) — gold, figuratively, something gold-colored (i.e. yellow), as oil, a clear sky עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application עֲטָרָה (ʻăṭârâh, H5850) — a crown שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ, H3091) — Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יְהוֹצָדָק (Yᵉhôwtsâdâq, H3087) — Jehotsadak, an Israelite גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… צֶמַח (tsemach, H6780) — a sprout (usually concrete), literal or figurative צָמַח (tsâmach, H6779) — to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative) בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) הֵיכָל (hêykâl, H1964) — a large public building, such as a palace or temple
Open source ↗בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) הֵיכָל (hêykâl, H1964) — a large public building, such as a palace or temple יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative הוֹד (hôwd, H1935) — grandeur (i.e. an imposing form and appearance) יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… מָשַׁל (mâshal, H4910) — to rule כִּסֵּא (kiççêʼ, H3678) — properly, covered, i.e. a throne (as canopied) כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… עֵצָה (ʻêtsâh, H6098) — advice; by implication, plan; also prudence שָׁלוֹם (shâlôwm, H7965) — safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,… שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold
Open source ↗עֲטָרָה (ʻăṭârâh, H5850) — a crown חֵלֶם (Chêlem, H2494) — Chelem, an Israelite טוֹבִיָּה (Ṭôwbîyâh, H2900) — Tobijah, the name of three Israelites and of one Samaritan יְדַעְיָה (Yᵉdaʻyâh, H3048) — Jedajah, the name of two Israelites חֵן (Chên, H2581) — Chen, a figurative name for an Israelite בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… צְפַנְיָה (Tsᵉphanyâh, H6846) — Tsephanjah, the name of four Israelites זִכְרוֹן (zikrôwn, H2146) — a memento (or memorable thing, day or writing) הֵיכָל (hêykâl, H1964) — a large public building, such as a palace or temple יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
The four horns that replaced the broken one represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation, but will not have the same power.
They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen.
And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.
But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven and graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains; Your judgments are like the deepest sea. O LORD, You preserve man and beast.
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
Again I lifted up my eyes and saw before me a flying scroll.
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.