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Zechariah Chapter 4

Old Testament Minor Prophet 14 Verses

What is Zechariah 4 about?

Rich messianic prophecy — the Branch, the 30 silver coins, the pierced one — pointing unmistakably to Jesus Christ. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
2And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have seen, and, behold, a candlestick all of gold, with its bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are upon the top thereof;
3and two olive-trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4And I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.
6Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts.
7Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel [thou shalt become] a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings of Grace, grace, unto it.
8Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
9The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto you.
10For who hath despised the day of small things? for these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel; [these are] the eyes of Jehovah, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
11Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive-trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
12And I answered the second time, and said unto him, What are these two olive-branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the golden [oil] out of themselves?
13And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.
14Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“And the angel that talked with me, etc.] (see <380109>Zechariah 1:9,13): came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep; into which he fell, after he had had the former vision; (see <270818>Daniel 8:18).”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“FIFTH VISION. The golden candlestick and the two olive trees. The temple shall be completed by the aid of God's Spirit. (Zac 4:1-14) waked me--The prophet was lying in a state of ecstatic slumber with astonishment at the previous vision. "Came again, and waked me," does not imply that the angel had departed and now returned, but is an idiom for "waked me again."”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“The angel came again - The angel (as before Zechariah 2:3) had gone forth to receive some fresh instruction from a higher angel or from God. And awakened me - As a man is awakened out of sleep. Zechariah, overwhelmed by the greatness of the visions, must have sunk down in a sort of stupor, as after the vision of the ram and he-goat, as Gabriel was speaking with him, Daniel says, “I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground, and he touched me and set me upright” Daniel 8:18; and again at the voice of the angel, who, after his three weeks’ fast Daniel 10:9, came to declare to him Daniel 10:21 the scripture…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 2
“With a bowl - Or basin. His seven lamps - The temple candlestick had just so many. And seven pipes - So each of the lamps had a pipe reaching from it to the bowl. On the top - These lamps were so set, as to stand somewhat higher than the body of the candlestick. Zechariah 4:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“4:1-14 This vision affirms that through his Spirit, God would enable Zerubbabel and Jeshua to rebuild the Temple. 4:1 woke me: The series of visions (1:7–6:8) came to Zechariah in a single night. The prophet slept briefly before this fifth vision.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“the angel: Zac 1:9, Zac 1:13, Zac 1:19, Zac 2:3, Zac 3:6, Zac 3:7 waked: Kg1 19:5-7; Jer 31:26; Dan 8:18, Dan 10:8-10; Luk 9:32, Luk 22:45, Luk 22:46 Zechariah 4:2”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“Zac 4:1. "And the angel that talked with me returned and waked me, like a man who is waked out of his sleep." After the prophet has seen four visions one after another, probably with very short intervals, and has heard the marvellous interpretation of them, he is so overpowered by the impression produced by what he has seen and heard, that he falls into a state of spiritual exhaustion resembling sleep, just as Peter and his companions were unable to keep awake at the transfiguration of Christ ( Luk 9:32). He has not only fallen back into the state of ordinary human consciousness, but his ordinary spiritual…”
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