Zechariah 6:1-11

A Vision of Four Chariots

1 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of 1bronze.
2 The first chariot had 2red horses, the second 3black horses,
3 the third 4white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses--all of them strong.[a]
4 Then I answered and said to 5the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
5 And the angel answered and said to me, 6"These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after 7presenting themselves before 8the LORD of all the earth.
6 The chariot with the black horses goes toward 9the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward 10the south country."
7 When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and 11patrol the earth. And he said, "Go, 12patrol the earth."13So they patrolled the earth.
8 Then he cried to me, "Behold, those who go toward 14the north country have set my Spirit at rest in 15the north country."

The Crown and the Temple

9 And the word of the LORD came to me:
10 "Take from the exiles 16Heldai, Tobijah, and 17Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of 18Zephaniah.
11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, 19and set it on the head of 20Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest.

Zechariah 6:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 6

This chapter contains a vision of four chariots, and the explanation of it; and an order to make crowns of gold and silver for certain uses mentioned; and a famous prophecy concerning the Messiah as the builder of the temple, the church. The chariots are described by their number, four; by the place, the mountains, from whence they came out; and by the different colour of the horses in each of them, Zec 6:1-3 upon the prophets inquiry what these were, an explanation is given of them; and they are said to be the four spirits of the heavens; and are described by their situation, standing before the Lord of the whole earth; by their mission from him; by each of the places to which they were sent; and by their success, or by the good effects produced, at least by some of them, Zec 6:4-8 then follows the order to make the crowns; and it is declared what they should be made of, gold and silver; from whom they were to be had, and who were to be concerned herein; and what was to be done with them; they were to be put upon the head of Joshua the high priest, Zec 6:9-11 who, being an eminent type of Christ, a prophecy concerning him is ordered to be delivered to him; who is described by his name, the man, the Branch; by the place he should grow up from; by the work he should do, building the temple of the Lord; by the glory he should have on account of it; and by the offices of King, Priest, and Prophet, he should execute, Zec 6:12,13 and after this was done, then the crowns were to be laid up in the temple of the Lord for a memorial, by the four men above mentioned, Zec 6:14 and though the Messiah is the chief builder of the temple, the church, yet it is suggested that others, and even Gentiles, should come and build in it; and which when done, it would be evident that the prophet had his mission to the Jews of the Lord; and the chapter is closed with a promise of the accomplishment of all this, should they diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord, Zec 6:15.

Cross References 20

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or and the fourth chariot strong dappled horses
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.