Zechariah 4:1-10

1 And the angel turned again, that spake in me, and raised me, as a man that is raised (up out) of his sleep. (And the angel who spoke to me, returned, and raised me up, like a man who is raised up from his sleep.)

2 And he said to me, What seest thou? And I said, I saw, and lo! a candlestick all of gold, and the lamp thereof on the head thereof, and seven lanterns thereof on it, and seven vessels for to hold oil to the lanterns, that were on the head thereof. (And he said to me, What seest thou? And I said, Lo! I see a gold candlestick, and a lamp on top of it, and seven lanterns on it, and seven vessels to hold oil for the lanterns, on top of them.)

3 And two olives thereon, one of the right half of the lamp, and another on the left half thereof. (And two olive trees beside it, one on the right side of the lamp, and the other on its left side.)

4 And I answered, and said to the angel that spake in me, and I said, What be these things, my lord? (And I answered, and said to the angel who spoke to me, and I said, What be these things, my lord?)

5 And the angel that spake in me, answered, and said to me, Whether thou knowest not what be these things? And I said, No, my lord. (And the angel who spoke to me, answered, and said to me, Knowest thou not what these things be? And I said, No, my lord.)

6 And he answered, and said to me, and spake, This is the word of the Lord, saying to Zerubbabel, Not in host, neither in strength, but in my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. (And he answered, and spoke to me, and said, This is the word of the Lord, saying to Zerubbabel, Not by army, nor by strength, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.)

7 Who art thou, great hill, before Zerubbabel, into plain? and he shall lead out the first stone, and shall make even grace to grace thereof. (Who art thou, great mountain, compared to Zerubbabel? nothing but a flat plain! yea, he shall lay the first stone, and shall make the last stone's beauty equal to the beauty of the first stone.)

8 And the word of the Lord was made to me, and said,

9 The hands of Zerubbabel founded this house, and the hands of him shall perform it; and ye shall know, that the Lord of hosts sent me to you. (Zerubbabel's hands founded this House, and his hands shall finish it; and then ye shall know, that the Lord of hosts sent me to you.)

10 Who forsooth despised little days? and they shall be glad, and shall see a stone of tin in the hand of Zerubbabel (Who hath despised the day of small things? they shall be happy, and shall see the plumb bob in Zerubbabel's hand). These be the seven eyes of the Lord, that run about into all (the) earth.

Zechariah 4:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 4

In this chapter are contained the vision of a golden candlestick, and of two olive trees by it, and the explanation thereof. The preparation to this vision, which is the awaking of the prophet, as of a man out of sleep, is in Zec 4:1. The vision of the candlestick, and olive trees, is in Zec 4:2,3. The candlestick is described by the matter of it, gold; and by the parts of it, its bowl, lamps, and pipes; and the olive trees by their situation; the explanation of which is at the request of the prophet, he not knowing what they meant, Zec 4:4,5 when it is observed to him, that this represents, under the type of Zerubbabel building the temple, the building of the Gospel church by Christ; and which is done and finished, not by might or power of man, but by the Spirit, notwithstanding all opposition, and contempt of it, to the great joy of many, who observe the grace of God, and his providential care and goodness, in it, Zec 4:6-10 and upon the prophet's inquiring the meaning of the two olive trees, which he was ignorant of, he is told that these are the two anointed ones that stood by the Lord of the whole earth, Zec 4:11-14.