Zechariah 6:2-7

2 The first chariot had 1red horses, the second 2black horses,
3 the third 3white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses--all of them strong.[a]
4 Then I answered and said to 4the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
5 And the angel answered and said to me, 5"These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after 6presenting themselves before 7the LORD of all the earth.
6 The chariot with the black horses goes toward 8the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward 9the south country."
7 When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and 10patrol the earth. And he said, "Go, 11patrol the earth."12So they patrolled the earth.

Zechariah 6:2-7 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 12

  • 1. Zechariah 1:8; Revelation 6:4
  • 2. Revelation 6:5
  • 3. Zechariah 1:8; Revelation 6:2
  • 4. Zechariah 1:9
  • 5. Psalms 104:4; Hebrews 1:7
  • 6. Zechariah 3:4
  • 7. Zechariah 4:14
  • 8. ver. 8; Zechariah 2:6; Jeremiah 1:13
  • 9. [Zechariah 9:14]
  • 10. [Zechariah 1:10]
  • 11. [Zechariah 1:10]
  • 12. [Zechariah 1:10]

Footnotes 1

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