Zechariah 4

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.

11 And I answered, and said to him, What be these twain olives on the right half of the candlestick, and at the left half thereof? (And I answered, and said to him, What be these two olive trees on the right side of the candlestick, and on its left side?)

12 And I answered the second time, and said to him (And I spoke a second time, and asked him), What be the twain ears, either ripe fruit, of olives that be beside the two pipes of gold, in which be (the) oil vessels of gold?

13 And he said to me, and spake, Whether thou knowest not what be these things? And I said, No, my lord. (And he spoke to me, and said, Knowest thou not what these things be? And I said, No, my lord.)

14 And he said, These be two sons of oil shining, which stand nigh to the lordly governor of all earth. (And he said, These be the two sons shining with oil, who stand near to the Lord who ruleth over all the earth.)

Zechariah 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

A vision of a candlestick, with two olive trees. (1-7) Further encouragement. (8-10) An explanation respecting the olive trees. (11-14)

Verses 1-7 The prophet's spirit was willing to attend, but the flesh was weak. We should beg of God that, whenever he speaks to us, he would awaken us, and we should then stir up ourselves. The church is a golden candlestick, or lamp-bearer, set up for enlightening this dark world, and holding forth the light of Divine revelation. Two olive trees were seen, one on each side the candlestick, from which oil flowed into the bowl without ceasing. God brings to pass his gracious purposes concerning his church, without any art or labour of man; sometimes he makes use of his instruments, yet he needs them not. This represented the abundance of Divine grace, for the enlightening and making holy the ministers and members of the church, and which cannot be procured or prevented by any human power. The vision assures us that the good work of building the temple, should be brought to a happy end. The difficulty is represented as a great mountain. But all difficulties shall vanish, and all the objections be got over. Faith will remove mountains, and make them plains. Christ is our Zerubbabel; mountains of difficulty were in the way of his undertaking, but nothing is too hard for him. What comes from the grace of God, may, in faith, be committed to the grace of God, for he will not forsake the work of his own hands.

Verses 8-10 The exact fulfilment of Scripture prophecies is a convincing proof of their Divine original. Though the instruments be weak and unlikely, yet God often chooses such, to bring about great things by them. Let not the dawning light be despised; it will shine more and more to the perfect day. Those who despaired of finishing the work, shall rejoice when they see Zerubbabel giving directions what to do, and taking care that the work be done. It is a comfort to us that the same all-wise, almighty Providence, which governs the earth, is in particular conversant about the church. All that have the plummet in their hands, must look up to the eyes of the Lord, have constant regard to Divine Providence, act in dependence on its guidance and submission to its disposals. Let us fix our faith on Christ, and view Him carrying on his work according to his own glorious plan, and daily bringing his spiritual building nearer to completion.

Verses 11-14 Zechariah desires to know what are the two olive trees. Zerubbabel and Joshua, this prince and this priest, were endued with the gifts and graces of God's Spirit. They lived at the same time, and both were instruments in the work and service of God. Christ's offices of King and Priest were shadowed forth by them. From the union of these two offices in his person, both God and man, the fullness of grace is received and imparted. They built the temple, the church of God. So does Christ spiritually. Christ is not only the Messiah, the Anointed One himself, but he is the Good Olive to his church; and from his fulness we receive. And the Holy Spirit is the unction or anointing which we have received. From Christ the Olive Tree, by the Spirit the Olive Branch, all the golden oil of grace flows to believers, which keeps their lamps burning. Let us seek, through the intercession and bounty of the Saviour, supplies from that fulness which has hitherto sufficed for all his saints, according to their trials and employments. Let us wait on him in his ordinances, desiring to be sanctified wholly in body, soul, and spirit.

Chapter Summary

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.