Zechariah 6:1-10

1 I looked up again and saw four chariots going out from between the two mountains. They were mountains of bronze.

2 The first chariot had red horses. The second had black horses.

3 The third had white horses. And the fourth had strong, spotted horses.

4 I asked the angel who was speaking with me, "What do these horses mean, sir?"

5 The angel answered, "They are the four spirits of heaven. They are going out after standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

6 The chariot with the black horses is going toward the north, and the white horses are following them. The spotted ones are going toward the south."

7 When these strong horses went out, they were eager to patrol the earth. He said, "Go, patrol the earth!" And they patrolled the earth.

8 Then he called out to me, "Look! Those who went to the north have made my Spirit rest in the north."

9 The LORD spoke his word to me. He said,

10 "Take an offering from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. This same day go to the house of Josiah, son of Zephaniah.

Zechariah 6:1-10 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.