Zechariah 6

Zechariah 6

Eighth Vision: Four Chariots

1And again I looked up and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze.

2The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses,[#Rev 6.4, 5]

3the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled gray horses.[#Rev 6.2; #6.3 Meaning of Heb uncertain]

4Then I said to the angel who spoke with me, “What are these, my lord?”

5The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of heaven going out, after presenting themselves before the Lord of the whole earth.[#Jer 49.36; Ezek 37.9; Mt 24.31; Rev 7.1; #6.5 Or spirits]

6The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go toward the west country, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.”[#Jer 1.14; Ezek 1.4; Dan 11.5; #6.6 Cn: Heb go after them]

7When the steeds came out, they were impatient to get off and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.

8Then he cried out to me, “See, those who go toward the north country have set my spirit at rest in the north country.”[#Ezek 5.13]

The Coronation of the Branch

9The word of the Lord came to me:

10“Collect silver and gold from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah—who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.[#Jer 28.6; #6.10 Heb lacks silver and gold]

11Take the silver and gold and make a crown and set it on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak;[#Ezra 3.2; Hag 1.1; #6.11 Gk mss Syr Tg: Heb crowns]

12say to him: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Here is a man whose name is Branch, for he shall branch out in his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord .[#Isa 11.1; 53.2; Zech 3.8]

13It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord ; he shall bear royal honor and shall sit upon his throne and rule. There shall be a priest by his throne, with peaceful understanding between the two of them.[#Isa 9.6, 7; 22.24]

14And the crown shall be in the care of Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah son of Zephaniah, as a memorial in the temple of the Lord .[#6.14 Gk Syr: Heb crowns; #6.14 Syr: Heb Helem; #6.14 Syr: Heb Hen]

15“Those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord , and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”[#Isa 57.19; 60.10; Zech 3.7; 4.9]

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition, copyright © 2021 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Published by: National Council of the Churches of Christ