Zechariah Chapter 4
From The Open Bible Project
4:1 The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep.
4:2 He said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I have seen, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top of it;
- (a) Which was ever in the midst of the temple, signifying that the graces of God’s Spirit would shine, here in most abundance, and in all perfection.
- (b) Which conveyed the oil that dropped from the trees into the lamps, so that the light never went out: and this vision was to strengthen and encourage the faithful that God had sufficient power in himself to continue his graces, and to bring his promise to pass even though he had no help from man.
4:3 and two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it."
4:4 I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?"
4:5 Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Don't you know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord."
4:6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of Yahweh to Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says Yahweh of Armies.
- (c) Who was a figure of Christ, and therefore this doctrine was directed to all the Church who are his body and members.
- (d) He shows that God’s power alone is sufficient to preserve his Church, even though he does not use man’s help to do it.
4:7 Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of 'Grace, grace, to it!'"
- (e) He compares the power of the adversaries to a great mountain, who thought the Jews were nothing with regard to them, and would have hindered Zerubbabel, who represented Christ, whom the enemies daily labour to stop in the building of his spiritual Temple, but all in vain.
- (f) Though the enemies think to stop this building, yet Zerubbabel will lay the highest stone of it, and bring it to perfection, so that all the godly will rejoice, and pray to God that he would continue his grace and favour toward the Temple.
4:8 Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
4:9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it; and you will know that Yahweh of Armies has sent me to you.
- (g) Meaning, the Prophet, that I am Christ sent from my Father for the building and preservation of my spiritual temple.
4:10 Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are the eyes of Yahweh, which run back and forth through the whole earth."
- (h) Signifying that all were discouraged at the small and poor beginnings of the temple.
- (i) By which he signifies the plummet and line, that is, that Zerubbabel who represented Christ, would go forward with his building to the joy and comfort of the godly, though the world was against him, and though his own for a while were discouraged, because they do not see things pleasant to the eye.
- (k) That is, God has seven eyes: meaning, a continual providence, so that neither Satan nor any power in the world, can go about to bring anything to pass to hinder his work; (Zechariah 5:9).
4:11 Then I asked him, "What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on the left side of it?"
4:12 I asked him the second time, "What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that pour the golden oil out of themselves?"
4:13 He answered me, "Don't you know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord."
4:14 Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the [2] Lord [See Zechariah Footnotes 2] of the whole earth."
- (l) Which were always green and full of oil, so that still they poured forth oil into the lamps: signifying, that God will continually maintain and preserve his Church, and endue it still with abundance and perfection of grace.
