Zechariah 1:9

The Interpretation of the First Vision

1:9 Then I asked one nearby, “What are these, sir?” The angelic messenger 1  who replied to me said, “I will show you what these are.”

Zechariah 1:19-21

1:19 So I asked the angelic messenger 2  who spoke with me, “What are these?” He replied, “These are the horns 3  that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” 4  1:20 Next the Lord showed me four blacksmiths. 5  1:21 I asked, “What are these going to do?” He answered, “These horns are the ones that have scattered Judah so that there is no one to be seen. 6  But the blacksmiths have come to terrify Judah’s enemies 7  and cut off the horns of the nations that have thrust themselves against the land of Judah in order to scatter its people.” 8 

1 tn Heb “messenger” or “angel” (מַלְאָךְ, mal’akh). This being appears to serve as an interpreter to the prophet (cf. vv. 13, 14).

2 tn See the note on the expression “angelic messenger” in v. 9.

3 sn An animal’s horn is a common OT metaphor for military power (Pss 18:2; 75:10; Jer 48:25; Mic 4:13). The fact that there are four horns here (as well as four blacksmiths, v. 20) shows a correspondence to the four horses of v. 8 which go to four parts of the world, i.e., the whole world.

4 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

5 tn Heb “craftsmen” (so NASB, NIV; KJV “carpenters”), a generic term which can mean “metalworker, smith, armorer” (HALOT 358 s.v. חָרָשׁ). “Blacksmiths” was chosen for the present translation because of its relative familiarity among contemporary English readers.

sn The horns are perhaps made of iron, the strongest of all metals known to the ancient Near Eastern world, since military activity is implied in the context. Only blacksmiths can cut the horns off. If the horns represent oppressive nations, the blacksmiths must represent deliverers whom the Lord raises up, kings like Cyrus of Persia (cf. Isa 54:16).

6 tn Heb “so that no man lifts up his head.”

7 tn Heb “terrify them”; the referent (Judah’s enemies) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

8 tn Heb “to scatter it.” The word “people” has been supplied in the translation for clarity.