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 1:14

1:14 Turning to me, the messenger then said, “Cry out that the Lord who rules over all says, ‘I am very much moved 2  for Jerusalem and for Zion.

Zechariah 1:19

1:19 So I asked the angelic messenger 3  who spoke with me, “What are these?” He replied, “These are the horns 4  that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” 5 

Zechariah 4:1

Vision Five: The Menorah

4:1 The angelic messenger 6  who had been speaking with me then returned and woke me, as a person is wakened from sleep.

Zechariah 6:5

6:5 The messenger replied, “These are the four spirits 7  of heaven that have been presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth.

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 Heb “jealous for” (so KJV, ASV); NIV, NRSV “very jealous for”; CEV “very protective of.” The meaning is that Jerusalem/Zion is the special object of God’s grace and purposes. This results in his unusual protection of his people, a protection not accorded others with whom he does not have such a close relationship.

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

4 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.

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

6 tn See the note on the expression “angelic messenger” in 1:9.

7 tn The Hebrew term translated “spirit” here may also be translated “wind” or “breath” depending on the context (cf. ASV, NRSV, CEV “the four winds of heaven”; NAB similar).