Zechariah 1:9
ContextThe 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
Context1:19 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 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.