Zechariahchapter 6
15 verses · Zechariah · 520 to 518 BC · The Twelve
Key verse
And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
It stands in Four chariots out from between two mountains of brass, verses 1 to 8.
The chapter
Chapter summary
Four chariots come out from between two mountains of brass with red, black, white, and grisled horses ('these are the four winds of heaven, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth') and those that go north 'have quieted my spirit in the north country.' Then the visions stop and the prophet acts: take the silver and gold brought by the exiles, make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua the high priest, a crown on a priest, which the law never allowed. 'Behold, the man whose name is the Branch… he shall build the temple of Jehovah… and he shall be a priest upon his throne' (6:12-13). King and priest in one person.
Context
Prophecy · Zechariah · Zechariah overview
The world behind this chapter
Zechariah 6The history
The night ends where it started, with horses. Four chariots come out from between two bronze mountains and go to patrol the earth, the same idea as the first vision, but now with chariots instead of scouts, and with a result: the ones going north "have quieted my spirit in the north country." The north was where Babylon had come from.
The rest of the history, and what it meant to them
Then the vision stops and something physical happens. Silver and gold are taken from men newly arrived from Babylon, a crown is made, and it is set on the head of Joshua the high priest.
That is startling, and it was meant to be. In Israel the crown and the priesthood were separate offices in separate families, kings from Judah, priests from Levi, and kings who reached for priestly work were punished for it. Here a priest is crowned and told, "he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both."
The name given to the figure is BRANCH again, and he is the one who "shall build the temple of the LORD", said while a temple was being built by other hands.
The crown is then kept in the temple as a memorial. It was not a coronation of Joshua; it was a sign hung up where people could see it. Persia would never have tolerated an actual king in Jerusalem, and Zerubbabel, the Davidic heir, is not the one crowned.
The chapter ends with an open door: they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD.
What it meant to them
The returnees had a governor who could not be king and a priest who could not be royal, and no prospect of independence. This sign told them both offices would one day sit in one person, and put the crown in the sanctuary as a receipt.
The last line was conditional and personal: this shall come to pass if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God. The promise was firm; their share in it was not automatic.
Sources cited
- Edwin Yamauchi, Persia and the Bible
- John Calvin, Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets
Where the chapter sits
Zechariah 6 falls in Eight night visions and the crown (chapters 1–6). The horses among the myrtle trees; the measuring line; Joshua the high priest and the Branch; the lampstand and the two olive trees; the flying scroll; the ephah; the four chariots; the royal-priestly crown.
After it: Fasts and future, chapters 7–8.
The whole shape of Zechariah→The structure of this chapter
The heads below are this chapter's scenes. The numbered points under each are its verses.
A. Four chariots out from between two mountains of brass
1. (vv. 1-3)
Zechariah 6:1
“Behold, four chariots going forth - Alb.: “By the secret disposal of God into the theater of the world,” “from between two mountains of brass.” Both Jews and Christians have seen that the four chariots relate to the same four empires, as the visions in Daniel. “The two mountains.” It may be that the imagery is from the two mountains on either side of the valley of Jehoshaphat, which Joel had spoken of as the place of God’s judgment, Joe 3:2, and Zechariah afterward Zec 14:4. It may then picture that the judgments go forth from God.”
2 more voices on this verseWhat preachers and commentators have said about this verse, in their own words.
Zechariah 6:1
“Four chariots - Angels who are sometimes styled chariots of God. These as employed in the affairs of church and empire, act their part in the revolution and changes of things, 'till the gospel be preached by the Messiah, and the apostles.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Zechariah 6:1
“HENDERSON explains them to be the Medo-Persian kingdom, represented by the "two horns" (Da 8:3, 4), now employed to execute God's purpose in punishing the nations; but the prophecy reaches far beyond those times.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Zechariah 6:2
“In the first chariot were red horses - The empire of the Chaldeans, which overthrew the empire of the Assyrians. The second chariot black horses - The empire of the Persians founded by Cyrus, which destroyed the empire of the Chaldeans.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Zechariah 6:3
“The third chariot white horses - The empire of the Greeks, founded by Alexander the Great, which destroyed the empire of the Persians. The fourth chariot grisled and bay horses - That is party-coloured horses, or with horses, some grisled and some bay. The empire of the Romans or of the Greeks. The Greeks divided after the death of Alexander; one part pointing out the Lagidae, who attacked and subdued Egypt; and the other, the seleucidae, who subdued Syria under Seleucus.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Zechariah 6:3
“But as the vision is obscure, interpreters have given it different meanings. They who think that the four Gospels are designated by the four chariots, give a very frigid view. I have elsewhere reminded you, that we are to avoid these futile refinements which of themselves vanish away.”
John Calvin· Commentaries (1554)reformed
Zechariah 6:3
“All four dispensations, though various in character to the Gentile nation, portended alike good to God's people. bay--rather, "strong" or "fleet"; so Vulgate [GESENIUS]. The horses have this epithet, whose part it was to "walk to and fro through the earth" (Zec 6:7). However, the Septuagint and Chaldee agree with English Version in referring the Hebrew to color, not strength.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
there came four chariots out from between two mountains: The last night vision closes the series where it began, with chariots rather than a single horseman, four of them coming out from between two mountains of brass, each drawn by horses of a different color, red, black, white, and grisled with bay. Keil reads the bronze mountains as the fixed gate of heaven's own decree, the place from which God's providence issues out over the whole earth, and the four colors as the same range of judgment and peace the first vision's four horses already carried in chapter one.
2. (vv. 4-5)
Zechariah 6:4
“Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me,.... After he had seen the chariots come out, and had observed the different colours of the horses in them: what are these, my lord? that is, what do they signify? what is the meaning of this vision?”
Zechariah 6:5
“These are - The angels of heaven, who have a great share in the management of the affairs both of the church and states. Of the heavens - Which reside in heaven, 'till employed, go thence when employed, and having done their work, return thither.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
Zechariah 6:5
“The various providences of God concerning nations and churches are represented by the different colours of horses, Rev. vi. And so we may observe here, 1. That the counsels and decrees of God are the spring and original of all events, and they are immovable, as mountains of brass.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me: Zechariah asks again what these are, and the angel answers plainly this time, these are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. Henry reads the chariots as the same watching, active providence the seven eyes of chapter four already named, sent out now under a fuller picture of agents dispatched to the four quarters of the earth.
3. (vv. 6-8)
Zechariah 6:6
“The black horses - This refers to the second chariot; of the first the angel makes no mention, because the empire designed by it had ceased to exist. This had red horses, to show the cruelty of the Chaldeans towards the Jews, and the carnage they committed in the land of Judea. The black - Cyrus, at the head of the Persians and Medes, bringing devastation and death among the Chaldeans, called the north in many parts of Scripture. The white - Alexander, who was splendid in his victories, and mild towards all that he conquered.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
3 more voices on this verse
Zechariah 6:6
“Such are God's dealings with his church and people: if the black horses go forth, the white ones presently go after them; for as affliction abounds consolation much more abounds. That the common general aspect of providence is mixed and compounded.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Zechariah 6:6
“Rather, I think, the white are sent to victoriously subdue Medo-Persia, the second world kingdom, lying in the same quarter as Babylon, namely, north. grizzled . . . toward the south--that is, to Egypt, the other great foe of God's people. It, being a part of the Græco-Macedonian kingdom, stands for the whole of it, the third world kingdom.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Zechariah 6:6
“The grisled - The angels signified by these, managed the Roman power, which was sometimes favourable, sometimes fierce and severe, to those they had to do with. The south-country - Egypt and Arabia, which lay south of Judea. It may perhaps point at their invading Africa too, whose punishments were mixed, with kindness and mercy more than the punishments of Babylon were.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Zechariah 6:7
“And the strong went forth and sought to go, that they might walk to and fro through the earth - The mention of their strength corresponds to the extent of the power and commission, for which they asked, to go to and fro, up and down, at their will, unhindered, through the whole earth. The Babylonian empire held Egypt only out of Asia; the Persian was conquered in its efforts against Europe, in Greece; Alexander’s was like a meteor, gleaming but breaking into the four: the Roman combined East and West and within large limits tranquilly.”
1 more voice on this verse
Zechariah 6:7
“Sought to go - Waited for a commission. He said - Christ who hath all power in heaven and on earth. Through the earth - Thro' the rest of the kingdoms of the world remote from Judea, but not remote from God's wise and sovereign providence.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Zechariah 6:8
“Have quieted my spirit in the north country - They have fulfilled my judgments on Assyria and Chaldea. Nabopolassar and Cyrus first, against the Assyrians and Chaldeans; and Alexander next, against the Persians. On this vision Abp. Newcome remarks: - The black horses seem to denote the Persian empire; which, by subduing the Chaldeans, and being about to inflict a second heavy chastisement on Babylon, quieted God’s spirit with respect to Chaldea; a country always spoken of as lying to the north of the Jews. The white horses seem to be the Macedonian empire; which, like the Persian, overcame Chaldea.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Zechariah 6:8
“Cried he - Christ spake aloud, and called to him. Quieted my spirit - By doing what I appointed them in revenge of my peoples injuries, and by bringing my people back into Canaan.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Zechariah 6:8
“Babylon alone of the four great world kingdoms had in Zechariah's time been finally punished; therefore, in its case alone does God now say His anger is satisfied; the others had as yet to expiate their sin; the fourth has still to do so. The double crown is placed on Joshua's head, symbolizing that the true priesthood and the kingdom shall be conferred on the one Messiah.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country: The black horses go north, the white after them, the grisled south, and the bay range the whole earth on the angel's own command, get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. The north country is Babylon's own direction from Judah, and the angel's word that those going north have quieted my spirit there reads as judgment on Babylon satisfying the wrath the earlier chapters of the book have already announced against her, the empire's account closed.
B. A crown for Joshua, and the man whose name is the BRANCH
1. (vv. 9-11)
Zechariah 6:9
“And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying. Either "the word of prophecy from the Lord", as the Targum paraphrases it; the visions being ended, the prophetic part of the book begins; and many excellent prophecies concerning the Messiah, and his kingdom, are contained in this and the following chapters: or an order from the Lord, which is expressed in the next verses Zec 6:10.”
1 more voice on this verse
Zechariah 6:9
“And the word of the Lord came to me - The visions being closed, Zechariah marks the change by adopting the usual formula, with which the prophets authenticated, that they spake not of themselves, but by the Spirit of God. The act enjoined is a symbolic act, pointing and summing up and interpreting the visions, as some of the visions had been already expanded by fresh revelations following immediately upon them.”
Zechariah 6:10
“Take of them of the captivity - The names that follow were probably those to whom the silver and golden vessels of the temple were intrusted; and who might have had bullion of silver and gold, for particular purposes, about the ornaments of the temple. The house of Josiah - Probably an artificer in silver, gold, etc.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Zechariah 6:11
“Make crowns - One of silver, the other of gold. Set them - Put both of them, one after another. Joshua - Who herein is now a type of Christ, king and priest forever for his people.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
Zechariah 6:11
“And make crowns - Or a “crown” , as in Job, “I would bind it as a crown unto me,” and our Lord is seen in the Revelation, “on His Head were many crowns” . The singular is used of “a royal crown” , apparently of a festive crown ; and figuratively; (Job 19:9, (plur. Job 31:36) Pro 4:9; Pro 12:4; Pro 14:24; Pro 16:31. Pro 17:6); even of Almighty God Himself as a crown ; but no where of the mitre of the high priest.”
And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying: The vision ends and an acted sign begins: Zechariah is to take silver and gold from named men of the exile community, Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, freshly arrived with an offering from Babylon, and make crowns to set on the head of Joshua the high priest. Gill reads the sign as one more prophetic act in the line of Jeremiah's yoke and Ezekiel's baggage, a plain object made to say publicly what words alone might not fix in the people's memory.
2. (vv. 12-13)
Zechariah 6:12
“Behold the man whose name is The Branch! - I cannot think that Zerubbabel is here intended; indeed, he is not so much as mentioned in Zec 3:8. Joshua and his companions are called אנשי מופת anshey mopheth, figurative or typical men; the crowning therefore of Joshua in this place, and calling him the Branch, was most probably in reference to that glorious person, the Messiah, of whom he was the type or figure. The Chaldee has, “whose name is my Messiah,” or Christ.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Zechariah 6:12
“Therefore God helps the city, producing in it early morning by his own rising and coming. "Behold a man," it is said, "the Orient is his name." For those upon whom the spiritual light will rise, when the darkness that comes from ignorance and wickedness is destroyed, early morning will be at hand. Since, then, light has come into the world in order that he who walks about in it may not stumble, his help is able to cause the early morning.”
Basil of Caesarea· written before 379· HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 45:18.5patristic
Zechariah 6:12
“Out of his place - Of the tribe and family, and in the place foretold. He shall build - He it is, though unseen, that stands by you, who build the material temple, far inferior to the spiritual temple, which Christ will build, preserve, and dwell in forever. The glory - Of both kingly and priestly office; the glory of both those crowns shall abide on him.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Zechariah 6:13
“LET us first look at the historical setting of this passage. It would seem that three Jews of the captivity had come from Babylon with a contribution towards the building of the temple at Jerusalem under Zerubbabel and Joshua. Their names are given in the 10th verse of the chapter before us. Now, the Jews at Jerusalem had become exceedingly exclusive and, in some measure, rightly so. They would not accept help for the building of the Temple from Samaritans because they were a mixed race.”
1 more voice on this verse
Zechariah 6:13
“That Christ shall bear the glory. Glory is a burden, but not too heavy for him to bear who upholds all things. The cross was his glory, and he bore that; so was the crown an exceeding weight of glory, and he bears that.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH: The word given with the crowning names a title rather than only a man: behold the man whose name is the Branch, the same word Isaiah and Jeremiah already used for the righteous shoot of David's line, here spoken over a high priest rather than a king. He shall build the temple of the Lord, bear the glory, sit and rule upon his throne, and be a priest upon his throne, offices the law had always kept apart, David's tribe for the crown and Levi's for the altar, joined here in one figure with the counsel of peace between them both. The older bench, Keil among them, reads the union at full messianic strength, a king who is also a priest after no line the law provided, which the writer to the Hebrews later grounds in Melchizedek's own order rather than Aaron's.
3. (vv. 14-15)
Zechariah 6:14
“And the crowns shall be - One of my MSS. has אטרות ataroth, crowns, corrected into עטרת atereth, crown; and so the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic. The Chaldee has, “And praise shall be,” etc. The meaning appears to be this, that the crown made for Joshua should be delivered to the persons mentioned here and in Zec 6:10, to be laid up in the temple of the Lord, as a memorial of this typical transaction.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 more voices on this verse
Zechariah 6:14
“The crowns - The two crowns before mentioned. Helem - These persons we know no more of than their names. A memorial - Of the Messiah's certain and speedy coming.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Zechariah 6:14
“Either they were laid up in the temple treasury or (as the Jews' tradition is) they were hung up in the windows of the temple, in the view of all, in perpetuam rei memoriam--for a perpetual memorial, for a traditional evidence of the promise of the Messiah and this typical transaction used for the confirmation of that promise.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
Zechariah 6:15
“The completion of the temple shall "come to pass," if ye diligently on your part "obey the Lord." It is not meant that their unbelief could set aside God's gracious purpose as to Messiah's coming. But there is, secondarily, meant, that Messiah's glory as priest-king of Israel shall not be manifested to the Jews till they turn to Him with obedient penitence.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
2 more voices on this verse
Zechariah 6:15
“They that are far off - This verse hath a double reference, one to the Jews, and the building of the material temple, the other to the bringing in of the Gentiles.”
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)evangelical
Zechariah 6:15
“That promise, that those that were afar off should come and assist them in building the temple of the Lord, was as it were the giving of them a sign; by this they might be assured that the other promises should be fulfilled in due time.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
And the crowns shall be to Helem: The crowns are kept in the temple itself as a memorial to the men who brought the offering, a standing witness rather than a one-time ceremony. The chapter and the whole cycle of night visions close on a wider hope, that those far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, and on a plain condition, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, the promise held together with the same call to obedience the book has carried from its opening word.
This page carries no textual note on Zechariah 6. Where this site has examined a place the manuscripts differ, the examination is in the manuscripts room. Every place this site examines →
Sources for this chapter
The summary
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary.
The exposition
Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Carl Friedrich Keil, The Twelve Minor Prophets; Edward Bouverie Pusey, The Minor Prophets: A Commentary; John Calvin, Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.
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