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Zechariah 1:11

in Zechariah 1

And the riders answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and tranquil.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And they answered the angel of Jehovah that stood among the myrtle-trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.

KJV

And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.

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This verse in Zechariah 1

Commentary

10 notes on this verse
Sitteth still and is at rest - At rest, as the word seems to express, from its accustomed state of tumult and war. Wars, although soon to break out again, were in the second year of Darius for the time suspended. The rest, in which the world was, suggests the contrast of the yet continuing unrest allotted to the people of God. Such rest had been promised to Israel, on its return from the captivity, but had not yet been fulfilled.

This site's exposition

Upon the four and twentieth day

on Zechariah 1:7-13

Three months later, on the twenty-fourth of Shebat, the first of eight night visions opens: a rider on a red horse among the myrtle trees in a ravine, with red, speckled and white horses behind him, patrol-angels who have walked to and fro through the earth and report that all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest. The report is the vision's irony, the Persian world at ease while Jerusalem and the cities of Judah lie under the Lord's own indignation these threescore and ten years, the seventy years of Jeremiah's prophecy apparently expired without the promised restoration arriving in full. The angel of the Lord himself intercedes, how long wilt thou not have mercy, and the Lord answers with good words and comfortable words, the vision's crisis resolved before it is explained to the prophet.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

John Chrysostom

COMMENTARY ON JOB 1 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

"And the devil came with them." What are you saying? "With the angels?" He who rebelled, who dishonored himself? Do not worry, my dear; this is an image, a figure. It is like another passage in the [First] Book of Kings, where it is said, "And there came forth an evil spirit, and the Lord said, 'Who will deceive Ahab?' " And the spirit responded: "I will deceive him," and he indicates it in such a way. The Scripture often takes on an anthropomorphic character.… The angels came, according to the text, and the devil came with them having compassed the earth and walked around in the subcelestial regions. What do we understand by that? That the earth is filled with demons and angels, and that both are under the power of God; and that the angels present themselves before God, from whom they receive orders; and that the devil can do nothing to please himself, if he has not received permission for it from above. For if he has totally rejected the bridle and is no longer in service to God, he is not in the least held back by fear as by a bit which restrains him from using his own power. But note this: whereas the angels present themselves as servants who render an account to him of their doings, as one can see in Zechariah, the devil has nothing to say to him. Consequently the expression "he came with them" means nothing else but that he too is dependent on God.… What does the expression therefore signify? It signifies that he is with them in the world. In the same way as deceitful people and good people are mixed, so are the angels and the demons.

A commentator

Jerome

Commentary on Zechariah · Written before 420.

proposed

(Verse 8 and following) I saw during the night: and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the ravine, and behind him there were red, sorrel, and white horses. And I said, 'What are these, my lord?' And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, 'I will show you what these are.' And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, 'These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to go throughout the earth.'

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

And they answered the Angel of the Lord, that stood among the myrtle trees, and said,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

Note, It is sad to think what a deep sleep the world is cast into, what a spirit of slumber has seized the generality of mankind, that are under God's wrath and Satan's power, and yet secure and unconcerned! They sit still and are at rest, Luke xvii. He heard Christ's intercession with the Father for his afflicted church,

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

The attendant angels report to the Lord of angels, "the earth . . . is at rest." The flourishing state of the heathen "earth," while Judah was desolate and its temple not yet restored, is the powerful plea in the Divine Angel's intercession with God the Father in Zec 1:12.
3 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

Therefore thus says the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it, says the Lord of Hosts and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad. And the Lord shall yet comfort Zion and shall yet choose Jerusalem. Then lifted I up my eyes and sa w and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these?
Therefore thus says the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it, says the Lord of Hosts and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad. And the Lord shall yet comfort Zion and shall yet choose Jerusalem. Then lifted I up my eyes and sa w and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem. And the Lord showed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And He spoke, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to scatter them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it." Zechariah 1:8-21. THIS is a somewhat dark and mysterious passage. And if we should ask many a reader, "Do you understand what you are reading?" he would be compelled to reply as did the Ethiopian eunuch, "How can I, except some man should guide me?" Although there are some portions of the Word of God which are hard to be understood—by far the greater portion of Scriptures which are at first perplexing—will open up if we will carefully peruse them and prayerfully ask the illumination of God's Holy Spirit. We should seek to know all of God's Word which can be known. You will perceive that the Prophet Zechariah himself was not content with beholding the two visions described in this passage, but had to ask, in the ninth verse, "O my Lord, what are these?" And then, again, in the nineteenth verse, "What are these?" Nor did he cease his enquiries! In the twenty-first verse he says, "What come these to do?" If the seer of the vision asked for an interpretation, much more may you and I.

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

All the earth sitteth still, and is at rest - There is general peace through the Persian empire, and other states connected with Judea; but the Jews are still in affliction; their city is not yet restored, nor their temple built.

How the passage was read

What the Jewish commentators add

On the verses either side of this one

to walk to and fro on the earth To see the tranquility of the nations.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Zechariah 1:10:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
And the angel of the Lord replied The angel that was speaking to me.
Rashi: France, 1040–1105 · Rashi on Zechariah 1:12:1, via Sefaria, The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg

This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.

Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 3 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.

The words behind it

15 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַֽיַּעֲנ֞וּand they answered

    vaiyaanuH6030 →331 times

  • אֶת־<obj.>

    ʾet-H853 →10935 times

  • מַלְאַ֣ךְ[the] angel of

    malakhH4397 →213 times

  • יְהוָ֗הYahweh

    yahwehH3068 →6520 times

  • הָֽעֹמֵד֙who was standing

    haomedH5975 →521 times

  • בֵּ֣יןbetween

    beinH996 →407 times

  • הַהֲדַסִּ֔יםthe myrtle trees

    hahadasimH1918 →6 times

  • וַיֹּאמְר֖וּand they said

    vaiyomeruH559 →5305 times

  • הִתְהַלַּ֣כְנוּwe have gone about

    hithalakhnuH1980 →1546 times

  • בָאָ֑רֶץon the earth

    vaaretzH776 →2504 times

  • וְהִנֵּ֥הand there!

    vehinehH2009 →843 times

  • כָל־all

    khol-H3605 →5413 times

  • הָאָ֖רֶץthe earth

    haaretzH776 →2504 times

  • יֹשֶׁ֥בֶת[is] dwelling

    yoshevetH3427 →1079 times

  • וְשֹׁקָֽטֶת׃and [is] undisturbed

    veshokatetH8252 →

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

15 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Zechariah 1:10Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”6 worksZechariah 1:15but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have added to the calamity.’3 worksPsalms 103:20–21Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.3 worksMatthew 24:30–31At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.3 worksZechariah 1:8I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.3 worksZechariah 6:7As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.2 works
The other 9 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Thessalonians 5:3While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.2 worksRevelation 1:1This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,2 worksMatthew 13:49So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,2 worksPsalms 68:17The chariots of God are tens of thousands— thousands of thousands are they; the Lord is in His sanctuary as He was at Sinai.2 worksMatthew 25:31When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.2 worksIsaiah 14:7All the earth is at peace and at rest; they break out in song.2 worksDaniel 10:20“Do you know why I have come to you?” he said. “I must return at once to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I have gone forth, behold, the prince of Greece will come.2 worksMatthew 13:41The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness.2 works2 Thessalonians 1:7and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels1 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Zechariah 1:15

    but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have added to the calamity.’

    it leads to

    • Ezekiel 25:12–17

      This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah, and in so doing incurred grievous guilt,

    • Jeremiah 51:24

      Before your very eyes I will repay Babylon and all the dwellers of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion,” declares the LORD.

    • Isaiah 54:8

      In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.

    • Isaiah 47:6–9

      I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke.

  • Through

    Zechariah 1:8

    I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.

    it leads to

    • Revelation 6:4

      Then another horse went forth. It was bright red, and its rider was granted permission to take away peace from the earth and to make men slay one another. And he was given a…

    • Isaiah 55:13

      Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up; they will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”

  • Through

    Zechariah 1:10

    Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”

    it leads to

    • Hebrews 1:14

      Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

    • Zechariah 6:5–8

      And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.

Where this verse is studied

On this page

Studies3

On this verse

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About Zechariah

Zechariah's Vision of Four Chariots, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Zechariah's Vision of Four Chariots, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
Zechariah: the study guide →Read Zechariah 1 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Carl Friedrich Keil, The Twelve Minor Prophets; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 598: “Two Visions” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Edward Bouverie Pusey, The Minor Prophets: A Commentary; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Zechariah; John Chrysostom, COMMENTARY ON JOB 1; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

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