Zechariah 4:14
in Zechariah 4So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
KJV
Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
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This verse in Zechariah 4
Commentary
11 notes on this verseA commentator
Victorinus of PettauCommentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John · Written before 304.
"These are the two candlesticks standing before the Lord of the earth." These two candlesticks and two olive trees He has to this end spoken of, and admonished you that if, when you have read of them elsewhere, you have not understood, you may understand here. For in Zechariah, one of the twelve prophets, it is thus written: "These are the two olive trees and two candlesticks which stand in the presence of the Lord of the earth; " that is, they are in paradise.
This site's exposition
Do you not know what these are
on Zechariah 4:13-14
The angel names the two olive trees: “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth”. They are Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. Revelation 11:4 takes up the same two olive trees and two lampstands for its two witnesses.
This site's exposition
the two anointed ones
Clarke named the two anointed ones as Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor, standing beside the Lord for worship and for civil rule. Wesley read them as Christ and the Holy Spirit. Gill noted that the Hebrew reads “sons of oil.”
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 11 and following) And I answered and said to him, 'What are these two olive trees on the right and the left side of the lampstand?' And I answered the second time and said to him, 'What are these two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, from which the golden oil pours out?' And he said to me, 'Do you not know what these are?' And I said, 'No, my lord.' And he said, 'These are the two anointed ones who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.'
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Then said he, These are the two anointed ones,.... Or "sons of oil" (t). Some think the gifts and graces of the Spirit are meant, which come from the God of all grace, remain with Christ, are given freely by him to the sons of God, and are always for the service of the church, and sufficient for it; others, Christ the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit.
The two anointed ones - Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Son was to be sent by the Father, and so was the Holy Ghost. And they stand by him, ready to go.
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the L ORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the L ORD of hosts. 7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:94%@v6-7
If by the candlestick we understand the church of the first-born, of true believers, these sons of oil may be meant of Christ and the Spirit, the Redeemer and the Comforter. Christ is not only the Messiah, the Anointed One himself, but he is the good olive to his church; and from his fulness we receive, John i.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
These are the two anointed ones - Joshua, the high priest; and Zerubbabel the governor. These are anointed - appointed by the Lord; and stand by him, the one to minister in the ecclesiastical, the other in the civil state. Probably we may not be able to comprehend the whole of this hieroglyphical vision; for even the interpreting angel does not choose to answer the questions relative to this, which were put to him by the prophet. See Zec 4:4, Zec 4:11. But though the particulars are hard to be understood; yet the general meaning has, I hope, been given.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
anointed ones--literally, "sons of oil" (Isa 5:1, Margin). Joshua the high priest, and Zerubbabel the civil ruler, must first be anointed with grace themselves, so as to be the instruments of furnishing it to others (compare 1Jo 2:20, 27).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
These are the two sons of oil - Probably not as themselves anointed, (for another word is used for this. Which stand by the Lord of the whole earth, as His servants and ministers. The candlestick is almost authoritatively interpreted for us, by the adoption of the symbol in the Revelation, where our Lord is exhibited “as walking in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks” Rev 1:13; Rev 2:1, and, it is said, “the seven candlesticks are the seven Churches” Rev 1:20; and our Lord says to the Apostles, on whom He founded the Church; “Ye are the light of the world: men light a candle, and put it on a candlestick, and it giveth light to them that are in the house” (Mat 5:14-15, compare Php 2:15). Cyril: “The golden candlestick is the Church, as being honored in the world, most bright in virtues, raised on high exceedingly by the doctrines of the true knowledge of God. But there are seven lamps, having light, not of their own, but brought to them from without, and nourished by the supplies through the olive tree. These signify the holy apostles, evangelists, and those who, each in their season, were teachers of the churches, receiving, like lamps, into their mind and heart the illumination from Christ, which is nourished by the supplies of the Spirit, casting forth light to those who are in the house.” Theodoret: “The pipes of the lamps, which pour in the oil, signify the unstinted prodigality of the loving-kindness of God to man.” The most difficult of explanation (as is plain from the variety of interpretations) is this last symbol of the spikes of the olive-tree, through whom flows the oil of the Holy Spirit to the candlesticks, and which yet represent created beings, ministers, and servants of God. […]
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
two anointed ones The horns of the priesthood and the kingdom who are anointed with the anointing oil.
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. 4 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
10 Hebrew wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֕אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֵ֖לֶּה | ʾeleh | these | H428 → | 746 times |
| שְׁנֵ֣י | shenei | [are] [the] two | H8147 → | 768 times |
| בְנֵֽי־ | venei- | [the] sons of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| הַיִּצְהָ֑ר | haiyitzhar | the fresh oil | H3323 → | |
| הָעֹמְדִ֖ים | haomedim | who stand | H5975 → | 521 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | at | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| אֲד֥וֹן | ʾadon | [the] lord of | H113 → | 333 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הָאָֽרֶץ׃ | haaretz | the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
וַיֹּ֕אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
אֵ֖לֶּהthese
ʾelehH428 →746 times
שְׁנֵ֣י[are] [the] two
sheneiH8147 →768 times
בְנֵֽי־[the] sons of
venei-H1121 →4930 times
הַיִּצְהָ֑רthe fresh oil
haiyitzharH3323 →
הָעֹמְדִ֖יםwho stand
haomedimH5975 →521 times
עַל־at
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
אֲד֥וֹן[the] lord of
ʾadonH113 →333 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הָאָֽרֶץ׃the earth
haaretzH776 →2504 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
Revelation 11:4These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
it leads to
- Zechariah 4:11–14
Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?”
- Zechariah 4:2–3
“What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.
- Jeremiah 11:16
The LORD once called you a flourishing olive tree, beautiful with well-formed fruit. But with a mighty roar He will set it on fire, and its branches will be consumed.
- Psalms 52:8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever.
- Isaiah 54:5
For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth.
- Zechariah 4:11–14
Through
Exodus 40:15Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so that they may also serve Me as priests. Their anointing will qualify them for a permanent priesthood throughout their generations.”
it leads to
- Numbers 25:13
It will be a covenant of permanent priesthood for him and his descendants, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”
- Hebrews 7:17–24
For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
- Psalms 110:4
The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
- Numbers 25:13
Where this verse is studied
About Zechariah
This page draws on 9 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; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Zechariah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Victorinus of Pettau, Commentary on the Apocalypse of the Blessed John.