New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Zechariah 6
1
I looked up again and saw four chariots. They were coming out from between two mountains. The mountains were made out of bronze.
Reference
2
The first chariot was pulled by red horses. The second one had black horses.
Reference
Parallel theme
Zechariah 1:8
3
The third had white horses. And the fourth had spotted horses. All of the horses were powerful.
Reference
4
I asked the angel who was talking with me, "Sir, what are these?"
Reference
References Lord
Zechariah 1:9
5
The angel answered, "The four spirits of heaven. They are going out to serve the Lord of the whole world.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 7:1
Matthew 24:31
References Lord
Ezekiel 37:9
Isaiah 54:5
Psalm 68:17
Job 1:6
Zechariah 4:14
1 Kings 22:19
Spirit
Hebrews 1:7
Hebrews 1:14
6
The chariot pulled by the black horses is going toward the north country. The one with the white horses is going toward the west. And the one with the spotted horses is going toward the south."
Reference
7
The powerful horses went out. They were in a hurry to go all over the earth. The angel said, "Go all through the earth!" So they did.
Reference
8
Then the Lord called out to me, "Look! The horses going toward the north have given my Spirit rest in the north country."
Reference
10
"Get some silver and gold from Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah. They have just come back from Babylonia. On that same day go to Josiah's house. He is the son of Zephaniah.
People
11
Use the silver and gold to make a crown. Set it on the head of the high priest Jeshua. He is the son of Jehozadak.
Reference
12
"Give Jeshua a message from the Lord who rules over all. He says, 'Here is the man whose name is The Branch. He will branch out and build my temple.
Reference
Parallel theme
Zechariah 3:8
Isaiah 11:1
Jeremiah 33:15
Isaiah 53:2
Acts 17:31
Matthew 16:18
References Lord
Isaiah 4:2
Jeremiah 23:5
13
That is what he will do. He will be dressed in majesty as if it were his royal robe. He will sit as king on his throne. He will also be a priest there. So he will combine the positions of king and priest in himself.'
Reference
Glory
Isaiah 22:24
Isaiah 11:10
Psalm 21:5
Parallel theme
Hebrews 3:1
Peace
Isaiah 9:6
References Lord
Psalm 110:4
14
"The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Zephaniah's son Hen. The crown will be kept in the Lord's temple. It will remind everyone that the Lord's promises will come true.
Reference
15
"Those who are far away will come to Jerusalem. They will help build the Lord's temple. Then his people will know that the Lord who rules over all has sent me to them. It will happen if they are careful to obey the Lord their God."
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 60:10
References God
Acts 2:39
Romans 16:26
References Lord
Zechariah 3:7
Isaiah 57:19
Summary of Zechariah 6
Zechariah 6 concludes the series of Zechariah's night visions with a picture of four heavenly chariots going throughout the earth, demonstrating God's control over the nations, before turning to a symbolic crowning of Joshua the high priest and a prophecy about the future Branch, who will build God's Temple and bring together royal and priestly authority.
The chapter begins with Zechariah seeing four chariots emerging from between two bronze mountains.
The chariots are pulled by horses of different colors: red, black, white, and spotted.
As in the earlier visions, Zechariah does not immediately understand what he is seeing.
He asks the interpreting angel for an explanation.
The angel tells him that the four chariots represent heavenly spirits or agents sent out from the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
They are not independent powers.
They operate under God's authority.
The vision therefore expands the scope of Zechariah's earlier messages.
God is not concerned only with Jerusalem.
He is actively overseeing events throughout the earth.
Some of the chariots move toward the north and others toward the south.
The north is particularly significant because Judah's major enemies had historically approached from the north.
Babylon had destroyed Jerusalem and carried Judah into exile, and the vision now portrays God's heavenly forces moving against the powers of the earth.
The angel announces that the horses going north have given God's Spirit rest there.
The image suggests that God's judgment or intervention has dealt with the forces that previously threatened His people.
The second half of the chapter changes from a vision to a symbolic action.
Zechariah receives silver and gold from people who have returned from exile.
He is instructed to make a crown and place it on Joshua the high priest.
This is unusual because Israel's priesthood and kingship were normally separate offices.
Joshua is a priest, not a king.
The symbolic crown therefore points beyond Joshua himself.
The prophecy immediately introduces someone called the Branch.
The Branch will grow from his place and build the Temple of the Lord.
This figure is presented as having a much greater role than the immediate Temple builders.
He will receive royal honor, sit upon a throne, and rule as king.
At the same time, he will serve as a priest.
The prophecy therefore presents an extraordinary picture of royal and priestly functions being united.
This is especially significant in the post-exilic period.
At the time, Zerubbabel served as governor while Joshua served as high priest.
The two leaders represented civil and religious authority.
Zechariah's vision points toward a future in which God's purposes are perfectly united under the Branch.
The Branch will build the Temple and establish peace.
The crown is then to be preserved as a memorial in the Temple, reminding future generations of the prophecy and the people who contributed to the restoration.
The chapter concludes with an international dimension.
People from far away will come and participate in building the Temple.
This reinforces a theme that has appeared throughout Zechariah: God's restoration is not ultimately limited to the immediate Jewish community.
The nations themselves will eventually become involved in God's larger purposes.
But the final condition is important.
The prophecy will be fulfilled if the people diligently obey the voice of the Lord.
The central message is that Zechariah 6 reveals God's sovereign control over the nations and points toward a future Branch who will complete God's restoration, build the Temple, unite royal and priestly authority, and establish peace, showing that the rebuilding taking place in Zechariah's own time is part of a much greater divine plan.
The chapter also brings together the major themes of Zechariah's visions: God watches over the earth, confronts the powers that oppose His people, restores Jerusalem, provides leaders for His community, and promises a future ruler whose work will extend far beyond the immediate rebuilding of the Second Temple.
The chapter begins with Zechariah seeing four chariots emerging from between two bronze mountains.
The chariots are pulled by horses of different colors: red, black, white, and spotted.
As in the earlier visions, Zechariah does not immediately understand what he is seeing.
He asks the interpreting angel for an explanation.
The angel tells him that the four chariots represent heavenly spirits or agents sent out from the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
They are not independent powers.
They operate under God's authority.
The vision therefore expands the scope of Zechariah's earlier messages.
God is not concerned only with Jerusalem.
He is actively overseeing events throughout the earth.
Some of the chariots move toward the north and others toward the south.
The north is particularly significant because Judah's major enemies had historically approached from the north.
Babylon had destroyed Jerusalem and carried Judah into exile, and the vision now portrays God's heavenly forces moving against the powers of the earth.
The angel announces that the horses going north have given God's Spirit rest there.
The image suggests that God's judgment or intervention has dealt with the forces that previously threatened His people.
The second half of the chapter changes from a vision to a symbolic action.
Zechariah receives silver and gold from people who have returned from exile.
He is instructed to make a crown and place it on Joshua the high priest.
This is unusual because Israel's priesthood and kingship were normally separate offices.
Joshua is a priest, not a king.
The symbolic crown therefore points beyond Joshua himself.
The prophecy immediately introduces someone called the Branch.
The Branch will grow from his place and build the Temple of the Lord.
This figure is presented as having a much greater role than the immediate Temple builders.
He will receive royal honor, sit upon a throne, and rule as king.
At the same time, he will serve as a priest.
The prophecy therefore presents an extraordinary picture of royal and priestly functions being united.
This is especially significant in the post-exilic period.
At the time, Zerubbabel served as governor while Joshua served as high priest.
The two leaders represented civil and religious authority.
Zechariah's vision points toward a future in which God's purposes are perfectly united under the Branch.
The Branch will build the Temple and establish peace.
The crown is then to be preserved as a memorial in the Temple, reminding future generations of the prophecy and the people who contributed to the restoration.
The chapter concludes with an international dimension.
People from far away will come and participate in building the Temple.
This reinforces a theme that has appeared throughout Zechariah: God's restoration is not ultimately limited to the immediate Jewish community.
The nations themselves will eventually become involved in God's larger purposes.
But the final condition is important.
The prophecy will be fulfilled if the people diligently obey the voice of the Lord.
The central message is that Zechariah 6 reveals God's sovereign control over the nations and points toward a future Branch who will complete God's restoration, build the Temple, unite royal and priestly authority, and establish peace, showing that the rebuilding taking place in Zechariah's own time is part of a much greater divine plan.
The chapter also brings together the major themes of Zechariah's visions: God watches over the earth, confronts the powers that oppose His people, restores Jerusalem, provides leaders for His community, and promises a future ruler whose work will extend far beyond the immediate rebuilding of the Second Temple.