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Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-14

Encouragement to Zerubbabel (4:1-14)The next vision is of a seven-headed lampstand standing between two olive trees. The olive trees pour their oil into a central bowl on top of the lampstand. The oil from this central bowl then feeds the seven lamps that provide the light. This means that the lamps do not need anyone to look after them. Light is provided supernaturally through the constant supply of oil from the trees (4:1-5; see also v. 12).This vision was of particular encouragement to... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Zechariah 4:12

empty the golden oil out of themselves = empty out of themselves [and fill] the golden [bowls], read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Zechariah 4:12

Zechariah 4:12. What be these two olive-branches, &c.— This passage may be rendered, What are the two orderers of the olive-trees, which through two golden spouts drain off the gold from them? I am inclined to suppose that by הזיתים שׁבלי shibbalei hazzeithim, were meant two beings, probably in human shape, who were seen by the prophet employed in arranging the fruit of the olive-trees, and giving it a direction for its juice to flow into those channels, through which it might be conveyed... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 4:12

12. through—literally, "by the hand of," that is, by the agency of. branches—literally, "ears"; so the olive branches are called, because as ears are full of grain, so the olive branches are full of olives. golden oil —literally, "gold," that is, gold-like liquor. out of themselves—Ordinances and ministers are channels of grace, not the grace itself. The supply comes not from a dead reservoir of oil, but through living olive trees (Psalms 52:8; Romans 12:1) fed by God. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Zechariah 4:11-12

Zechariah asked specifically for an explanation of the olive trees that he had seen (Zechariah 4:4). He also wanted to know the meaning of the two branches of these trees that emptied olive oil into two golden pipes (spouts) that carried the golden oil into the bowl atop the lampstand. "Golden oil" is literally "gold," but clearly olive oil, which is golden in color, is in view. However, it may be the pure quality and value of the oil more than its color that the gold connotes. [Note: Unger, p.... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Zechariah 4:11-14

3. The interpretation of the vision 4:11-14Though some help understanding the vision came through the preceding oracles concerning Zerubbabel, Zechariah still had some questions about what he had seen in the vision. The angel helped him further. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:1-14

The Fifth VisionThe prophet’s thoughts now turn to the civil ruler Zerubbabel. The purpose of the fifth vision is to encourage him in the difficult task of rebuilding the Temple, 1-5, 11-14. The golden candlestick (i.e. the returned exiles) receives its supply of oil (i.e. the divine grace) through two channels (’pipes,’ Zechariah 4:12), viz. the spiritual and the temporal leaders, Joshua and Zerubbabel, through whose united efforts the prosperity of the nation would be accomplished. These are... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Zechariah 4:1-14

A SERIES OF SEVEN VISIONS.Zechariah 1:7 to Zechariah 6:15. Between the commencement of Zechariah’s prophetic labours and the incidents recorded in Zechariah 1:7 to Zechariah 6:15, the Prophet Haggai received the revelation contained in Haggai 2:10-23. On the four-and-twentieth day of the eleventh month, just five months after the re-building of the Temple was resumed, Zechariah sees a succession of seven visions in one night, followed by a symbolic action (Zechariah 6:9-15). read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Zechariah 4:12

(12) Olive branches.—Better, bunches of olives. Two important points in the vision are here incidentally introduced for the first time: viz., the bunch of fruits on each olive-tree, and the “two golden pipes,” or rather, spouts.Which through . . . themselves.—Better, Which are resting in the two golden spouts, which pour out from themselves the gold [en oil]. The meaning appears to be that on each side of the golden bowl at the top of the candlestick was a golden spout turned upwards, into... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-14

THE FIFTH VISION: THE TEMPLE CANDLESTICK AND THE TWO OLIVE TREESZechariah 4:1-14As the Fourth Vision unfolded the dignity and significance of the High Priest, so in the Fifth we find discovered the joint glory of himself and Zerubbabel, the civil head of Israel. And to this is appended a Word for Zerubbabel himself. In our present text this Word has become inserted in the middle of the Vision, Zechariah 4:6-10 a; in the translation which follows it has been removed, to the end of the Vision,... read more

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