the two anointed ones . Heb, the two sons of oil; looking forward again to the future, to "the two witnesses" of Revelation 11:3-13 . the Lord of the whole earth. The Hebrew adon App-4 ., is here specially associated with Messiah's dominion in the earth. Compare Zechariah 6:5 ; Zechariah 14:9 . Joshua 3:11-13 .Psalms 8:1 , Psalms 8:6 , Psalms 8:9 ; Psalms 97:5 .Micah 4:13 . read more
14. anointed ones—literally, "sons of oil" (Isaiah 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 1 John 2:20; 1 John 2:27). read more
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
He then said that the two branches represented the two anointed ones who stood by the Lord of all the earth. It was their relationship to the Lord that equipped them for their tasks. "Anointed ones" is literally "sons of oil.""The phrase ’sons of oil’ is typically interpreted to mean that the two individuals mentioned were anointed with oil as the Lord’s special servants (see NIV). However, the word for ’oil’ used here (Heb. yitshar) does not refer to anointing oil elsewhere (the Hebrew term... read more
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
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
(14) Two anointed ones.—Literally, as margin, two sons of oil: viz., Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, the Prince of Judah, “who stand by the Lord of the whole earth” as His appointed instruments, and through whom He causes His Spirit to flow to His congregation. Thus, as by the preceding vision it was signified that the religious head of the nation was accepted by God and purified, so in this vision the civil head receives the assurance of God’s assistance in his work. The anointed... read more
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
CHAPTER 4 1. The fifth night vision (Zechariah 4:1-10 ) 2. The questions of the prophet answered (Zechariah 4:11-14 ) Zechariah 4:1-10 . There was a rest for the prophet between the fourth and fifth night vision. He had fallen into a deep sleep. He may have been overcome by the grand and important visions, and is now awakened by the angel with the question, “What seest thou?” The new vision is a very striking one. A golden candlestick appears before the seer. An oil receiver is seen on... read more
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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