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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

Charles John Ellicott

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

(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

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

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Zechariah 4:1-14

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

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Zechariah 4:14

4:14 Then said he, These [are] the two {l} anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.(l) Which were always green and full of oil, so that still they poured forth oil into the lamps: signifying, that God will continually maintain and preserve his Church, and endue it still with abundance and perfection of grace. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:1-14

The Fifth Vision - The Lampstand (vv. 1-14) The next vision requires Zechariah's being awakened by the angel who spoke with him. Our natural inclination would not discern the truth of a vision like this: we are naturally insensible regarding these things and require an awakening by divine power. The essence of the vision is expressed in verse 6: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts," and1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 2:14 reminds us, "The natural man does... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-14

MORE OF THE PROPHET ’S OWN TIME THE GOLDEN CANDLESTICK (Zechariah 4:0 ) The candlestick was a copy of that in the early tabernacle, but with what difference (Zechariah 4:2 )? From what source was its oil supplied (Zechariah 4:3 )? What did this supply of oil from the trees symbolize (Zechariah 4:6 )? The candlestick itself may represent the temple which the Jews were now essaying to build, or the Jewish nation as a whole which was now sought to be re-established and become a light in... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Zechariah 4:1-14

The Complete Temple Zechariah 4:0 "And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep" ( Zec 4:1 ). Here is the mystery of repetition. Even angels cannot deliver the whole message of God at once, or if they could do so, it is not in the power of man to receive the divine revelation in one gift. Moreover, we see different aspects of the same revelation. This mystery of aspect is often overlooked in estimating the orthodoxy of men. Zechariah... read more

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