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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 6:1-8

The prophet is forward to receive this vision, and, as if he expected it, he turned and lifted up his eyes and looked. Though this was the seventh vision he had had, yet he did not think he had had enough; for the more we know of God and his will, if we know it aright, the more desirous we shall be to get a further acquaintance with God. Now observe here the sight that the prophet had offour chariots drawn by horses of divers colours, together with the explication of the sight, Zech. 6:1-5. He... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 6:5

And the angel answered and said unto me ,.... In order to grant him his request, and explain the vision of the chariots: these are the four spirits of the heavens ; or, "the four winds of the heavens"; the apostles and ministers of the Gospel may be compared to "the winds", because their ministry is the ministration of the Spirit, which is like wind that blows invisibly, powerfully, and where it listeth; and because in and by it the Spirit breathes life and comfort into the souls of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:5

The four spirits of the heavens - Ministers of God's wrath against the sinful nations of the world. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:5

Verse 5 I come now to the words, The angel answered, These are four spirits, etc. Some give another rendering, These chariots go forth to the four winds, or parts of heaven; but this is forced, and the words simply mean, “these are four spirits.” The word spirit, I have no doubt, has led interpreters astray, for they have thought it frigid to call different events winds or quarters of the world. But I take this word in a different sense, that is, as designating the impulses of God. I do not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 6:1-8

The ministry of angels. "And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains." This, the last of the present series of visions, is perceptibly similar in several points, to the first ( Zechariah 1:7-11 ). We find mention in both, e.g; of "horses;" of the variety of their colours; of the prophet's inquiry respecting their meaning; of some of them going to and fro on the earth; and of final "quiet" ( Zechariah 6:8 ) or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 6:1-8

The world ruled in the interest of Christianity. I. THE POWERS OF THE WORLD ARE UNDER THE CONTROL OF GOD . East and west, north and south, all the world over, God is supreme. He is the Lord of all forces, the Ruler of all events, the Arbiter of all destinies. War, famine, pestilence, may be the result of natural causes, but, all the same, they are his servants; they come and go at his command; they accomplish what he pleases. "Happy the man who sees a God employed ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 6:1-8

God's government of the world. "And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass," etc. This is the last in the series of visions, which amount in all to eight, during that one night. All are so obscure that the more scholarly and enlightened the expositor, the less disposed will he be to regard his interpretation as absolutely correct. Certainly this is not more easy of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 6:5

The four spirits of the heavens. Both the Septuagint and Vulgate render, "the four winds of heaven;" and this is doubtless correct. It was a familiar symbol to the Jews. The winds are often introduced in executing God's will on sinners (comp. Psalms 104:4 ; Psalms 148:8 ; Jeremiah 49:36 ; Daniel 7:2 ). Which go forth from standing before the Lord (comp. Job 1:6 ; Job 2:1 ). The winds are supposed to be God's servants, waiting his pleasure to be sent forth on his errands. The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 6:5

These are the four spirits of the heavens - They cannot be literal winds: for spirits, not winds, stand before God, as His servants, as in Job, “the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord” (Job 1:6; Job 2:1. This they did, (Jerome), “for these four kingdoms did nothing without the will of God.” Zechariah sums up in one, what former prophets had said separately of the Assyrian, the Babylonian, Egyptian, Persian. “O Assyria, the rod of Mine anger - I will send him against an... read more

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