Zechariah 1:20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 1:18-21

It is the comfort and triumph of the church (Isa. 59:19) that when the enemy shall come in like a flood, with mighty force and fury, then the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Now, in this vision (the second which this prophet had), we have an illustration of that, God's Spirit making a stand, and making head, against the formidable power of the church's adversaries. I. We have here the enemies of the church bold and daring, and threatening to be its death, to cut off... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:20

And the Lord showed me four carpenters. To saw and cut in pieces the four horns; or rather "four blacksmiths" F25 חרשים "fabros ferrarios", Pembellus, Sanctius, Burkius. ; these horns were horns of iron; so the word is rendered a "smith" in 1 Samuel 13:19 and indeed it signifies both a worker in wood and a worker in iron; and who are sometimes distinguished by what they work in, whether wood or iron; see Isaiah 44:12 . The Jews say F26 T. Bab. Succa, fol. 52. 2. these four... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:20

Four carpenters - Four other powers, who should defeat the powers intended by the horns. These are the same as the four chariots mentioned Zechariah 6:1-3 , Zechariah 6:6 , Zechariah 6:7 . The first was Nabopolassar, father of Nebuchadnezzar, who overturned the empire of the Assyrians. The second was Cyrus, who destroyed the empire of the Chaldeans. The third was Alexander the Great, who destroyed the empire of the Persians. And the fourth was Ptolemy, who rendered himself master of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:20

Verse 20 But we must join the latter part, — that God showed also to the Prophet four smiths, for these two visions are connected together. Whosoever then takes only the first part, acts very absurdly, for the meaning of the prophecy will not be thus evident. If then we would not mutilate what is connected, we must not separate what is added respecting the four smiths. Inasmuch then as the Jews had been on every side oppressed, God shows that he has remedies enough, and even from various... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:18-21

§ 4. The second vision. the four horns and the four craftsmen. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:18-21

A vision of help. "Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw," etc. In these verses, and some that follow, certain detached portions of the previous general prophecy seem to be set before us again in greater amplitude and detail—like maps of England, France, and so on, in an atlas, following the general but smaller-scaled map of the whole "quarter" of Europe. In the verses now especially before us, it is the previous message concerning the enemies of God's people ( Zechariah 1:14 , Zechariah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:18-21

The dark and the bright side of things. Prophet depressed. Heart failing for fear. Roused. Vision twofold. Like the mystic pillar of the wilderness, it is dark and lowering towards God's enemies, but bright and cheering towards his friends. I. THE POWERS OF EVIL . Beasts dimly seen. "Horses" indicate the strength and malice of the world powers. The results are terrible. The unity of Israel is broken. Strength dissipated in party conflicts. Gored and tossed and sore oppressed by... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:18-21

Second vision: four horns and four carpenters. "Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem," etc. This is the second vision that the prophet had that night. The "horn" in the Bible is a symbol of power ( Amos 6:13 ). The horns here represent possibly those worldly kingdoms which had been, or were to be, opposed to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:20

Four carpenters; craftsmen; Revised Version, smiths, in which case "the horns" would be made of iron. The word is applied to workers in wood, stone, and metal; therefore an ambiguous rendering seems most suitable here. LXX ; τέκτονας ; Vulgate, fabros. They represent the human agencies employed by God to overthrow the powers hostile to the Church. Their number is the same as that of the "horns," thus showing their adequacy for the work which they have to execute. It is quite... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Zechariah 1:18-21

Zechariah 1:18-21. Then, behold, four horns Horns often signify the power of princes or people, the metaphor being taken from those cattle whose strength lies in their horns. The horns here mentioned denote the powers which had scattered Israel and Judah, or that should scatter them, as a bull, in his fury, tosses into the air whatever opposes him. It is uncertain whether the number four is here used indefinitely, or to denote that specific number; and if the latter, what particular... read more

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