Zechariah 4:1-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-10

Here is, I. The prophet prepared to receive the discovery that was to be made to him: The angel that talked with him came and waked him, Zech. 4:1. It seems, though he was in conference with an angel, and about matters of great and public concern, yet he grew dull and fell asleep, as it should seem, while the angel was yet talking with him. Thus the disciples, when they saw Christ transfigured, were heavy with sleep, Luke 9:32. The prophet's spirit, no doubt, was willing to attend to that... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 4:11-14

Enough is said to Zechariah to encourage him, and to enable him to encourage others, with reference to the good work of building the temple which they were now about, and that was the principal intention of the vision he saw; but still he is inquisitive about the particulars, which we will ascribe, not to any vain curiosity, but to the value he had for divine discoveries and the pleasure he took in acquainting himself with them. Those that know much of the things of God cannot but have a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:1

And the angel that talked with me ,.... See Zechariah 1:9 , came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep ; into which he fell, after he had had the former vision; see Daniel 8:18 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:2

And said unto me, What seest thou ?.... That is, after he was awake, and had looked about him: And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold ; such an one as was in the tabernacle of Moses, only with this difference; that had no bowl on the top, nor seven pipes to it, nor two olive trees on each side of it, with two pipes to them, Exodus 25:31 such a candlestick was never in being, only in vision; and is an emblem of the church of Christ, into which the light of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:3

And the two olive trees by it ,.... Which are explained in; see Gill on Zechariah 4:14 , one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof ; in Zechariah 4:11 they are said to be on the right and left sides of the bowl or candlestick, which is the same; for the situation of them was alike, with respect to the one and the other: according to Fortunatus Scacchus, these two olive trees did not arise out of the earth, and the top of the candlestick; but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:4

So I answered, and spake to the angel that talked with me ,.... The same that awoke him out of sleep, and asked him what he saw: saying, What are these, my lord ? that is, what do they signify? what do they represent? or what are they emblems of? for he knew what they were; that they were a candlestick, and two olive trees; but he was desirous of knowing what the meaning of them were. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:5

Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me ,.... Either to upbraid him with his ignorance and stupidity; or rather to quicken his attention, and that of others, to the interpretation of it he was about to give him: Knowest thou not what these be ? art thou ignorant of the design of them? or knowest thou not what is meant by them? and I said, No, my lord ; he made an ingenuous confession of his ignorance, joined with great respect unto, and veneration of, the angel... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:6

Then he answered, and spake unto me, saying ,.... In great condescension, in order to instruct him into the true meaning of the vision: This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel ; this signifies what was said by the Lord to Zerubbabel, by some one of the prophets sent unto him: saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts : that is, that as the candlestick was supplied with oil, from the two olive trees by the side of it, without the help of any... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:7

Who art thou, O great mountain ?.... This is said in reference to those who opposed the building of the temple, as Sanballat, and others; or the Persian monarchy, and Babylon the capital of it; a mountain being a symbol of a kingdom, or capital city; so Babylon is called, Jeremiah 51:25 hence the Targum paraphrases the words thus, "how art thou accounted a foolish kingdom before Zerubbabel!' and may denote the opposition made to Christ, and to the building of his church, both by Rome... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:8

Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying. As follows; which is a confirmation of the angel's interpretation of the vision. read more

Group of Brands