Zechariah 4:10

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:10

For who hath despised the day of small things ?.... This literally refers to the building of the second temple, which was contemptible to the enemies of Judah, Sanballat, and others; and little in the eyes of many of the Jews themselves, who had seen the former temple; yet not in the eyes of the Lord of hosts, Ezra 3:12 and so the Targum paraphrases the words, "for who is he that despiseth this day, because the building is small?' but in the spiritual sense, to the building up of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:10

Who hath despised the day of small things? - The poverty, weakness, and unbefriended state of the Jews. It was said, "What do these feeble Jews?" "Will they build," etc.? No. But God will build by them, and perfect his building too. And shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel - He is master builder under God, the grand architect. Those seven - are the eyes of the Lord - Either referring to his particular and especial providence; or to those ministering spirits, whom he has... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:10

Verse 10 Here the angel reproves the sloth and fear of the people, for the greater part were very faint-hearted; and he also blames the Jews, because they formed a judgment of God’s work at the first view, Who is he, he says, that has despised the day of paucities? He does not ask who it was, as though he spoke only of one, or as though they were few in number or insignificant but he addresses the whole people, who were chargeable with entertaining this wrong feeling; for all were cast down in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-10

Man as a student of the Divine revelation and a doer of Divine work. "And the angel that talked with me," etc. "It is needful to keep in mind that all these successive scenes were presented to the mind of the prophet in vision; and that each vision was distinct, forming a whole of itself, independently of the scenery of those which preceded it, although not so as to preclude connection in the lessons taught, and occasional reference (such as we shall find in the one now before us) to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-14

§ 7. The fifth vision: the golden candlestick. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 4:7-10

Encouragement to Christian workers. I. THOUGH THE WORK BE DERIDED , IT IS GOD 'S WORK . Therefore we are sure it is right and good. We can throw ourselves into it with all our heart. Patience. What is of God cannot fail. II. THOUGH THE DIFFICULTIES BE GREAT , THEY ABE CAPABLE OF BEING OVERCOME , Difficulties are a test. They show what spirit we are of. They separate the chaff from the wheat. Remember "Formality" and "Hypocrisy" in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 4:8-14

The Church sustained. "Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house," etc. These verses continue the metaphors of the previous portion, but in the opposite order. Zechariah 4:1-7 begin with the "olive trees" and end with the "house;" Zechariah 4:8-14 begin with the "house" ( Zechariah 4:8-10 ) and conclude with the "trees." We may look on this latter passage, therefore, as a kind of additional message ("moreover," ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 4:10

For who hath despised the day of small things? The "small things" are the weak and poor beginning of the temple ( Haggai 2:3 ); as the Targum glosses, "on account of the edifice, because it was small." Small as the present work was, it was a pledge of the full completion, and was therefore not to be despised. So the question is equivalent to, "Can any one, after these promises and prophecies, presume to be doubtful about the future?" For they shall rejoice , etc. The subject of the verbs... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 4:10

The simplest rendering is marked by the accents. “For who hath despised the day of small things? and (that is, seeing that there have rejoiced and seen the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel, these seven, the Eyes of the Lord, they are running to and fro in all the earth,” 1:e., since God hath with joy and good-pleasure beheld the progress of the work of Zerubbabel, who can despise the day of small things? The day of small things was not only that of the foundation of the temple, but of its... read more

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