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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 6:2

In the first chariot were red horses ,.... If these are to be understood of the apostles of Christ, and ministers of the Gospel, they may be compared to "horses", for bearing the name of Christ, and drawing the chariot of the Gospel; for their strength to labour in the word and doctrine; for their courage in the cause of Christ; and for their swiftness in doing his work; and to "red" ones, for their flaming zeal for the honour of the Redeemer, and their bloody sufferings for his sake: and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:2

In the first chariot were red horses - The empire of the Chaldeans, which overthrew the empire of the Assyrians. The second chariot black horses - The empire of the Persians founded by Cyrus, which destroyed the empire of the Chaldeans. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 6:2

Verse 2 With regard to the chariots, we have seen elsewhere that angels are compared to horsemen; for these ride swiftly as it were through the whole world to execute what God commands them: so also whatever changes take place, they are called the chariots of God; for either angels are ready at hand to do anything in obedience to God, or the very events themselves are God’s chariots, that is, they are as it were swift heralds, who announce to us what was before unknown. Let us then know that... 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 6:2

Red horses ( see note on Zechariah 1:8 ). The colours of the horses are significant, though the symbols are not undisputed. "Red" symbolizes bloodshed and war ( Isaiah 63:2 ; Revelation 6:4 ); "black," sorrow and mourning ( Isaiah 1:3 ; Jeremiah 4:28 ; Revelation 6:5 ); "white," victory and joy ( Ecclesiastes 9:8 ; Revelation 6:2 ; Revelation 19:11 ). What the colour of the horses in the fourth chariot means is very doubtful (see below on Zechariah 6:3 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 6:2-3

The symbol is different from that in the first vision. There Zechariah 1:8, they were horses only, with their riders, to go to and fro to enquire; here they are war-chariots with their horses, to execute God’s judgments, each in their turn. In the first vision also, there is not the characteristic fourfold division, which reminds of the four world-empires of Daniel Daniel 2:0; after which, in both prophets, is the mention of the kingdom of Christ. Even if the grisled horses be the same as the... read more

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