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Matthew Henry

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 4:5

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:6

This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel - This prince was in a trying situation, and he needed especial encouragement from God; and here it is: Not by might, (of thy own), nor by power, (authority from others), but by my Spirit - the providence, authority, power, and energy of the Most High. In this way shall my temple be built; in this way shall my Church be raised and preserved. No secular arm, no human prudence, no earthly policy, no suits at law, shall ever be used for the founding,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:7

O great mountain? - The hinderances which were thrown in the way; the regal prohibition to discontinue the building of the temple. Before Zerubbabel - a plain - The sovereign power of God shall remove them. March on, Zerubbabel; all shall be made plain and smooth before thee. I have given thee the work to do, and I will remove all hinderances out of thy way. He shall bring forth the headstone - As he has laid the foundation stone, so shall he put on the headstone: as he has begun the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:5

Verse 5 He calls the angel his Lord, according to the custom of the Jews; for they were wont thus to address those who were eminent in power, or in anything superior. He did not call him Lord with the intention of transferring to him the glory of God; but he thus addressed him only for the sake of honor. And here again we are reminded, that if we desire to become proficient in the mysteries of God, we must not arrogate any thing to ourselves; for here the Prophet honestly confesses his own want... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:6

Verse 6 Now follows the explanation the angel gives this answer — This is the word of Jehovah to Zerubbabel, saying, etc. Here the angel bears witness to what I have shortly referred to that the power of God alone is sufficient to preserve the Church, and there is no need of other helps. For he sets the Spirit of God in opposition to all earthly aids; and thus he proves that God borrows no help for the preservation of his Church, because he abounds in all blessings to enrich it. Farther, by the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:7

Verse 7 Here the angel pursues the same subject which we have been already explaining — that though the beginning was small and seemed hardly of any consequence and importance, yet God would act in a wonderful manner as to the building of the temple. But as this was not only arduous and difficult, but also in various ways impeded, the angel now says, that there would be no hindrance which God would not surmount or constrain to give way. He compares to a mountain either the Persian monarchy or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-7

The Church revived. "And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me," etc. The imagery of these verses is twofold; but their subject seems one. By the "candlestick" expressly mentioned in Zechariah 4:2 (comp. Revelation 1:13 ; Revelation 2:1 ; also Matthew 5:14 , Matthew 5:15 ; Philippians 2:15 ), and by the temple tacitly referred to in Zechariah 4:7 , we understand, spiritually, the same thing, viz. in the first instance certainly the Jewish Church of that time.... read more

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