Zechariah 4:7-9 NIV

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 4:7

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:9

The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house ,.... The temple at Jerusalem, which was laid, or however renewed, after it had been long neglected, even the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, two months before this vision and prophecy, Haggai 2:18 compared with Zechariah 1:7 , his hands shall also finish it : signified by bringing in the head or top stone, Zechariah 4:7 and so Christ our great Zerubbabel has laid the foundation of his church, which is no... 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 4:7

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:8

Verse 8 He confirms in this passage what I lately stated — That there was no reason for the faithful to entertain doubts or to feel anxious, because they saw that the beginning of the building was mean and despised by the world; for the Lord would at length show that it was built by his sanction and command, and that it would succeed far better than all of them had thought. But he says that the word of Jehovah came to him; (48) and yet at the end of the next verse he shows that this address... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:9

Verse 9 This is what the angel had in view in these words, The hands of Zerubbabel have founded this house. Of the foundation there was indeed no doubt; but many believed that the building would ever remain unfinished, for Satan had already by means of the most powerful enemies impeded its progress. As then despair had laid hold on the minds of almost all, the angel declares that Zerubbabel would gain his object in finishing the temple which he had begun. He afterwards adds, Thou shalt know... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-7

The Church in three aspects. I. SYMBOLICALLY REPRESENTED . ( Zechariah 4:2 , Zechariah 4:3 .) Candelabrum. II. DEVOUTLY CONTEMPLATED . ( Zechariah 4:5 .) Humble, earnest, reverent inquiry. III. DIVINELY INTERPRETED . 1 . The unity of the Church. 2 . The spiritual use of the Church. 3 . The Divine care of the Church. 4 . The future glory of the Church. The Church should be: read more

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:9

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

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-7

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