Zechariah 1:13 - Exposition

The Lord answered. The Angel of Jehovah is thus ca]led as the representative of God, whether we regard him as the Logos or a created angel empowered by God (see note on Zechariah 1:11 ). This personage is often seemingly identified with Jehovah (comp. Zechariah 3:2 ; Genesis 18:1 , Genesis 18:2 , Genesis 18:13 , Genesis 18:17 , Genesis 18:22 ; Joshua 5:14 , Joshua 5:15 ; Joshua 6:2 ). He gives the answer to the interpreting angel, which the latter is to convey to the prophet, which he, in turn, was to announce to the people. Good words, promising blessing and salvation ( 1 Kings 12:7 ); and these are comfortable words ( Isaiah 57:18 ), a message calculated to bring comfort to the people's desponding hearts. What the message is is given in the following verses (14-17).