Zechariah Chapter 1
1:1, 2. The message is dated in the eighth month, in the second year of Darius. This would be November, 520 B.C.,
two months after the prophet Haggai began his ministry. By his lineage Zechariah identifies himself as a priest, and by
his reception of this prophecy he is established as a prophet.
1:4. The former prophets is a reference primarily to the prophets who ministered prior to the Babylonian captivity.
1:7-6:8. The eight night visions: All eight night visions occurred on one night and constitute a unity of revelation. The
first is most important because it provides a key for understanding the other seven. The night visions were not
presented to the prophet in the form of a dream, but rather with the prophet in some form of a trance (cf. Acts 10:10;
11:15; Rev. 1:10). The overall message of these visions for the nation of Zechariah's day was "The Lord is with you;
therefore, build the temple." For the Israel of the future, the visions outline the prophetic program for Israel from the
time of restoration from the Babylonian captivity to the institution of the millennial kingdom.
1:7-11. The angel of the Lord (v. 11) is the Christophany-a preincarnate appearance of the second person of the
Trinity, the Son of God. The bottom (Heb. metsulah, "depth," "hollow," "place of shadows," "or "a shady place") has
been suggested to be the valley of Hinnom outside the temple precinct. If so, the prophet could look down from the
foundations of the temple and see the Rider and His army coming.
1:13-17. The contribution of this first and all-inclusive night vision, the man among the myrtle trees, is twofold: The
Israel of Zechariah's day was assured that the Lord was with them and that the world was at peace. Therefore, they
should continue the task of building the temple until it was completed.
1:18-21. The four horns are representative of the four Gentile world powers, earlier introduced by Daniel (cf. Dan. 2,
7, 8). Metaphorically, the "horn" was applied to the strength of governments, and was used representatively of
nations (cf. Dan. 8:3, 4; Mic. 4:13).
Zechariah Chapter 2
2:1-13. The third vision is that of the man with the measuring line. Its message is that the future Jerusalem will
overspread its boundaries, and that God will be its Protector.
Zechariah Chapter 3
3:1-10. The fourth vision is of Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. For the Israel of
Zechariah's day, the significance of the vision is that sin is not a hindrance to the realization of God's program.
Because God had dealt with sin, Joshua and the priests indicate the restoration of the priesthood and stand
representatively for the work that God will accomplish ultimately when the sin of the nation is permanently put away by
the BRANCH, the coming Messiah.
3:5. The fair mitre was the high priest's turban, to which a golden plate was attached, engraved with "HOLINESS TO
THE LORD" (Ex. 28:36-38).
3:6-8. THE BRANCH (Heb. tsemach, lit., "a sprout") is a proper name descriptive of the Messiah. Of whom is it used in
prophecy (cf. 6:12; Is. 4:2; 11:1; Jer. 23:5; 33:15) to indicate that genealogically He is a descendant of David, and He
is the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7:8-14). My servant (Heb. 'ebed, "servant," "doer," "tiller," "slave,")
sets forth His function (cf. Is. 42:1; 49:3; 50:10; 52:13; 53:11; Ezek. 34:23, 24).
3:9. The stone (Heb, 'eben) is frequently used throughout the Old Testament to refer to the Messiah (cf. Gen. 49:24;
Ps. 118:22; Is. 28:16) and is so interpreted in the new Testament (cf. Matt. 21:42; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:6).
Zechariah Chapter 4
4:1-14. The fifth vision, the golden candlestick and the two olive trees: The work of God (the rebuilding of the temple)
would be accomplished through God's leaders, Joshua and Zerubbabel, who would be enabled to perform their tasks
by the Spirit of God. The vision indicates that future Israel will be a blessing to all the nations of the world through an
abundant supply of the Spirit of God as the result of the coming of the Messiah, who will unite the offices of priest and
king in Himself.
4:1-5. Zechariah's lampstand differed from modern menorahs on four ways, because it had (1) a bowl, (2) pipes, (3)
olive trees, and (4) two golden spouts. The Hebrew text is explicit: there were seven pipes leading from the bowl to
each of the seven lamps, a total of 49 pipes. The thought conveyed is that there was an abundant channel to convey
the abundant supply of oil stored in the bowl to each of the seven lamps.
4:14. The two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth: The context clearly favors identifying them as
Joshua, the high priest, and Zerubbabel, the governor, who will be the channels through whom God will manifest His
light.
Zechariah Chapter 5
5:1-4. The sixth vision, of the flying roll (or scroll), is to show that those who sin openly will not hinder God's work,
because God's judgment is upon them and they will not escape. For the Israel of the future the vision indicates that at
the coming of the Messiah God is going to pour out His judgement on all the world and will remove every sinner from
the land.
5:5-11. The seventh vision is of the woman in the ephah. The significance of the vision for the Israel Zechariah's day
is that wickedness must be removed entirely from the land. This is an impossible task from man's viewpoint, but from
God's viewpoint it is simply and efficiently accomplished. So the people should not let any form of wickedness deter
them from their task of bringing the temple to completion. For the future Israel, the vision looks toward the seventieth
week of Daniel, when God will remove every system and form of wickedness that manifests itself against Him.
Zechariah Chapter 6
6:1-8. The eighth vision, the vision of the four chariots, shows that God's judgement has finally and fully rested on
Babylon. Even though there might be a flare-up (which was realized in the fifth year of Darius's reign-just three years
later) they need not let that deter them from building the temple (which was not completed until the sixth year of
Darius's reign ). God has all things under complete control. The chariots reveal to future Israel why the Messiah can
reign universally over all the world- all enemies are judged and none can rise up against the authority of the King.
Zechariah Chapter 7
7:1-8:23. The four messages: All four messages came in the fourth year of king Darius-two years after the word came
to Zechariah (cf. 1:1, 7). The precise date is the fourth of the ninth month, even in Chisleu- the Babylonian name for
the month-the last part of November and first part of December.
7:2. Sherezer and Regem-melech bear Babylonian names showing that they were exiles returned from Babylon.
Zechariah Chapter 9
9:1:14:21. The two burdens: For the suggestion that chapters 9-14 comprise a "second Zechariah," see the
Introduction.
9:9, 10. The ass (donkey) was an animal of peace. The kings of the earth come to bring destruction and devastation;
Israel's King comes to bring peace. The prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem
(Matt. 21:4-7; Mark 11:7; Luke 19:38; John 12:14, 15).
9:11-10:42. The blood of thy covenant: God's covenants are ratified by blood sacrifice, hence, binding (cf. Gen.
15:9-18; Ex. 24:6-8 with Matt. 26:28; 1 Cor. 11:25, 26; Heb. 9:18-22; 1 John 1;7). The pit wherein is no water: Dry
cisterns were frequently used as places to keep prisoners (cf. Joseph, Gen. 37:21-24; and Jeremiah, Jer. 38:6)
Zechariah Chapter 10
10:1. The latter rain is the spring rain of late April or early May.
10:3. The shepherds and goats (Heb. atudim, "he goats") refer to the leaders of the foreign nations who persecute
Israel and set themselves against the Lord (cf. Ps. 2; Is. 14:9).
10:4. Corner (cornerstone) portrays the Messiah as the foundation of God's kingdom (cf. Is. 28:16; Eph. 2:20; 1 Pet.
2:6-8). Nail refers either to a large tent peg, or to a peg by which valuables were hung on walls. It portrays the fact
that all of Israel's value will depend on Him.
10:8. I have redeemed them: This will be the realization of the national regeneration promised in the new covenant
(Jer. 31:31-34).
Zechariah Chapter 11
11:7. The oriental shepherd took two staves: one to protect the sheep from wild beasts, and the other to assist the
sheep in difficult and dangerous places. The names Beauty and Bands symbolize God's favor on the reunited Israel
and Judah.
11:8. It is probably best to understand these three shepherds as three classes of leaders given to administer the
eternal, theocratic kingdom for Israel- prophets, priests, and kings .
11:12. Thirty pieces of silver, according to Exodus 21:32, was the price paid to the master whose slave had been
gored by an ox. A sound slave was considered to be worth twice that amount. This insult would ultimately be ascribed
to the Messiah Himself (Matt. 27:9, 10). This is the supreme insult- the Messiah, God's Son, worthy only the price of
an incapacitated, gored slave!
Zechariah Chapter 12
12:2-9. A cup was a symbol of the wrath of God (cf. Is. 51:17, 22; Jer. 13:13; 25:15-17, 27, 28; 51:7). The expression
in that day occurs 16 times in the remainder of this prophecy. The phrase is often employed by the prophets to refer
to the eschatological era (cf. 14:4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 20 , 21 with Joel 3:1 etc.). The events prophesied in this section deal
largely with the ultimate consummation of Israel's history and are, therefore, most important.
12:10-13:1. John applies verse 10 to the smitten Christ (John 19:37). These verses contrast Israel's treatment of the
Messiah at His first advent, when He was rejected and slain, and their treatment of Him at His second advent, when He
will be received and exalted.
Zechariah Chapter 13
13:7-9. The sword is the symbol of judicial power (cf. Rom. 13:4) and indicates the power that God has entrusted to
human government. my shepherd is a reference to Jesus, the Messiah . He is the true Shepherd, unlike the false
shepherds on whom God 's wrath fell (cf. 11:8).
Zechariah Chapter 14
14:4. Our Lord returned to heaven from the amount of Olives (cf. acts. 1:11, 12), and He will return precisely to the
same location.
14:4, 5. The violent topographical changes predicted here will afford a haven of escape for God's people. If the
splitting of the mountain will be caused by an earthquake, it is interesting to note that a recent geological survey in
the area has verified the presence of a prominent fault running east to west through the southern section of the
mount of Olives.
14:16-21. The feast of tabernacles is the joyous feast of ingathering, rest, and thanksgiving. Israel celebrated it when
they returned from the Exile (cf. Neh. 8:14-18). The millennial reign of the Messiah is the realization of the Feast of
Tabernacles. No other feast will be observed because the realities they foreshadowed will have been realized.