Zechariah 1 11

Zechariah 1:11 kjv

And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.

Zechariah 1:11 nkjv

So they answered the Angel of the LORD, who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We have walked to and fro throughout the earth, and behold, all the earth is resting quietly."

Zechariah 1:11 niv

And they reported to the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace."

Zechariah 1:11 esv

And they answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, 'We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.'

Zechariah 1:11 nlt

Then the other riders reported to the angel of the LORD, who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have been patrolling the earth, and the whole earth is at peace."

Zechariah 1 verses

Zechariah 1 11 Meaning

This verse describes the report from the angelic riders, dispatched by the Lord, to the Angel of the Lord. They report that their comprehensive patrol of the earth has found all nations to be in a state of rest and peace. This tranquil global condition starkly contrasts with the ongoing desolation and distress experienced by Jerusalem and the returned Jewish exiles. This quietude of the Gentile nations, therefore, accentuates Judah's unresolved suffering, prompting divine intercession in the subsequent verses.

Zechariah 1 11 Context

This verse is part of Zechariah's first of eight night visions, presented in Zec 1:7-17. These visions were given to Zechariah in the second year of Darius I's reign (around 520 BC), about sixteen years after the first wave of Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. The people, encouraged initially to rebuild the Temple, had become disheartened by opposition, economic hardship, and a lack of visible divine blessing.

The first vision depicts four horsemen, symbolic of angelic messengers or divine agents, who are sent to patrol the entire earth. Zechariah 1:11 specifically conveys their report to the Angel of the Lord. The historical context shows that the Persian Empire, which governed the post-exilic world, was generally stable and at peace. This global tranquility stood in stark contrast to the internal struggles and ongoing desolation of Jerusalem. The "rest and peaceful" state of the earth underscored the persistent plight of the Jewish community, highlighting their disappointment and God's apparent slowness in fully restoring Zion. This discrepancy prompts the intercession from the Angel of the Lord on behalf of Jerusalem, revealing God's awareness and concern despite the seemingly quiet global landscape.

Zechariah 1 11 Word analysis

• "And they answered": Refers to the four horsemen/riders introduced in Zec 1:8 and identified in Zec 1:10 as those "whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth." Their response indicates they are reporting on their assigned task.
• "the angel of the Lord": In Hebrew, מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה (Malak Yahweh). This is a unique figure in the Old Testament, often appearing in circumstances that suggest divine identity or a manifestation of God Himself (a theophany/christophany). This Angel frequently acts as an intermediary for divine revelation and power, and here, He is seen receiving the report directly, indicative of His authoritative position. He stands among the myrtle trees, symbolically signifying a humble yet significant setting where divine counsel occurs.
• "who stood among the myrtle trees": The setting mentioned in Zec 1:8. Myrtle (Hebrew: הֲדַס - hadas) typically symbolizes peace, fertility, and divine blessing (e.g., Isa 41:19, 55:13). Its low, shaded nature suggests humility or being in a place of waiting, perhaps reflecting Judah's currently humble state, but also promising future flourishing and prosperity.
• "and said": Indicates a direct, verbal communication of their findings.
• "We have patrolled": From the Hebrew verb הָלַךְ (halak), specifically the Hithpael form הִתְהַלְּכוּ (hithalləkû), meaning "to walk to and fro," "to go about," or "to range abroad." This implies a thorough, intentional surveillance or reconnaissance mission over a wide area, akin to the reconnaissance activities of scouts or observers. This detailed examination ensures the accuracy and comprehensive nature of their report.
• "the earth": Hebrew: הָאָרֶץ (ha'aretz). This term denotes the whole inhabited world, or at least the vast expanse of the known world, especially the region under the Persian Empire's influence. It signifies the global scope of God's sovereign oversight.
• "and behold, all the earth is at rest": Hebrew: וְהִנֵּה כָל הָאָרֶץ יֹשֶׁבֶת (wəhinnēh ḵol hā'āreṣ yōšeḇeṯ). "Behold" (hinneh) draws immediate attention to the surprising nature of the report. "At rest" (yōšeḇeṯ), from the verb יָשַׁב (yashav), meaning "to sit," "to dwell," or "to settle down," conveys a sense of stable habitation, absence of widespread conflict, and settled existence for the Gentile nations.
• "and peaceful": Hebrew: וְשֹׁקֶטֶת (wəšōqeṭeṯ). From the root שָׁקַט (shaqat), meaning "to be quiet," "to be undisturbed," or "to be at peace." This further emphasizes the tranquility, freedom from war, and overall calmness prevalent among the nations of the world, highlighting their undisturbed prosperity.
• "all the earth is at rest and peaceful": This phrase describes the global geopolitical climate of the time. The surrounding Gentile nations were experiencing a period of calm and stability under the dominant Persian rule. This apparent peace on a global scale stood in stark and disheartening contrast to the struggles of the returned Jewish exiles in Jerusalem. While the world around them seemed to flourish without immediate divine judgment, Jerusalem continued to suffer the aftermath of divine punishment and ongoing desolation. This disparity fuels the subsequent divine inquiry and intercession, signaling that God's plan for Jerusalem was yet to be fully realized.

Zechariah 1 11 Bonus section

• The "rest and peaceful" state of the earth described in this verse is not necessarily a positive state in this context for God's people. It means the Gentile nations, who had often afflicted Judah, were thriving without divine disturbance, while Jerusalem remained desolate.
• This observation by the patrolling angels reveals God's continuous and thorough surveillance over all creation, even when His direct intervention for His people seems delayed.
• The report's purpose is to prompt the intercession of the Angel of the Lord, highlighting a celestial drama where the plight of God's people is taken up within the divine council.
• The location among "myrtle trees" for the Angel of the Lord suggests a hidden, possibly humble place where profound divine counsel occurs, paralleling Judah's own current low and obscured status, yet it is from such places that divine purposes unfold.

Zechariah 1 11 Commentary

Zechariah 1:11 acts as a pivotal information transfer within Zechariah's first vision, highlighting God's meticulous awareness of global conditions. The angelic patrol's report—that the whole earth is "at rest and peaceful"—reveals a quiet world where the Gentile nations are not facing immediate judgment or significant turmoil. However, for the recently returned exiles in Jerusalem, this global peace was ironically disquieting. It underscored their continued suffering and the apparent delay in God's full restoration of Zion, creating a paradox where peace elsewhere deepened Judah's plight. The receipt of this report by the "Angel of the Lord" directly sets the stage for the powerful intercession that follows in Zec 1:12, where His concern for Jerusalem's desolation becomes evident, affirming divine empathy and the imminence of God's action despite the world's tranquility.