Zechariah 2:3 kjv
And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
Zechariah 2:3 nkjv
And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him,
Zechariah 2:3 niv
While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel came to meet him
Zechariah 2:3 esv
And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him
Zechariah 2:3 nlt
Then the angel who was with me went to meet a second angel who was coming toward him.
Zechariah 2 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Zech 1:14 | "I am very jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion..." | God's divine zeal for Jerusalem, adjacent context. |
| Zech 2:4-5 | "Run, speak to this young man, saying, 'Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls... For I,' says the Lord, 'will be a wall of fire all around her...'" | Direct interpretation and fulfillment of the vision. |
| Dan 8:15-16 | "Then I, Daniel, saw the vision... And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai... 'Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.'" | Angelic interpretation of prophetic vision. |
| Dan 9:21-23 | "while I was still speaking... Gabriel... came to me in swift flight... 'I have come forth to give you skill to understand.'" | Angel Gabriel delivering swift divine revelation. |
| Luke 1:11-19 | "Then an angel of the Lord appeared... and the angel answered and said to him, 'I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God...'" | Angelic messenger delivering specific divine news. |
| Luke 1:26-38 | "Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee..." | Angel delivering highly significant divine message. |
| Acts 1:10-11 | "And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel..." | Angels providing instruction and assurance. |
| Rev 1:1 | "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants... and He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John..." | Angelic mediation in divine revelation. |
| Rev 17:1 | "Then one of the seven angels... came and talked with me, saying to me, 'Come, I will show you the judgment...'" | Angel guiding and explaining prophetic vision. |
| Gen 19:1 | "Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening..." | Angels acting as divine messengers to humans. |
| Judg 6:11-12 | "Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree... And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him..." | Angel delivering divine commission to Gideon. |
| Isa 54:1-3 | "Sing, O barren, you who have not borne!... for you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations..." | Prophecy of Judah/Jerusalem's future expansion. |
| Jer 30:18-19 | "Thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob's tents, And have mercy on his dwelling places; The city shall be built upon its own mound..." | Promise of restoration and rebuilding of the city. |
| Ezek 38:11 | "'I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates'" | Reference to unwalled safety, in contrast to Jerusalem's promised divine protection. |
| Joel 3:16-17 | "The Lord will roar from Zion... So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy..." | God's dwelling in Zion and its holiness. |
| Zech 8:3 | "Thus says the Lord: 'I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth..." | God's promise to return and dwell in Jerusalem. |
| Zech 8:20-23 | "Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem..." | Jerusalem as a future center of international worship. |
| Isa 26:1 | "In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: 'We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and for bulwarks.'" | Figurative "walls" of salvation, reflecting divine protection. |
| Rev 21:24-27 | "The nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day..." | New Jerusalem with open gates, implying no need for physical walls. |
| Gen 6:17 | "And behold, I myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth..." | The use of "behold" (hinneh) drawing attention to significant divine action. |
| Exod 3:4 | "So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, 'Moses, Moses!' And he said, 'Here I am.' Then He said, 'Do not draw near this place.'" | The use of "behold" drawing attention to divine manifestation. |
Zechariah 2 verses
Zechariah 2 3 Meaning
Zechariah 2:3 acts as a dramatic transition within Zechariah's fourth night vision. It describes a sudden movement where the angel who has been conversing with and interpreting for the prophet steps forward, only to be met by a second, distinct angel. This encounter signals the immediate and divinely urgent transmission of a crucial message from God to the prophet about the magnificent and boundless restoration of Jerusalem, setting the stage for the revelation of God's presence as a protective wall of fire and the city's overflowing glory.
Zechariah 2 3 Context
Zechariah 2:3 is nested within Zechariah's night visions (chapters 1-6), which served to encourage the returned exiles during the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple. Specifically, it forms a part of the fourth vision (Zechariah 2:1-5). The previous verses (2:1-2) describe the prophet seeing a man with a measuring line, presumably to re-establish the boundaries of Jerusalem. However, verse 3 dramatically shifts the scene by introducing a sudden angelic interaction. This immediate intervention by a "second angel" carrying a direct message from God indicates that the initial vision of a merely rebuilt or confined Jerusalem is about to be radically reinterpreted and surpassed by a vision of boundless divine protection, overflowing population, and God's indwelling presence as a glory within it, negating the need for traditional defensive walls (as explained in Zech 2:4-5). This message was particularly vital for the disheartened post-exilic community who felt vulnerable and insignificant.
Zechariah 2 3 Word Analysis
And, behold: (Hebrew: וְהִנֵּה - wə·hin·nêh)
- This is a strong interjection used frequently in prophetic and narrative texts.
- Significance: It functions like "look!" or "pay attention!" drawing immediate notice to an unexpected, important, or dramatic event unfolding before the prophet's eyes. It creates a sense of surprise and emphasizes the divine nature of what is about to happen.
the angel that talked with me: (Hebrew: הַמַּלְאָךְ הַדֹּבֵר בִּי - ham·mal·’āḵ had·dō·ḇêr bî)
- "The angel": (מַלְאָךְ - mal'akh) - literally "messenger." In this context, a heavenly being, a divine envoy.
- "that talked with me": This is the interpreting angel, a recurring figure throughout Zechariah's visions (Zech 1:9, 13, 14, 19; 2:3, 4; 4:1, 4, 5; 5:5, 10; 6:4).
- Significance: This angel serves as the primary mediator of divine revelation to Zechariah. His movement indicates a break in the established communication pattern, making the subsequent interaction with a second angel highly significant.
went forth: (Hebrew: יָצָא - yā·ṣā')
- Significance: Indicates a deliberate act of departure or stepping out. The interpreting angel physically moves away from Zechariah. This sets the stage for a new interaction separate from the prophet, which is then overheard or described.
and another angel: (Hebrew: וְהִנֵּה מַלְאָךְ אַחֵר - wə·hin·nêh mal·’āḵ ’a·ḥêr)
- "And behold another angel": Another instance of "behold" drawing attention, signifying the entrance of a second, distinct angelic being onto the scene.
- "another angel": This is not the interpreting angel. Scholars often see this "other" angel as being sent directly from God's immediate presence, carrying a direct command or urgent message to the interpreting angel. This highlights a higher level of divine authority and urgency in the message being conveyed.
- Significance: The presence of a second angel suggests a specific divine dispatch, adding weight and immediacy to the message that is about to be revealed regarding Jerusalem's future. It establishes a brief but crucial chain of command.
went out to meet him: (Hebrew: יֹצֵא לִקְרָאתוֹ - yō·ṣê’ liq·rā·ṯōw)
- "went out to meet": Indicates an intentional encounter, a purpose-driven rendezvous.
- Significance: This is a direct, pre-arranged meeting of two celestial beings. It implies a transfer of urgent information or divine instruction that is paramount for Zechariah and, by extension, for the people of Judah. The urgency of this divine delegation underscores the vital importance of the message about Jerusalem's restoration.
Zechariah 2 3 Bonus Section
- Divine Delegation: This verse highlights a celestial chain of command or a divine delegation at work, demonstrating God's intentional and organized method of revealing His will to humanity. It underscores that the message about Jerusalem is not merely the interpreting angel's understanding but a direct command from God Himself.
- Setting the Scene: The movement and interaction between the two angels build dramatic tension, indicating that what follows (Zech 2:4-5) is a message of extraordinary significance and urgency, overriding previous expectations or interpretations.
- Symbolic Interruption: The scene subtly interrupts the more routine pattern of angelic interpretation found in other parts of Zechariah, making the specific content of the "other angel's" message exceptionally weighted and authoritative.
- Focus on God's Agency: Even in such a brief interaction, the verse directs attention to God's active involvement and foresight in conveying His plan, signifying His constant engagement with His people's future.
Zechariah 2 3 Commentary
Zechariah 2:3 is a short but profoundly dynamic verse, orchestrating a pivotal moment in the prophetic vision. It is less about what is said and more about the staging of what will be said. The abrupt shift, marked by the interpretive angel stepping forth and another angel emerging to specifically intercept him, emphasizes the immediate and non-negotiable nature of the forthcoming divine declaration. This is not simply a continuing dialogue but a direct, expedited intervention from the divine realm. The two angels' meeting represents a divine council or immediate command being relayed through celestial messengers. This chain of communication—from God, through a dispatched angel, to the interpreting angel, and then to the prophet—validates the supreme authority and unshakeable certainty of the prophecy about to be delivered: God's boundless blessing, protection, and indwelling glory for Jerusalem, making her truly unique and forever safe without traditional walls.