Zechariah 3:1 kjv
And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
Zechariah 3:1 nkjv
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.
Zechariah 3:1 niv
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.
Zechariah 3:1 esv
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
Zechariah 3:1 nlt
Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel's right hand, making accusations against Jeshua.
Zechariah 3 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zec 3:1 | And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. | Direct Reference |
| Job 1:6 | Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. | Satan's accusatory role |
| Job 2:1 | Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. | Satan's accusatory role |
| Luke 22:31 | Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked to have you, that he may sift you like wheat, | Satan's desire to accuse |
| Rom 8:33-34 | Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is there to condemn? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised from the dead—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. | God's justification vs. accusation |
| Rev 12:10 | And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.” | The Accuser in heavenly court |
| Isa 49:24-26 | Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of the righteous be delivered? For thus says the LORD: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the terror seized; for I will contend with those who contend against you, and I will save your children. I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. Then all flesh shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” | God contending for His people |
| Deut 28:36 | The LORD will bring you and your king whom you set over you, to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. And there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone. | Exile and scattering |
| Isa 62:3 | You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the palm of your God. | Restoration imagery |
| Zec 1:12 | Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said, “O LORD of hosts, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you have been indignant these seventy years?” | Angel of the LORD's intercession |
| Ex 23:20-21 | “Behold, I send an angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. | The divine authority of the Angel |
| Mal 3:1 | “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, he is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. | Messenger before the Lord |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | Incarnation of the divine Word |
| John 1:18 | No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's right hand, he has made him known. | Christ at the Father's right hand |
| 1 Cor 6:11 | And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. | Justification through Christ |
| Phil 2:5-8 | Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, by being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. | Christ's humble obedience |
| Heb 4:14-16 | Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. | Jesus as the Great High Priest |
| Jude 1:6 | And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day— | Fallen angels and judgment |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. | The devil as an adversary |
| Ps 109:6 | Appoint a wicked man against him; let an accuser stand at his right hand. | Messianic Psalm of accusation |
Zechariah 3 verses
Zechariah 3 1 Meaning
The verse presents a vision where Joshua, the high priest, stands accused before the Angel of the LORD. The angel of the LORD is identified as the divine presence or God Himself. Joshua, representing the restored priesthood of Israel after the Babylonian exile, is found "a firebrand plucked out of the fire," symbolizing his salvation and the remnant's deliverance from utter destruction. Satan, or the Adversary, is present as the prosecutor, seeking to condemn Joshua.
Zechariah 3 1 Context
Zechariah's prophecy comes during the post-exilic period, specifically after the return of the Israelites from Babylon. The rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem was a central focus. The people faced significant opposition and discouragement. This vision, presented to Zechariah, serves as a powerful assurance and encouragement. It illustrates divine intervention in a spiritual battle where the success of the rebuilding efforts, symbolized by Joshua and the priesthood, is under celestial scrutiny. The vision addresses not just the physical reconstruction of the temple but also the spiritual state of the returning remnant.
Zechariah 3 1 Word Analysis
- וְהִרְאַ֖נִי (və·hir → ā · nî): "and he showed me." This introduces a new vision, indicating divine revelation.
- אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ (ʾeṯ-yə·hō·w·šuaʿ): "Joshua." This is Joshua the high priest, the leader of the returned exiles and the functioning head of the restored nation's religious life. His standing represents the continuity of God's covenant people.
- כֹּהֵ֥ן (kō·hē·n): "priest." Emphasizes his official capacity, a mediator between God and man.
- הַגָּדֹ֛ל (hagg·ā·dō·l): "the great." The definite article signifies his supreme priestly status in the restored community, especially in relation to Zerubbabel who led the civic restoration.
- עֹמֵ֣ד (ʿō·mēḏ): "standing." Implies presence, accountability, and readiness.
- לִפְנֵי֙ (lip̄·nê): "before." Suggests being in the presence of, in a place of judgment or divine council.
- מַלְאַ֣ךְ (mal · ḵ): "Angel." Usually translated "angel" but here often understood as the "Angel of the LORD" (mal · ḵ · yhwh), a distinct divine manifestation, often identified with the pre-incarnate Christ.
- יְהֹוָ֔ה (Yə·hō·w·āh): "the LORD." The personal name of God. The combination "Angel of the LORD" signifies a unique, powerful divine entity.
- וְהַשָּׂטָ֖ן (wə·haš·śā·ṭāⁿ): "and Satan." Hebrew for "the adversary" or "the accuser."
- עֹמֵ֣ד (ʿō·mēḏ): "standing." Again signifies presence, and contextually, a deliberate positioning.
- מִיּֽמִינֹ֔ו (mî·yə·mî·nō·w): "at his right hand." In ancient Near Eastern courts, the right hand was the place of honor, authority, and prosecution. Satan stands in an official capacity to accuse.
- לְרִשְׁעֹֽֽו (lə·riš·‘ō·w): "to accuse him" or "to be his adversary." The infinitive implies purpose, an intent to bring charges and condemn. The root 'rasha' relates to wickedness and evil.
Group Analysis:
- Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD: This establishes the scene of a divine tribunal. Joshua, as the representative of the covenant people and their priestly functions, is present before the highest authority.
- Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him: This highlights the cosmic dimension of the spiritual warfare involved. Even in restoration, opposition arises. Satan's role is specifically that of an accuser, seeking to undermine God's work through the condemnation of His servant. The positioning emphasizes his opposition to God's appointed servant and His people.
Zechariah 3 1 Bonus Section
The identity of the "Angel of the LORD" is a significant theological point. In many Old Testament instances, this Angel acts with divine authority, speaks as God, and receives worship. Scholars often identify this figure with a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. This interpretation aligns with New Testament theology, where Christ is our Advocate and High Priest who intercedes for us (1 John 2:1; Hebrews 7:25). The dynamic shown here—Satan accusing, the Angel of the LORD present—prefigures Christ's victory over Satan and His role as our defense before God's throne. The immediate context in Zechariah further reinforces this, as the Angel of the LORD immediately rebukes Satan and pronounces acquittal for Joshua, a role perfectly fulfilled by Christ for believers.
Zechariah 3 1 Commentary
This vision powerfully illustrates the nature of spiritual warfare. God's chosen servant, Joshua the high priest, stands in a position of accusation before the Divine Council. Satan, the cosmic accuser, actively seeks to condemn him. This portrays a spiritual reality where the effectiveness of God's work and His servants is challenged. However, the presence of the Angel of the LORD, God Himself, signifies ultimate divine authority and the source of justice and defense. The verse sets the stage for God's intervention to justify Joshua, demonstrating that He protects and vindicates those who stand for Him amidst opposition. The mention of Satan in such a judicial context underscores his perpetual adversarial role against God's people and plans.