Zechariah 4 11

Zechariah 4:11 kjv

Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

Zechariah 4:11 nkjv

Then I answered and said to him, "What are these two olive trees?at the right of the lampstand and at its left?"

Zechariah 4:11 niv

Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"

Zechariah 4:11 esv

Then I said to him, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"

Zechariah 4:11 nlt

Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on each side of the lampstand,

Zechariah 4 verses

Zechariah 4 11 Meaning

Zechariah 4:11 records the prophet Zechariah’s direct question to the angel who had been interpreting his visions. Having witnessed the vision of the golden lampstand continually fed by two olive trees, Zechariah seeks clarity regarding the identity and significance of these two trees positioned on either side of the menorah. This marks a pivotal moment of inquiry, demonstrating Zechariah’s earnest desire to comprehend the divine message regarding God’s continuous provision and empowerment for His people and their leaders.

Zechariah 4 11 Context

Zechariah prophesied to the Jewish remnant who had returned from Babylonian exile, alongside the prophet Haggai, around 520-518 BC. Their primary mission was to encourage the people, Zerubbabel (the governor), and Joshua (the high priest), to complete the rebuilding of the Second Temple, which had stalled due to opposition and discouragement. This period was marked by limited resources, spiritual apathy, and significant external challenges.

Zechariah chapter 4 presents one of his night visions, crucial for conveying God's message of encouragement and assurance. The chapter centers on the vision of a golden menorah (lampstand) with two olive trees supplying it directly. Prior to verse 11, Zechariah has seen this miraculous, self-sustaining illumination system and received the famous pronouncement in verse 6: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." Zechariah 4:11 is Zechariah's natural human response, expressing his perplexity and seeking clarification regarding the specific symbols, particularly the source of the continuous oil—the two olive trees—that kept the lampstand alight. The question sets the stage for the angelic interpretation that follows in verses 12-14, which identifies the trees as "the two anointed ones" representing Zerubbabel and Joshua, highlighting God's empowerment of His chosen leaders for the task of rebuilding and restoration.

Zechariah 4 11 Word analysis

• Then I answered and said unto him,
  • This phrase shows Zechariah's active engagement with the vision and the angelic interpreter. He is not a passive recipient but seeks understanding.
• What are these two olive trees (זַיִת, zayit)
  • What: Signifies a query about identity and purpose.
  • These two olive trees: The olive tree (zayit in Hebrew) is a prominent and ancient tree in the biblical land, highly valued for its fruit which produces oil. Olive oil was crucial for various purposes: light, food, anointing. Symbolically, olive trees represented fertility, abundance, blessing, long life, peace, and spiritual vitality (e.g., Ps 52:8, Jer 11:16). The emphasis on "two" is critical, indicating a distinct pair with a shared purpose.
• upon the right side of the candlestick (מְנוֹרָה, menorah) and upon the left side thereof?
  • Upon the right side... and upon the left side thereof: This describes their strategic placement, directly connected to and serving the menorah. Their proximity and connection imply a direct relationship and supply chain.
  • Candlestick: The menorah (lampstand) in the Tabernacle/Temple was made of pure gold and had seven lamps continually burning, signifying God's constant presence, light, and glory among His people. It also symbolized Israel as a light to the nations (Isa 49:6). The fact that the trees directly supplied the oil means the menora's light was sustained supernaturally through them.
• Word-Group Analysis:
  • "These two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof": This entire phrase encapsulates the symbolic core that puzzled Zechariah. The lampstand, symbolizing Israel's light and God's presence, requires a continuous, pure supply of oil to burn. The flanking olive trees visually explain this supply mechanism. The enigma is who or what provides this constant spiritual "oil." This visual aid points to the nature of divine empowerment: a direct, unmediated flow from a specific source, indicating divine appointment and anointing without human effort. This leads directly to the identification of Zerubbabel (governor) and Joshua (high priest) in verse 14, who represent the divinely ordained leadership through whom God’s Spirit operates.

Zechariah 4 11 Bonus section

• Dual Leadership: The imagery of the "two olive trees" feeding the lampstand is key to understanding the complementary roles of the religious (Joshua) and governmental (Zerubbabel) leaders, both necessary for the post-exilic community's restoration and functioning. This anticipates the two main offices that would exist in Israel's history until the coming of the Messiah.
• Perpetual Supply: The imagery emphasizes a continuous and supernaturally sourced supply of "oil," suggesting that God's empowerment and sustaining Spirit is inexhaustible for those He chooses for His purposes. The lampstand never runs out of oil because the supply is constant.
• Messianic Foreshadowing: The combined functions of Joshua (priestly) and Zerubbabel (royal, in the Davidic line) serve as types of the ultimate "Anointed One," the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies and fulfills both the eternal High Priesthood and the eternal Kingship (Hebrews 4:14, 7:24-25; Revelation 19:16). He is the ultimate source of divine anointing and the very "oil" for humanity's spiritual light.
• Polemic against Human Strength: The vision directly counters any reliance on human strength, resources, or political maneuvering for completing God's work. By picturing a supernatural supply line, it underlines that God's plans are accomplished solely by His Spirit, providing profound comfort and assurance to the beleaguered returnees.

Zechariah 4 11 Commentary

Zechariah 4:11 is the prophet's earnest request for clarity, arising from the unusual detail of olive trees directly supplying oil to the menorah without human intervention. This vision serves as a powerful theological statement about God's provision for His people. The menorah represents Israel's role as God's light in the world, sustained not by human effort (building prowess, political might), but by a constant, divine supply of "oil," which subsequent verses and biblical interpretation clearly identify as the Holy Spirit (Zech 4:6). The "two olive trees" flanking the menorah and feeding it signifies two distinct, divinely anointed individuals or roles through whom the Spirit flows to empower God's people. This points to the joint leadership of Joshua (the High Priest, representing the spiritual-religious authority) and Zerubbabel (the Governor, representing the political-royal authority), who were God's chosen instruments for the Temple's rebuilding. Their work would succeed "not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit." Thus, this verse encapsulates the critical need for divine revelation to understand God's methods, emphasizing that all true spiritual work is God-initiated and God-sustained, channeled through those He sovereignly anoints.