Zechariah 4 7

Zechariah 4:7 kjv

Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

Zechariah 4:7 nkjv

'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' "

Zechariah 4:7 niv

"What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!'?"

Zechariah 4:7 esv

Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain. And he shall bring forward the top stone amid shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'"

Zechariah 4:7 nlt

Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel's way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: 'May God bless it! May God bless it!' "

Zechariah 4 verses

Zechariah 4 7 Meaning

Zechariah 4:7 proclaims a powerful message of divine enablement and completion over insurmountable obstacles. It addresses any perceived barrier, symbolized as a "great mountain," asserting that by God's power, this mountain will be flattened into a plain before Zerubbabel, the governor appointed to lead the rebuilding of the temple. The verse then declares that Zerubbabel will complete the temple, placing the "capstone," the final, crowning stone, amid joyful shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" This signifies that the successful completion is entirely due to God's favor and unmerited kindness, leading to celebration and glorification of His work.

Zechariah 4 7 Context

Zechariah 4:7 is part of Zechariah's fifth vision, immediately following the pivotal declaration in Zec 4:6, "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." This vision, featuring a golden lampstand and two olive trees, serves to encourage Zerubbabel, the Davidic governor of Judah, and Joshua, the High Priest, in their divinely appointed task of rebuilding the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Historically, the returned exiles, under Persian rule, faced significant discouragement, poverty, and opposition (from Samaritans and others, as chronicled in Ezra 4), leading to a halt in construction for approximately 16 years. This verse specifically addresses Zerubbabel, who was facing what seemed like insurmountable obstacles in resuming and completing the temple work. The "great mountain" symbolizes these overwhelming difficulties, while the "capstone" signifies the successful, graceful culmination of the temple project. The immediate context of divine intervention reassures Zerubbabel that the work will be completed not by human strength or resources, but through God's empowering Spirit and abundant grace.

Zechariah 4 7 Word analysis

• Who are you, O great mountain? (מִי אַתָּה הַר הַגָּדוֹל mî ’attāh har hagādôl)
  • מִי (mî): "Who?" A rhetorical question expressing contempt, challenge, or incredulity. It highlights the insignificance of the obstacle compared to God's power.
  • אַתָּה (’attāh): "You." Direct address, personifying the obstacle.
  • הַר הַגָּדוֹל (har hagādôl): "The great mountain." Symbolizes any immense, imposing, and seemingly insurmountable obstacle. This could include the physical ruins, lack of resources, political opposition from the surrounding peoples and Persian bureaucracy (as seen in Ezra), or internal discouragement and despair of the builders. It is a powerful image of impossibility from a human perspective, standing in defiant opposition to God's purposes. The phrase implies an challenge or anti-thesis to God's building plan.
• Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; (לִפְנֵי זְרֻבָּבֶל לְמִישׁוֹר lipnê Zerubbāḇel lemîšôr)
  • לִפְנֵי (lipnê): "Before," "in the presence of." Indicates the sphere of operation. The transformation occurs specifically for Zerubbabel's purpose.
  • זְרֻבָּבֶל (Zerubbāḇel): The divinely appointed governor of Judah, a descendant of David and legal heir to the Davidic throne. He represents the human instrument through whom God works. The vision focuses on him to encourage his leadership.
  • לְמִישׁוֹר (lemîšôr): "Into a plain," "smooth ground," "level ground." Signifies the complete removal of the obstacle, rendering it non-existent or effortlessly traversable. It underscores that God will clear the path for His servant.
• and he shall bring forth (וְהוֹצִיא wəhôṣî’)
  • וְהוֹצִיא (wəhôṣî’): "And he shall bring out/forth." Refers to Zerubbabel, acting as God's agent. This act is empowered by God's Spirit, connecting directly back to Zec 4:6.
• the capstone (אֶת־הָאֶבֶן הָרֹאשָׁה ’et-hā’even hārō’šâ)
  • הָאֶבֶן הָרֹאשָׁה (ha’even hārō’šâ): "The headstone," "the chief stone," "the top stone," or "the capstone." This refers to the final, culminating stone that completes a building, especially the highest and most prominent stone of an arch or a pediment. It symbolizes the successful, triumphant completion of the temple, a final act of bringing structure to perfection. It is not the "foundation stone" (which had already been laid, Ezra 3:10), but the finishing stone.
• with shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’ (בִּתְשֻׁאוֹת חֵן חֵן לָהּ bitəšū’ôṯ ḥēn ḥēn lāh)
  • בִּתְשֻׁאוֹת (bitəšū’ôṯ): "With shoutings," "acclamations," "applause." Indicates loud expressions of joy, celebration, and triumph accompanying the completion.
  • חֵן חֵן (ḥēn ḥēn): "Grace, grace!" Repetition of ḥēn (grace/favor) emphasizes abundance, intensity, and exclamation—"Grace upon grace!" or "Abundant grace!" This expresses recognition that the temple's completion is not due to human might or cleverness, but entirely to God's undeserved favor, His active presence, and His empowering Spirit. It acknowledges the divine enabling behind the human endeavor.
  • לָהּ (lāh): "To it!" Referring to the capstone, and by extension, the entire completed temple project.

• Words-Group analysis:
  • "Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain": This clause asserts divine sovereignty over all obstacles. Any seemingly unconquerable foe or insurmountable problem, no matter how "great" or defiant, is rendered flat and inconsequential in the presence of God's appointed agent and, by extension, God's power. It challenges human perception of impossibility with God's limitless ability.
  • "and he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’": This emphasizes the certainty of completion and the nature of its accomplishment. The work, though challenging, will surely be finished, and its culmination will be a cause for profound thanksgiving, attributing all success not to the builders' skill or strength, but solely to the enabling, unmerited grace of God. It's a shout of triumphant acknowledgment of God's favor.

Zechariah 4 7 Bonus section

The vision of Zechariah 4 is a comprehensive declaration of divine enablement. The two olive trees and the lampstand signify God's two anointed ones (Zerubbabel as kingly and Joshua as priestly), both essential for the nation's spiritual and physical rebuilding, sustained supernaturally by the flow of God's Spirit. The "great mountain" polemically diminishes any opposing force, human or spiritual, suggesting that nothing can stand against God's determined plan to re-establish His dwelling among His people. The "capstone" points beyond the physical temple to its greater spiritual reality, hinting at Christ Himself, who is both the foundation and the completing head of His spiritual Temple, the Church. Thus, the joy-filled shouts of "Grace, grace!" not only celebrated the physical temple's completion but also anticipate the ultimate display of God's grace in Christ's finished work of salvation, making an otherwise impossible spiritual structure a glorious reality by divine favor alone.

Zechariah 4 7 Commentary

Zechariah 4:7 is a powerful prophetic declaration of God's sovereign ability to overcome any obstacle, accomplish His purposes, and bring His work to glorious completion through His chosen instruments. The "great mountain" represents the overwhelming human impossibilities, such as the formidable challenges of rebuilding the temple in the post-exilic context, including political opposition, lack of resources, and deep discouragement. Yet, before God's anointed servant, Zerubbabel, these mountains would be made plain, signaling God's direct intervention to remove all hindrances. The bringing forth of the "capstone" signifies the final, perfect completion of the temple. The celebratory cry "Grace, grace to it!" underscores that this success is solely attributed to God's abundant, unmerited favor and His Spirit, not to human might or wisdom. This verse teaches that God finishes what He starts, that His grace empowers human weakness, and that His people are to give Him all the glory for what He accomplishes through them, transforming impossible tasks into triumphs.

For practical usage, this verse encourages believers to face seemingly overwhelming challenges ("great mountains") with faith, trusting that God's power, working through His Spirit (as per Zec 4:6), will flatten these obstacles. It assures us that God provides the grace necessary to complete the work He has called us to, no matter how daunting, and that the ultimate credit belongs to Him. For instance, when facing a massive project, a difficult spiritual battle, or seemingly insurmountable personal hurdles, Zec 4:7 reminds us to declare the power of God over the obstacle and to anticipate its removal by His grace, culminating in praise.