Zechariah 6 12

Zechariah 6:12 kjv

And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:

Zechariah 6:12 nkjv

Then speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: "Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the LORD;

Zechariah 6:12 niv

Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD.

Zechariah 6:12 esv

And say to him, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD.

Zechariah 6:12 nlt

Tell him, 'This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Here is the man called the Branch. He will branch out from where he is and build the Temple of the LORD.

Zechariah 6 verses

Zechariah 6 12 Meaning

Zechariah 6:12 is a pivotal messianic prophecy that identifies a future, divinely appointed figure named "The BRANCH." This figure is presented as a "man" who will uniquely "grow up out of his place" and take on the monumental task of "building the temple of the LORD." This verse points directly to Jesus Christ, establishing His dual roles as both King and High Priest, who would establish the true spiritual temple, which is His Church. It conveys hope and redirects the immediate post-exilic focus on the physical temple to God's ultimate redemptive plan.

Zechariah 6 12 Context

Zechariah 6:12 is situated within the series of eight night visions given to the prophet Zechariah following the Babylonian exile. The chapter opens with a vision of four chariots symbolizing divine judgment and sovereignty over the whole earth, reaffirming God's control. This sets the stage for the specific oracle concerning Joshua the high priest. Prior to verse 12, Zechariah is commanded to crown Joshua, using silver and gold collected from exiles returning from Babylon. This act is deeply symbolic, pointing beyond Joshua to a greater figure. The post-exilic community was engaged in the arduous task of rebuilding the Second Temple, facing discouragement and opposition. The broader historical context includes the return of a remnant to Jerusalem, still under Persian dominion, yearning for national and spiritual restoration. This prophecy reassures the people that their current efforts are part of a larger, divinely orchestrated plan culminating in the ultimate Messianic Builder.

Zechariah 6 12 Word analysis

• And speak unto him (וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו `ve'amarta 'elayv`): This directive from the Lord specifies Joshua, the high priest, as the immediate recipient. Joshua's role here is crucial, not just as a listener but as a visual prophetic type for the One to come, foreshadowing the Messiah's future priestly office.
• Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts (כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת `koh-'amar Yahweh tseva'ot`): This is a powerful, authoritative prophetic formula. "Yahweh" (the LORD) denotes the covenant-keeping God of Israel. "Tseva'ot" (of hosts) signifies His sovereign control over all heavenly and earthly powers, underscoring the undeniable truth and certainty of the following message.
• Behold the man (הִנֵּה אִישׁ `hinneh 'ish`): "Hinneh" (behold!) is an exclamation calling for immediate and focused attention, marking the significance of what follows. "Ish" emphasizes His genuine humanity, a fundamental aspect of the Messiah. He will be fully human, connecting to prophecy and covenant.
• whose name is The BRANCH (צֶמַח שְׁמוֹ `tsemakh shemo`):
  • `Tsemakh` (צֶמַח) literally means 'sprout,' 'shoot,' 'branch,' or 'growth.' It consistently refers to the coming Messiah throughout the Prophets (Isa 4:2, 11:1; Jer 23:5, 33:15; Zech 3:8). It denotes new life, natural, organic growth from a seemingly barren or humble origin, pointing to His lineage from David's 'stump.'
  • "Name" (`shemo`) signifies identity, character, and destiny. "The Branch" is not merely a label but a revelatory title, revealing His essence and purpose.
• and he shall grow up out of his place (וּמִתַּחְתָּיו יִצְמָח `umittachta_v yitsmakh`):
  • `Yitsmakh` is the verbal form of `tsemakh`, meaning "he shall sprout forth" or "branch out." This confirms the organic, living, and developing nature of His mission and growth.
  • `Umitaḥtaw` (out of his place/under him/from beneath himself/it) carries interpretive weight. It suggests an indigenous, self-generated growth not reliant on external human power, possibly implying a humble or unexpected origin for His coming (e.g., from a politically obscure Nazareth) yet affirming His connection to His true "root" or designated sphere. It ensures divine, not human, orchestration.
• and he shall build the temple of the LORD (וּבָנָה אֶת־הֵיכַל יְהוָה `uvanah 'et-heykal Yahweh`):
  • `Uvanah` (he shall build) directly parallels the work of Zerubbabel, who was overseeing the physical temple's reconstruction.
  • `Heykal` (temple) here transcends the physical edifice. While Zerubbabel and Joshua rebuilt the Second Temple, "The Branch" builds the true, eternal, and spiritual temple, which the New Testament identifies as the body of Christ and subsequently the Church (His people) as God's dwelling place. This temple is spiritual, made of "living stones," contrasting with mere brick and mortar.

• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH": This phrase introduces the Messiah by simultaneously emphasizing His true humanity ("the man") and His divinely revealed identity as "The Branch." This title foreshadows His royal lineage (from David's house) and divine origin.
  • "he shall grow up out of his place": This signifies an organic, God-initiated development. It highlights His self-emergence from humble beginnings or the Davidic "root" which might seem withered, affirming His growth not through human effort but through divine will and sustenance.
  • "and he shall build the temple of the LORD": This powerful statement establishes the Messiah as the ultimate builder of God's house. It shifts the focus from a material temple (the Second Temple being rebuilt) to a spiritual reality, embodying God's presence among His people, fully realized in Christ and His Church.

Zechariah 6 12 Bonus section

The immediate act preceding this oracle, where Joshua the high priest is symbolically crowned with the precious metals from the exiles, sets a visual stage. While Joshua serves as the high priest, the crowning suggests a future unification of the high priestly and kingly offices in one person, the Branch, a combination explicitly forbidden under the Mosaic Law but prophesied for the Messiah (Psalm 110:4). This prophecy serves to correct the narrow, often temporal, expectations of the post-exilic community for restoration. It diverts their focus from simply rebuilding physical structures to anticipating a transformative spiritual reality centered on God's chosen deliverer, offering hope for an ultimate and lasting divine presence. The Messianic kingdom initiated by this Branch is not dependent on the geopolitical stability or material wealth of human kingdoms but springs forth from God's own power.

Zechariah 6 12 Commentary

Zechariah 6:12 presents one of the clearest and most significant Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, unveiled through a direct oracle to Joshua, the high priest. The vision proclaims the coming of "The Branch," a designation applied to the future King-Priest. This figure will be a "man," emphasizing his full humanity, yet his name "The Branch" points to his divine origin and specific mission, emerging from the depleted but resilient line of David. His growth "out of his place" highlights an organic, divine, and self-sufficient development, distinct from human intervention or external power struggles. The climactic declaration is that "he shall build the temple of the LORD." This promise profoundly redefines the concept of "temple" for the post-exilic community. While they toiled on physical stones, The Branch's work would be to establish the true, spiritual temple—God's dwelling place in the hearts of His people, culminating in the person of Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone and the Church as His body. This prophecy ultimately reconciles the priestly and kingly offices, foreshadowing Christ, the one who fully embodies both, ruling and interceding on behalf of His perfected sanctuary.