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 12 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Zechariah 3:8Behold, I will bring my servant the Branch.Prophetic declaration
Isaiah 11:1There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse...Messianic prophecy
Jeremiah 23:5Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch...Davidic Messiah
Jeremiah 33:15In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring forth unto David...Fulfillment in Davidic line
Matthew 2:23...so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.Fulfillment (as "Branch")
John 1:14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...Incarnation
John 15:1I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.Christ as Vine
Revelation 5:5...the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David...Christ's lineage and role
Revelation 22:16I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony...I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.Christ's self-identification
Psalm 2:6I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.Royal authority
Psalm 45:6Your throne, O God, is forever and ever...Divine kingship
Psalm 72:1-7Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!...Ideal Kingly rule
Isaiah 9:6-7For to us a child is born...and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end...Messianic attributes
Romans 1:3...concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh...Christ's Davidic lineage
Revelation 19:16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.Christ's ultimate title
Luke 1:32-33He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.Gabriel's prophecy
Acts 2:30Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put him on his own throne...David's prophetic knowledge
Hebrews 4:14Since 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.Christ as High Priest
Hebrews 7:26For it became us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens;Christ's perfect priesthood
Revelation 3:7And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who holds the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.'Christ's authority

Zechariah 6 verses

Zechariah 6 12 Meaning

This verse speaks of the High Priest Joshua being crowned, symbolizing a future Messianic King, descended from him, who will rule with righteousness and peace from his throne. It points to the coming Messiah as the Branch.

Zechariah 6 12 Context

This verse concludes a significant vision series given to Zechariah. The immediate context follows Zechariah’s vision of Joshua, the high priest, being cleansed and receiving new garments, symbolizing purification and restoration. This is contrasted with his associate, Satan, who is rebuked by the Lord. The visions have addressed Israel's restoration, the coming of a rebuilding of the Temple, and divine judgment on enemies. This verse, spoken by the Lord Almighty, brings a message of future hope through a kingly figure, directly linked to Joshua's lineage. Historically, this was a period of post-exilic rebuilding for Israel, a time of vulnerability and longing for divinely appointed leadership.

Zechariah 6 12 Word analysis

  • And (וְ): Connective particle, linking this statement to the preceding actions.
  • Speak (דָּבָר): To speak, to say, to command. Emphasizes divine communication.
  • saying (לֵאמֹר): Infinitive construct of "amar," to say. Introduces the direct speech of the Lord.
  • Thus (כֹּה): Adverb of manner, indicating "in this way." Points to a specific manner of speaking or action.
  • speaketh (אֹמֵר): Present participle of "amar," speaking. Continuous action.
  • saying (לֵאמֹר): Another instance of "amar," introducing the content of the Lord's declaration.
  • the LORD (יְהוָה): The personal covenant name of God, YHWH. Indicates divine authority and promise.
  • of hosts (צְבָאוֹת): "Tzevaot," meaning "armies" or "hosts." Refers to God's supreme command over all celestial and earthly forces.
  • Even (הִנֵּה): Particle of attention, "behold," "lo." Draws immediate focus to the subject.
  • the Branch (הַצֶּמַח): "Ha-tsemach," from "tsemach," meaning "a sprout," "a shoot," or "a branch." A key Messianic title in the Old Testament.
  • and (וּ): Connective particle.
  • he shall (עַל): Preposition meaning "upon," "over."
  • his own (מִן): Indicates origin or derivation.
  • own (מִן): Same as above.
  • place (מָקוֹם): Place, position, foundation.
  • groweth (יִצְמָח): Future tense of "tsemach," he will sprout or grow. Implies flourishing and development.
  • and (וְ): Connective particle.
  • he shall (וְ): Conjunction.
  • he (וְ): Subject pronoun.
  • build (יִבְנֶה): Future tense of "banah," to build, erect. Refers to constructing.
  • the temple (הֵיכָל): "Heikhal," temple, palace.
  • of the LORD (יְהוָה): The LORD.
  • And (וְ): Connective particle.
  • he shall (וְ): Conjunction.
  • be (וְהָיָה): Future tense of "hayah," to be, to become.
  • a priest (כֹּהֵן): "Kohen," priest.
  • upon (עַל): Preposition meaning "upon."
  • his throne (כִּסְאוֹ): "Kisseo," his throne.
  • and (וְ): Connective particle.
  • the counsel (עֲצַת): "Atsat," counsel, advice, plan.
  • of (מִן): Preposition, from.
  • peace (שָׁלוֹם): "Shalom," peace, well-being, prosperity.
  • shall be (וְהָיָה): Future tense of "hayah."
  • between (בֵּין): Preposition meaning "between."
  • them both (שְׁנֵיהֶם): "Sheneihem," the two of them. Referring to the priestly and kingly functions.

Words Group Analysis:

  • The Branch (הַצֶּמַח): This specific title for the coming Messiah is used elsewhere in Scripture (Jer. 23:5; 33:15; Isa. 4:2). It emphasizes his legitimate royal lineage through David, originating from a seemingly insignificant "root."
  • He shall grow out of his place (יִצְמַח עַל־מְקוֹמ֑וֹ): This phrase suggests both his origin and his eventual authoritative position. He will arise from his proper place (humanity, David's line) and establish his own rightful reign.
  • Build the temple of the LORD (יִבְנֶה אֶת־הֵיכַל יְהוָה): This refers to the future spiritual temple, which is Christ Himself and also His Church, built upon Him (1 Cor. 3:16, Eph. 2:21). It is also interpreted as the literal rebuilding of the Second Temple with Messianic glory.
  • He shall be a priest upon his throne (וְכֹהֵן יִהְיֶה עַל־כִּסְאוֹ): This highlights the dual nature of Christ's messianic role as both King and Priest, a concept seen in the Melchizedek priesthood of Christ (Heb. 5:6, 10). His reign (throne) is inseparable from his priestly intercession.
  • And the counsel of peace shall be between them both (וַעֲצַת־שָׁלוֹם תִּהְיֶה בֵּינֵיהֶם): This indicates perfect harmony and wisdom in his administration. The peace he brings is not merely absence of conflict but divine order and reconciliation, stemming from the unified counsel of his kingly and priestly roles.

Zechariah 6 12 Bonus Section

The crowning of Joshua in Zechariah chapter 3, followed by this prophetic utterance, symbolically connects the Aaronic priesthood with the Davidic kingship, both fulfilled in Christ. The term "Branch" (Tsemach) was understood by Jewish scholars to be Messianic. The juxtaposition of Joshua being made "a priest upon his throne" anticipates Melchizedek's order, which the New Testament explicitly links to Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7). The ultimate peace that will be established is not just terrestrial, but cosmic, a restoration of God’s kingdom.

Zechariah 6 12 Commentary

This verse is a profound prophetic declaration of the Messiah's dual office and reign. The imagery of the "Branch" emerging from humble origins (linked to Zerubbabel and ultimately David) signifies the Messiah’s true nature. His role as a builder connects to constructing the spiritual temple (the Church) and His future reign from David's throne. Critically, it merges the kingly and priestly functions, underscoring Christ's unique mediatorial role as High Priest and King, bringing peace through divine counsel and righteous governance. This promise offered a beacon of hope to post-exilic Israel and foreshadowed the ultimate reality found in Jesus Christ.