Zechariah 6 15

Zechariah 6:15 kjv

And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Zechariah 6:15 nkjv

Even those from afar shall come and build the temple of the LORD. Then you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. And this shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God."

Zechariah 6:15 niv

Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the LORD, and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the LORD your God."

Zechariah 6:15 esv

"And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God."

Zechariah 6:15 nlt

People will come from distant lands to rebuild the Temple of the LORD. And when this happens, you will know that my messages have been from the LORD of Heaven's Armies. All this will happen if you carefully obey what the LORD your God says.

Zechariah 6 verses

Zechariah 6 15 Meaning

Zechariah 6:15 promises that people from distant lands will come to help rebuild the temple of the Lord, signaling a future time of global participation in God's redemptive plan. This participation will serve as a powerful testament to the divine authority of Zechariah, or a divinely sent figure, commissioned by the "LORD of hosts." The full realization of this grand vision, however, is contingent upon the diligent and obedient adherence of the people of Judah to the commands of their God.

Zechariah 6 15 Context

Zechariah 6:15 concludes the series of eight night visions given to the prophet Zechariah, occurring immediately after the highly symbolic coronation of Joshua the high priest. In this preceding event, Joshua is crowned with "crowns," representing "The Branch" (Zech 6:12), a clear messianic figure who will "build the temple of the Lord" (Zech 6:13) and bear glory. The context is post-exilic Jerusalem, a period of discouragement as the second temple lay unfinished and the people faced political and economic hardship. Zechariah's prophecies aim to encourage the people, particularly Zerubbabel and Joshua, that God is with them and His glorious future plans for Jerusalem and the temple will be fulfilled. Verse 15 directly builds upon the promise of "The Branch" by outlining how this messianic temple will be built – with the help of those from distant lands – and the crucial condition for Israel's participation in this grand divine project. The prophecy emphasizes divine intervention and human responsibility within God's overarching plan for global redemption.

Zechariah 6 15 Word analysis

• And those who are far off: Hebrew: וּבָאוּ רְחוֹקִים (ū·ḇā·’ū rə·ḥō·w·qîm).
  • וּבָאוּ (ū·ḇā·’ū): "And shall come." This is a definitive future tense, implying a certainty of this event occurring. It points to an eschatological hope.
  • רְחוֹקִים (rə·ḥō·w·qîm): "far off," "distant ones." This refers primarily to Jews scattered in the Diaspora, but prophetically, and for a New Testament audience, it is clearly understood to encompass Gentiles, indicating a universal inclusion in God's redemptive work. This expands on Isaiah's vision of nations coming to Zion (Isa 2:2-4).
• shall come and help to build: These "distant ones" will actively participate. Their role is not passive, but one of contribution and service.
• the temple of the LORD: Hebrew: הֵיכַל יְהוָה (hêḵal Yahweh).
  • הֵיכַל (hêḵal): "Temple," "palace." While literally referring to the physical Second Temple under construction, within Zechariah's messianic context (especially after the "Branch" prophecy), it also points to the greater spiritual temple or the new messianic community built by the Messiah, where God truly dwells. This hints at the New Testament understanding of the Church as the temple of the Holy Spirit.
  • יְהוָה (Yahweh): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and power in fulfilling this promise.
• And you shall know: Hebrew: וִידַעְתֶּם (wî·ḏa‘·tem).
  • This is a prophetic formula indicating divine authentication. The future fulfillment of these specific prophecies will serve as irrefutable proof of God's direct involvement and the messenger's legitimacy.
• that the LORD of hosts: Hebrew: יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת (Yahweh Tseva'ot).
  • This majestic title for God, "LORD of armies" or "LORD Almighty," emphasizes His omnipotence, His sovereign control over all heavenly and earthly forces, and His capacity to bring about His purposes, no matter how grand.
• has sent me to you: Hebrew: שְׁלָחַנִי אֵלֵיכֶם (šĕ·lā·ḥanî ’ê·lê·ḵem).
  • "me": In the immediate context, this refers to Zechariah as the divinely commissioned prophet. However, given the strong messianic undertones surrounding "The Branch" in Zech 6:12-13, this phrase also points forward to a greater divine messenger – the Messiah himself – who will ultimately be "sent" to bring about this new temple and the ingathering of nations. This links to prophetic figures like Moses and Elijah, and supremely to Jesus Christ (Jn 5:36).
• And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God: This conditional clause is crucial, reinforcing the covenantal nature of God's promises.
  • "if you will diligently obey": Hebrew: אִם־שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ (im šāmōa‘ tišmĕ‘ū). The doubling of the verb "hear/obey" (an infinitive absolute with a finite verb) creates a strong emphasis on continuous, careful, and attentive obedience, not just a one-time act. It means "surely hear" or "you must obey fully." This condition highlights human responsibility within God's sovereign plan. It's a reminder that blessings are contingent on faithfulness.
  • the voice of the LORD your God: Emphasizes that it is God's direct command and will that requires obedience, implying the whole counsel of God found in the Law and prophetic word.

Zechariah 6 15 Bonus section

• The dual fulfillment of "temple of the LORD" is crucial here. While partially referring to the physical second temple then under construction, its full meaning stretches into the Messianic age and the spiritual reality of God dwelling among His people in Christ (Eph 2:19-22).
• The phrase "sent me to you" foreshadows not only Zechariah's prophetic role but profoundly anticipates the greater "one sent" – Jesus Christ, who stated He was sent by the Father and whose coming brought about the New Covenant where both Jew and Gentile become one in God's spiritual temple.
• This verse provides comfort and motivation. It assures the struggling post-exilic community that despite their present difficulties, God has a glorious, inclusive future planned, contingent upon their faithfulness. It encouraged them to complete the physical temple, understanding it as a stepping stone to a far greater reality.

Zechariah 6 15 Commentary

Zechariah 6:15 delivers a profound and multi-layered promise that stands as a beacon of eschatological hope for the returning exiles. It expands the vision of temple building beyond the immediate physical reconstruction in Jerusalem, pointing to a future spiritual temple and an inclusive, global community centered on the Lord. The promise of "those from far off" coming to assist in construction is a radical inclusion for its time, challenging any narrow, exclusive understanding of God's people and foreshadowing the New Testament inclusion of Gentiles into the Church, the true spiritual temple. This will serve as an undeniable sign, solidifying the authority of the prophet Zechariah, and more broadly, the divine mandate of God's ultimate messenger, the Messiah, the true builder of this spiritual edifice. However, this magnificent future is not detached from human responsibility. The verse climaxes with a vital covenantal condition: the full manifestation of these blessings is contingent upon Judah's faithful and diligent obedience to God's voice. This links the grand divine plan to the everyday ethical and spiritual walk of God's people, making clear that human responsiveness to God's word is integral to experiencing the fullness of His promised future.