Zechariah 6 2

Zechariah 6:2 kjv

In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;

Zechariah 6:2 nkjv

With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses,

Zechariah 6:2 niv

The first chariot had red horses, the second black,

Zechariah 6:2 esv

The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses,

Zechariah 6:2 nlt

The first chariot was pulled by red horses, the second by black horses,

Zechariah 6 2 Cross References

Verse Text Reference
Zec 6:1 Then I turned and raised my eyes and looked, and behold, four chariots... from between two mountains of bronze. Immediate context; chariots' origin
Zec 6:3 ...and the third chariot had white horses, and the fourth chariot had dappled horses—strong steeds. Continues the description of chariots
Zec 6:5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, who go out from their station before the Lord of all the earth." Identifies the chariots' occupants/purpose
Zec 1:8 I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and he was standing among the myrtle trees… and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. Earlier vision of colored horses on mission
Zec 1:10 The man standing among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.” Angelic messengers patrolling earth
Rev 6:2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Thematic parallel: symbolic colored horses of judgment/conquest (colors differ)
Rev 6:4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. Thematic parallel: red horse of warfare/bloodshed (Rev's second horse)
Rev 6:5 When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. Thematic parallel: black horse of famine/scarcity (Rev's third horse)
Eze 1:4-21 As I looked, behold, a whirlwind coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire… within it were the likeness of four living creatures... And when the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them... Vision of divine mobility, angelic beings, "chariot throne"
Ps 68:17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of thousands; The Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place. God's powerful heavenly army/chariots
Dan 7:2-3 Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea..." Symbolic imagery of global powers rising, parallel to "four spirits/winds"
Isa 66:15 For behold, the Lord will come with fire and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. Lord using chariots for swift judgment
2 Ki 2:11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. Divine chariot for conveying prophets/divine activity
2 Ki 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. Divine protection demonstrated through horses and chariots
Hab 3:8 Was the Lord displeased with the rivers, was Your anger against the rivers, Or Your wrath against the sea, That You rode on Your horses, Your chariots of salvation? God riding for salvation and judgment
Ps 104:3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters; He makes the clouds His chariot; He walks on the wings of the wind. God's cosmic dominion, clouds as His chariots
Heb 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation? General reference to angels as ministering spirits, serving God's purposes
Jer 8:6 “I listened and heard, but they do not speak aright. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his own course, Like a horse rushing into battle." Figurative use of horses for swift movement, often to destruction
Joel 2:4-5 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like swift steeds, so they run. With a noise like chariots over the tops of mountains they leap... Horses and chariots as an army of divine judgment
Lam 5:10 Our skin was hot as an oven, Because of the burning famine. Famine, distress often associated with black (figurative sense here, but conceptually relates to effects of black horse).
Exo 14:25 And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty; and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.” God fights through supernatural intervention, acting on chariots
Psa 76:6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep. God's power over horses and chariots, implying His control over warfare.
Nah 3:2 The noise of a whip and the noise of rattling wheels, Of galloping horses, Of clattering chariots. Descriptive of military might and its sounds, against which God intervenes.
Job 39:19 “Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with thunder?" The strength and might of the horse is from God, who can use it for His purposes.

Zechariah 6 verses

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Zechariah 6 2 Meaning

Zechariah 6:2 describes the first two of four chariots with distinct colored horses that emerge from between two bronze mountains. This imagery signifies the divine agents, known as "the four spirits of heaven" (Zec 6:5), who are dispatched by God throughout the earth. The red horses likely symbolize divine judgment involving conflict and bloodshed, while the black horses suggest a different aspect of judgment, potentially famine, mourning, or distress, indicating varied ways God executes His will and maintains control over all nations.

Zechariah 6 2 Context

Zechariah 6:2 is part of the eighth and final night vision granted to the prophet Zechariah (Zec 6:1-8). This vision directly follows the symbolism of the two olive trees and two anointed ones (Zec 4), symbolizing Joshua and Zerubbabel. The appearance of four chariots with distinct colored horses emerging from between "two mountains of bronze" signifies God's absolute sovereignty and universal dominion. These chariots are identified as "the four spirits of heaven" (Zec 6:5), who stand before the Lord and are dispatched to execute His divine will throughout the earth, especially to maintain control and dispense judgment over the Gentile nations. This reassures the post-exilic community in Jerusalem that despite their vulnerable position, God is actively governing world events and protecting His people.

Zechariah 6 2 Word analysis

  • The first chariot (הַמֶּרְכָּבָה הָרִאשׁוֹנָה, ha'merkavah ha'rishonah):
    • chariot (מֶרְכָּבָה, merkāvāh): Refers to a war chariot or vehicle. In prophetic literature, chariots are frequently symbols of divine power, swift movement, and military force. Divine chariots emphasize the Lord's ability to act rapidly and decisively on a global scale.
    • first (הָרִאשׁוֹנָה, ha'rishonah): Denotes sequential order, indicating it's part of a series of agents.
  • had red horses (סוּסִים אֲדֻמִּים, susim adummim):
    • horses (סוּסִים, sūsîm): Common animals for transportation, agriculture, and especially warfare in the ancient Near East. Here, they symbolize strength, speed, and instruments of power. When connected to divine agents, they underscore the potent execution of God's commands.
    • red (אֲדֻמִּים, adummim): Derived from `אָדֹם` (ādōm), meaning red. In biblical symbolism, red is consistently associated with blood, warfare, violence, and destruction (Isa 63:2-3). In this context, it signifies an aspect of God's judgment involving bloodshed or punitive action against opposing forces.
  • the second (וְהַמֶּרְכָּבָה הַשֵּׁנִית, v'ha'merkavah ha'shenit):
    • Repetition of "chariot" and the ordinal "second" reinforces the sequential and distinct nature of these divine expeditions.
  • black horses (סוּסִים שְׁחֹרִים, susim shechorim):
    • black (שְׁחֹרִים, šeḥōrîm): From `שָׁחֹר` (šāḥōr). In biblical symbolism, black often signifies famine, distress, mourning, pestilence, scarcity, or solemn judgment (Lam 5:10, Jer 14:2). This suggests a different form of divine judgment compared to the red horses, perhaps focusing on economic hardship or widespread sorrow as a consequence of divine displeasure.
  • Words-group Analysis:
    • "The first chariot had red horses": This specific combination of "chariot" (divine agency/power) and "red horses" (war/bloodshed) conveys the deployment of an immediate and often violent judgment by God against those who resist His will or persecute His people. It points to God's active involvement in the political and military sphere of the world.
    • "the second black horses": The juxtaposition with black horses (famine/mourning) indicates a diverse and multifaceted divine control. It means that God's judgment isn't limited to warfare but extends to other forms of consequences, such as economic devastation, pestilence, or deep societal sorrow, all originating from His sovereign purpose. The distinct colors signify different roles and manifestations of His active rule.

Zechariah 6 2 Bonus section

  • The vision of the four chariots underscores the comprehensive nature of God's activity; He is sovereign not only over His chosen people but also over the Gentile nations, directing their actions and consequences.
  • The "bronze mountains" from which the chariots emerge (Zec 6:1) may symbolize the stability and unyielding nature of God's decree, or perhaps His holy abode, from which judgment and mission emanate. Bronze is often associated with judgment in biblical symbolism (Exo 27:2).
  • The parallel to Revelation's colored horses (Rev 6) highlights a recurring prophetic theme of God utilizing various spiritual agencies and judgments throughout history, though the specific order and primary meaning of the colors may vary based on the specific prophetic context. Both books affirm God's active hand in world events leading to His ultimate triumph.
  • This passage affirms God's "eyes and ears" throughout the earth through these spiritual agents, emphasizing His omniscient knowledge and omnipotent control over all global powers.

Zechariah 6 2 Commentary

Zechariah 6:2 serves as an introduction to the execution of God's universal governance through His angelic agents. These first two chariots, with their specific colored horses (red and black), immediately signify distinct aspects of divine action across the earth. The red horses embody the militant dimension of God's righteous wrath, bringing forth the violence and judgment necessary to uphold His justice and ultimately clear the way for His kingdom. The black horses, in contrast, portray a form of judgment that evokes solemnity, distress, or famine, often bringing nations to despair through scarcity or suffering rather than direct warfare. Together, they demonstrate that God is not a passive observer but actively dispatches His forces to accomplish His will, whether through direct confrontation or more insidious means of tribulation, confirming His absolute control over the world's affairs to bring about His divine plan. This comprehensive power offers both assurance to the faithful and a stern warning to the wicked.