Zechariah 6 4

Zechariah 6:4 kjv

Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

Zechariah 6:4 nkjv

Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"

Zechariah 6:4 niv

I asked the angel who was speaking to me, "What are these, my lord?"

Zechariah 6:4 esv

Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"

Zechariah 6:4 nlt

"And what are these, my lord?" I asked the angel who was talking with me.

Zechariah 6 verses

Zechariah 6 4 Meaning

Zechariah 6:4 records the prophet Zechariah's direct question to the angel who had been communicating God's visions to him. After witnessing the mysterious vision of the four chariots and horses emerging from between two bronze mountains, Zechariah, driven by a desire to comprehend the divine revelation, humbly seeks an explanation. His query, "What are these, my lord?", expresses his bewilderment and earnest need for clarification regarding the profound symbolic imagery God presented.

Zechariah 6 4 Context

Zechariah 6:4 is situated within the series of "night visions" (Zechariah 1:7-6:8) given to the prophet Zechariah during the second year of Darius I's reign, around 519 BC. This period was crucial for the returning exiles in Judah, who faced discouragement and apathy regarding the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. The visions served to assure them of God's sovereign control over world events, His commitment to restoring His people, and the future establishment of His kingdom.

Verse 4 specifically responds to the vision depicted in Zechariah 6:1-3, where Zechariah sees four chariots with distinct horses emerging from between two bronze mountains. These chariots are agents dispatched by God. Like the previous visions, the imagery is potent and not immediately self-explanatory. Zechariah's question in verse 4, therefore, highlights the essential role of the interpreting angel (often called "the angel who talked with me," or mal’akh hadibber bo in Hebrew, lit. "the angel speaking in/with him") as a mediator of divine truth. This interactive dynamic underscores the human need for divine illumination to grasp God's prophetic revelations, ensuring the prophet, and subsequently the people, understood God's message accurately. It also concludes the formal series of the eight night visions, setting the stage for the angel's interpretative response.

Zechariah 6 4 Word analysis

• Then I answered (וָאַעַן, va'a'an):
  • Word: "Answered" (עָנָה, anah) implies responding to a preceding event or observation. Here, it signifies Zechariah's reaction to the baffling vision he has just witnessed in Zech 6:1-3. It's not a passive reception but an active, inquiring engagement.
  • Significance: Demonstrates the prophet's perplexity and his proactive desire for understanding divine revelation. It highlights the interactive nature of Zechariah's visions, unlike some others where the meaning is directly given.
• and said (וָאֹמַר, va'omar):
  • Word: "Said" (אָמַר, amar) indicates a direct verbal communication, reinforcing the spoken interaction between Zechariah and the angel.
  • Significance: Confirms the verbal dialogue essential for clarification.
• to the angel (אֶל-הַמַּלְאָךְ, el ha-mal'akh):
  • Word: "Angel" (מַלְאָךְ, mal'akh) literally means "messenger." This is the same interpreting angel who has guided Zechariah through the preceding visions.
  • Significance: The interpreting angel serves as God's divine interpreter, making clear the mysteries of the heavenly realm. His consistent presence throughout Zechariah's night visions emphasizes that prophetic revelation often requires divine explanation to be fully comprehended.
• who talked with me (הַדֹּבֵר בִּי, had’dover bi):
  • Word-group: This phrase uses the Hithpael participle of "dabar" (to speak), indicating continuous or habitual interaction, often translated as "who spoke with/in me" or "who was speaking with me."
  • Significance: It distinguishes this particular angel as Zechariah's regular guide and interpreter throughout the visions. This ongoing relationship builds trust and reinforces the divine source of the explanation. It suggests an intimate, continuous conversation crucial for prophetic insight.
• "What are these, my lord?" (מָה-אֵ֣לֶּה אֲדֹנִֽי, mah-elleh adoni):
  • Word-group:
    • "What are these?" (מָה-אֵ֣לֶּה, mah-elleh): An interrogative expression of genuine curiosity, bewilderment, and a plea for meaning. The chariots and horses were presented without immediate interpretation, making the question necessary.
    • "my lord" (אֲדֹנִֽי, adoni): A respectful and deferential address to the angel, acknowledging his superior spiritual position and authority as a divine messenger.
  • Significance: This precise question reveals Zechariah's perplexity, demonstrating that divine visions are often not self-interpreting but require direct divine revelation or prophetic insight for comprehension. His respectful address further underlines his humble receptiveness to God's message as delivered through His messenger. The question is critical to moving from observation to understanding.

Zechariah 6 4 Bonus section

• This verse explicitly links back to previous interactions in Zechariah where the prophet similarly asks for understanding (e.g., Zech 1:9; 4:4-5; 5:6). This pattern establishes Zechariah as a prophet who not only sees but actively seeks to understand God's word for the benefit of His people.
• The "interpreting angel" (or "the angel who talked with me") is a recurring motif in apocalyptic and prophetic literature, seen also in Daniel and Revelation. This entity bridges the divine and human realms, making God's complex truths accessible to finite understanding.
• The human need for divine interpretation for revelation is a theological theme. If even a prophet needed divine help to understand visions, it suggests that mere human reasoning or scholarly analysis alone is insufficient for fully comprehending God's deepest truths. This highlights the ongoing necessity of the Holy Spirit's role in spiritual illumination for believers (1 Cor 2:10-14).
• The question also sets the stage for the profound answer in Zechariah 6:5, identifying the chariots as the "four spirits of heaven" or "four winds," further establishing God's comprehensive sovereignty over all creation and the nations. Zechariah’s question is not rhetorical; it is answered directly, providing meaning and purpose to the preceding vision.

Zechariah 6 4 Commentary

Zechariah 6:4 is a pivotal moment, showcasing the prophet's earnest desire to grasp God's complex messages. His recurring question, "What are these?" throughout the night visions highlights that divine revelations, though powerful and awe-inspiring, are frequently symbolic and not immediately clear to the human recipient. This emphasizes the indispensable role of divine illumination, mediated through the interpreting angel. Zechariah's respectful "my lord" to the angel not only indicates deference but also a recognition of the angel's authority as a divine spokesperson, essential for authentic interpretation. The verse underscores the human struggle to comprehend the supernatural and the divine grace in providing understanding. For believers, it serves as a reminder that discerning God's will often requires patient seeking, humility, and reliance on His Spirit to illuminate His Word. Just as Zechariah sought clarification, believers today must engage with Scripture with a humble, inquisitive spirit, relying on God for insight rather than relying solely on human intellect.