Zechariah 6:7 kjv
And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
Zechariah 6:7 nkjv
Then the strong steeds went out, eager to go, that they might walk to and fro throughout the earth. And He said, "Go, walk to and fro throughout the earth." So they walked to and fro throughout the earth.
Zechariah 6:7 niv
When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, "Go throughout the earth!" So they went throughout the earth.
Zechariah 6:7 esv
When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, "Go, patrol the earth." So they patrolled the earth.
Zechariah 6:7 nlt
The powerful horses were eager to set out to patrol the earth. And the LORD said, "Go and patrol the earth!" So they left at once on their patrol.
Zechariah 6 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Zech 1:10-11 | And the man standing among the myrtle trees answered... "We have walked to and fro through the earth..." | Angelic agents survey the earth for the Lord. |
| Job 1:7 | And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered... "From going to and fro in the earth..." | Contrasting movement; Satan's survey of evil. |
| Job 2:2 | And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered... "From going to and fro in the earth..." | Repeats Satan's surveillance activity. |
| Ps 103:20 | Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. | Angels as obedient executors of God's word. |
| Ps 148:8 | Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: | Creation obeys and fulfills God's commands. |
| Heb 1:14 | Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? | Angels as ministering agents for God's people. |
| Isa 66:15-16 | For, behold, the Lord will come with fire... to render his anger with fury... | God's future judgment will sweep across the earth. |
| Jer 25:30-32 | The Lord shall roar from on high... to all the inhabitants of the earth... a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. | God's universal judgment. |
| Joel 3:2 | I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there... | God's judgment involves nations of the earth. |
| Amos 3:6 | Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it? | God's ultimate control over all events. |
| Lam 3:37-38 | Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not? Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good? | Nothing happens without divine permission. |
| Jer 1:14-15 | Then the Lord said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. | North as direction of judgment (Babylon). |
| Jer 6:1 | O ye children of Benjamin, gather yourselves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem... for evil appeareth out of the north... | Reinforces the threat from the North. |
| Jer 50:3 | For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate... | Prophecy of Babylon's destruction from the north. |
| Isa 14:3-7 | And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow... and the whole earth is at rest... | After judgment on oppressors, comes universal peace. |
| Zech 6:8 | Then cried he upon me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country. | Specific divine satisfaction with judgment on the North. |
| Zech 4:10 | For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. | God's watchful eyes survey the earth. |
| Rev 7:1 | And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth... | Angels controlling global forces. |
| Rev 9:1 | And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. | Angels (or messengers) executing specific missions. |
| Rev 16:1 | And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. | Angels explicitly sent for global judgment. |
Zechariah 6 verses
Zechariah 6 7 Meaning
Zechariah 6:7 describes the execution of a divine commission: the black and white horses of the final vision, symbolic of spiritual powers or angelic agents, are commanded by the Lord to traverse the entire earth. Their eagerness to depart and their subsequent obedience signify God's sovereign control over the global movements of judgment, surveillance, and the outworking of His divine plan, particularly concerning His covenant people and their adversaries.
Zechariah 6 7 Context
Zechariah 6:7 is the climax of Zechariah's final night vision, involving four chariots drawn by different colored horses emerging from between two bronze mountains. These horses are identified as "the four spirits of heaven, going forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth" (Zech 6:5). They represent divine agents dispatched across the earth. Verse 7 specifically concerns the black horses, which go to the "north country" (likely Babylon), and the white horses, whose specific destination is less clear but implied as broadly encompassing. The "he" who gives the command is the angel of the Lord or the Lord Himself, emphasizing divine sovereignty over these activities. Historically, this vision occurred after the return from Babylonian exile, amidst the rebuilding of the temple, a time of renewed hope but also ongoing vulnerability. The vision assures the prophet and the people that divine forces are actively working on their behalf, specifically by ensuring the judgment of nations hostile to God's plan, which included their former oppressor, Babylon (the north country).
Zechariah 6 7 Word analysis
- And they went forth: (וַיֵּצְאוּ - va-yetze'u) This immediately connects to the preceding verse where specific horses (black and white) are commissioned. It indicates direct, obedient movement from their initial position, symbolizing the prompt execution of divine orders.
- and sought to go: (וַיְבַקְשׁוּ לָלֶכֶת - va-yevakshu lalechet) The Hebrew "bakash" suggests more than mere desire; it implies eagerness, an earnest petition, or an insistent request. These divine agents are not reluctantly pushed but are eager to embark on their assigned mission, aligning their will with God's. It underlines their readiness and inherent function.
- that they might walk to and fro through the earth: (וְהִתְהַלַּךְ בָּאָרֶץ - v'hit'hallekh ba'arets)
- v'hit'hallekh (וְהִתְהַלַּךְ) is from the Piel conjugation of halakh, meaning "to walk about," "to go to and fro," or "to patrol." It signifies a deliberate, continuous, and comprehensive movement covering a wide area. This patrolling aspect implies surveillance and active execution of divine will.
- ba'arets (בָּאָרֶץ) means "in the earth" or "through the earth," emphasizing the global scope of their operation and God's universal sovereignty.
- and he said: (וַיֹּאמֶר - va-yomer) This signifies the immediate divine assent and authorization. It is the voice of the Lord or His angel, reinforcing the divine authority behind the mission. The eagerness of the agents meets the approval and direct command of God.
- Get you hence: (לְכוּ - Lechu) An imperative, direct command ("Go!") for immediate departure. It removes any potential hesitation or delay, emphasizing the urgency and definitiveness of the divine directive.
- walk to and fro through the earth: (הִתְהַלְּכוּ בָּאָרֶץ - hit'hall'khu ba'arets) Repetition of the crucial action, reaffirming the mission and specifying its nature as extensive, continuous surveying and active involvement across the entire world.
- So they walked to and fro through the earth: (וַיִּתְהַלְּכוּ בָּאָרֶץ - va-yit'hall'khu ba'arets) This concluding phrase unequivocally states that the command was executed precisely and immediately. It closes the loop of command and obedience, demonstrating the certainty of God's plans coming to fruition through His dispatched agents. The narrative structure, from intent to command to action, highlights the infallible nature of divine decrees.
Zechariah 6 7 Bonus section
The repeated phrase "walk to and fro through the earth" connects this vision strongly to Zechariah's first vision in Zech 1:10-11, where an angel reports back from doing just that. This recurring motif signifies God's continuous and thorough monitoring of the entire world, indicating that His knowledge is complete and His actions are based on perfect insight. The contrasting parallel with Satan's "walking to and fro" in Job (Job 1:7; 2:2) highlights a crucial distinction: while evil roams with malevolent intent, God's agents patrol with righteous purpose, ultimately serving His redemptive and just will. This active surveying prepares for divine intervention and ensures that every nation and event aligns with God's overarching plan for His people and the earth.
Zechariah 6 7 Commentary
Zechariah 6:7 portrays a vivid picture of divine action in the world. Following the commission of the four chariots/horses, particularly the black and white, these angelic agents are depicted as eager to carry out their assignment: to "walk to and fro through the earth." This desire highlights their nature as instruments of God's will, perpetually ready to fulfill His purpose. The immediate command "Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth" is a definitive authorization from the Lord, demonstrating His active governance over creation and nations. The subsequent affirmation, "So they walked to and fro through the earth," confirms the instantaneous and thorough obedience of these celestial beings.
This verse emphasizes God's omnipresence and omnipotence. His "spirits of heaven" are dispatched globally to survey, uphold justice, and implement His sovereign judgments and blessings. It provides reassurance to post-exilic Israel that despite their vulnerability, their God is not passive but actively overseeing the global political landscape. The focus on "the earth" underscores that no corner is outside God's watchful eye or beyond the reach of His instruments. This ongoing vigilance and intervention are critical for God's overall plan of redemption and justice, bringing forth eventual peace and restoration.