Add parallel Print Page Options

Cleansing for the High Priest

Then the angel showed me Jeshua[a] the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan,[b] was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”

Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”

Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the angel of the Lord stood by.

Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.

“Listen to me, O Jeshua the high priest, and all you other priests. You are symbols of things to come. Soon I am going to bring my servant, the Branch. Now look at the jewel I have set before Jeshua, a single stone with seven facets.[c] I will engrave an inscription on it, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and I will remove the sins of this land in a single day.

10 “And on that day, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, each of you will invite your neighbor to sit with you peacefully under your own grapevine and fig tree.”

Footnotes

  1. 3:1a Hebrew Joshua, a variant spelling of Jeshua; also in 3:3, 4, 6, 8, 9.
  2. 3:1b Hebrew The satan; similarly in 3:2.
  3. 3:9 Hebrew seven eyes.

Joshua, the High Priest

Then he showed me (A)Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and [a](B)Satan standing at his right to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, “(C)The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has (D)chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a (E)log snatched from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed in (F)filthy garments and was standing before the angel. And he responded and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “(G)Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have (H)taken your guilt away from you and [b]will (I)clothe you with festive robes.” Then I said, “Have them put a clean (J)headband on his head.” So they put the clean headband on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the Lord was standing by.

And the angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, “The Lord of armies says this: ‘If you (K)walk in My ways and perform My service, then you will both (L)govern My house and be in charge of My (M)courtyards, and I will grant you [c]free access among these who are standing here.

The Branch

Now listen, Joshua, you high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a (N)sign: for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the [d](O)Branch. For behold, the stone that I have put before Joshua; on one stone are (P)seven eyes. Behold, I am going to engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the Lord of armies, ‘and I will (Q)remove the guilt of that land in one day. 10 On that day,’ declares the Lord of armies, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his (R)vine and under his fig tree.’”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 3:1 Satan is Heb for Adversary; or Accuser
  2. Zechariah 3:4 Lit to clothe
  3. Zechariah 3:7 Lit goings
  4. Zechariah 3:8 Lit Sprout