Zechariah 3
New Living Translation
Cleansing for the High Priest
3 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. 2 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.”
3 Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. 4 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.”
5 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.
6 Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, 7 “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.
8 “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. 9 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.”
Zechariah 3
The Message
Fourth Vision: Joshua’s New Clothes
3 1-2 Next the Messenger-Angel showed me the high priest Joshua. He was standing before God’s Angel where the Accuser showed up to accuse him. Then God said to the Accuser, “I, God, rebuke you, Accuser! I rebuke you and choose Jerusalem. Surprise! Everything is going up in flames, but I reach in and pull out Jerusalem!”
3-4 Joshua, standing before the angel, was dressed in dirty clothes. The angel spoke to his attendants, “Get him out of those filthy clothes,” and then said to Joshua, “Look, I’ve stripped you of your sin and dressed you up in clean clothes.”
5 I spoke up and said, “How about a clean new turban for his head also?” And they did it—put a clean new turban on his head. Then they finished dressing him, with God’s Angel looking on.
6-7 God’s Angel then charged Joshua, “Orders from God-of-the-Angel-Armies: ‘If you live the way I tell you and remain obedient in my service, then you’ll make the decisions around here and oversee my affairs. And all my attendants standing here will be at your service.
8-9 “‘Careful, High Priest Joshua—both you and your friends sitting here with you, for your friends are in on this, too! Here’s what I’m doing next: I’m introducing my servant Branch. And note this: This stone that I’m placing before Joshua, a single stone with seven eyes’—Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies—‘I’ll engrave with these words: “I’ll strip this land of its filthy sin, all at once, in a single day.”
10 “‘At that time, everyone will get along with one another, with friendly visits across the fence, friendly visits on one another’s porches.’”
Zechariah 3
Amplified Bible
Joshua, the High Priest
3 Then the guiding angel showed me Joshua the high priest [representing disobedient, sinful Israel] standing before the [a]Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at Joshua’s right hand to be his adversary and to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Even the Lord, who [now and ever] has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is this not a [b]log snatched and rescued from the fire?”(A) 3 Now Joshua was clothed with [c]filthy (nauseatingly vile) garments and was standing before the Angel [of the Lord]. 4 He spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And He said to Joshua, “See, I have caused your wickedness to be taken away from you, and I will clothe and beautify you with rich robes [of forgiveness].” 5 And I (Zechariah) said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with [rich] garments. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.
6 And the Angel of the Lord [solemnly and earnestly] admonished Joshua, saying, 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways [that is, remain faithful] and perform My service, then you will also govern My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you free access [to My presence] among these who are standing here.
The Branch
8 Now listen, Joshua, the high priest, you and your colleagues who are sitting in front of you—indeed they are men who are a symbol [of what is to come]—for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the [d]Branch [in Messianic glory].(B) 9 For behold, the [e]stone which I have set before Joshua; on that one stone are seven eyes (symbolizing infinite intelligence, omniscience). Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘and I will remove the wickedness and guilt of this land in a single day.(C) 10 In that day,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his vine and his fig tree [enjoying peace and prosperity in the kingdom].’”(D)
Footnotes
- Zechariah 3:1 “Angel” has been capitalized here to reflect the likelihood that it is God appearing in a visible form (see note Gen 16:7).
- Zechariah 3:2 The log represents the returned Jews who had nearly been consumed by the “fire” of the Babylonian captivity.
- Zechariah 3:3 Symbolic of Judah’s (the Southern Kingdom) disgusting sins.
- Zechariah 3:8 A Messianic title.
- Zechariah 3:9 Probably typifying the Messiah.
Zechariah 3
New American Standard Bible
Joshua, the High Priest
3 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. 2 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?” 3 Now Joshua was clothed in (F)filthy garments and was standing before the angel. 4 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.” 5 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.
6 And the angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, 7 “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
8 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. 9 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
- Zechariah 3:1 Satan is Heb for Adversary; or Accuser
- Zechariah 3:4 Lit to clothe
- Zechariah 3:7 Lit goings
- Zechariah 3:8 Lit Sprout
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.