The Four Chariots

Now I raised my eyes again and looked, and behold, (A)four chariots were going out from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. With the first chariot were (B)red horses, with the second chariot (C)black horses, with the third chariot (D)white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong (E)spotted horses. So I responded and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “(F)What are these, my lord?” The angel replied to me, “These are the (G)four spirits of heaven, going out after taking their stand before the Lord of all the earth, with one of which the black horses are going out to the (H)north country; and the white ones are to go out after them, while the spotted ones are to go out to the (I)south country.” When the strong ones went out, they [a]were eager to go to [b](J)patrol the earth. And He said, “Go, [c]patrol the earth.” So they [d]patrolled the earth. Then He called out to me and spoke to me, saying, “See, those who are going to the land of the north have [e](K)appeased My wrath in the land of the north.”

The (L)word of the Lord also came to me, saying, 10 (M)Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah; and you shall go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon.

The Symbolic Crowns

11 Also take silver and gold, make an ornate (N)crown, and set it on the head of (O)Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Then say to him, ‘The Lord of armies says this: “Behold, there is a Man whose name is [f](P)Branch, for He will [g](Q)branch out from where He is; and He will (R)build the temple of the Lord. 13 Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will (S)bear the majesty and sit and (T)rule on His throne. So He will be a (U)priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two [h]offices.”’ 14 Now the (V)crown will become a reminder in the temple of the Lord to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and [i]Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 (W)Those who are far away will come and [j]build the temple of the Lord.” Then you will (X)know that the Lord of armies has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely (Y)obey [k]the Lord your God.

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 6:7 Lit sought to go
  2. Zechariah 6:7 Lit walk about through
  3. Zechariah 6:7 Lit walk about through
  4. Zechariah 6:7 Lit walked about through
  5. Zechariah 6:8 Lit pacified My spirit in
  6. Zechariah 6:12 Lit Sprout
  7. Zechariah 6:12 Lit sprout up
  8. Zechariah 6:13 Lit of them
  9. Zechariah 6:14 I.e., Josiah
  10. Zechariah 6:15 Lit build in
  11. Zechariah 6:15 Lit the voice of the Lord

Eighth Vision: Four Chariots

And again I looked up and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses,(A) the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled gray[a] horses.(B) Then I said to the angel who spoke with me, “What are these, my lord?” The angel answered me, “These are the four winds[b] of heaven going out, after presenting themselves before the Lord of the whole earth.(C) The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go toward the west country,[c] and the dappled ones go toward the south country.”(D) When the steeds came out, they were impatient to get off and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. Then he cried out to me, “See, those who go toward the north country have set my spirit at rest in the north country.”(E)

The Coronation of the Branch

The word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Collect silver and gold[d] from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah—who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.(F) 11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown[e] and set it on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak;(G) 12 say to him: Thus says the Lord of hosts: Here is a man whose name is Branch, for he shall branch out in his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.(H) 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord; he shall bear royal honor and shall sit upon his throne and rule. There shall be a priest by his throne, with peaceful understanding between the two of them.(I) 14 And the crown[f] shall be in the care of Heldai,[g] Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah[h] son of Zephaniah, as a memorial in the temple of the Lord.

15 “Those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.”(J)

Footnotes

  1. 6.3 Meaning of Heb uncertain
  2. 6.5 Or spirits
  3. 6.6 Cn: Heb go after them
  4. 6.10 Heb lacks silver and gold
  5. 6.11 Gk mss Syr Tg: Heb crowns
  6. 6.14 Gk Syr: Heb crowns
  7. 6.14 Syr: Heb Helem
  8. 6.14 Syr: Heb Hen