Zechariah 3:1-7
Expanded Bible
The Vision of the High Priest
3 Then he showed me Joshua, the high priest, standing in front of the ·Lord’s angel [angel of the Lord; 1:11]. And ·Satan [or the Accuser/Adversary; Job 1–2; 1 Chr. 21:1] was standing by Joshua’s [Hag. 1:1] right ·side [hand] to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to ·Satan [or the Accuser/Adversary], “The Lord ·says no to [rebuke] you, ·Satan [Adversary; Accuser]! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem ·says no to [rebukes] you! ·This man was [L Isn’t this man…?] like a burning stick ·pulled [snatched] from the fire.”
3 Joshua was wearing ·dirty [filthy] clothes and was standing in front of the ·angel [messenger]. 4 The ·angel [messenger] said to those standing in front of him, “Take off those ·dirty [filthy] clothes.”
Then ·the angel [L he] said to Joshua, “Look, I have taken away your ·sin [iniquity] from you, and I am giving you beautiful, ·fine clothes [festal robes; fine vestments].”
5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and dressed him while the ·Lord’s angel [angel of the Lord; 1:11] stood there.
6 Then the ·Lord’s angel [angel of the Lord; 1:11] ·said [spoke solemnly; gave this charge] to Joshua, 7 “This is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] says: ‘If you ·do as I tell you [walk in my ways] and ·serve me [carefully keep my requirements], you will be in charge of my ·Temple [L house] and my courtyards. And I will let you be with ·these angels [L these] who are standing here.
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Zechariah 3:1-7
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.
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- 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.
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