A Vision of a Horseman

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet (A)Zechariah, the son of (B)Berechiah, son of (C)Iddo, saying, “I saw in the night, and behold, (D)a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were (E)red, sorrel, and white horses. Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ (F)The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’ 10 So (G)the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, (H)‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to (I)patrol the earth.’ 11 And they answered (J)the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, (K)‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth (L)remains at rest.’ 12 Then (M)the angel of the Lord said, (N)‘O Lord of hosts, (O)how long will you (P)have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these (Q)seventy years?’ 13 And the Lord answered (R)gracious and comforting words to (S)the angel who talked with me. 14 So (T)the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the Lord of hosts: (U)I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. 15 (V)And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are (W)at ease; (X)for while I was angry but a little, (Y)they furthered the disaster. 16 Therefore, thus says the Lord, (Z)I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; (AA)my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and (AB)the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. 17 Cry out again, Thus says the Lord of hosts: (AC)My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, (AD)and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again (AE)choose Jerusalem.’”

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A Man among the Myrtle Trees

Three months later, on February 15,[a] the Lord sent another message to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo.

In a vision during the night, I saw a man sitting on a red horse that was standing among some myrtle trees in a small valley. Behind him were riders on red, brown, and white horses. I asked the angel who was talking with me, “My lord, what do these horses mean?”

“I will show you,” the angel replied.

10 The rider standing among the myrtle trees then explained, “They are the ones the Lord has sent out to patrol the earth.”

11 Then the other riders reported to the angel of the Lord, who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have been patrolling the earth, and the whole earth is at peace.”

12 Upon hearing this, the angel of the Lord prayed this prayer: “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, for seventy years now you have been angry with Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. How long until you again show mercy to them?” 13 And the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

14 Then the angel said to me, “Shout this message for all to hear: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong. 15 But I am very angry with the other nations that are now enjoying peace and security. I was only a little angry with my people, but the nations inflicted harm on them far beyond my intentions.

16 “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I have returned to show mercy to Jerusalem. My Temple will be rebuilt, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and measurements will be taken for the reconstruction of Jerusalem.[b]

17 “Say this also: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The towns of Israel will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem as his own.’”

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Footnotes

  1. 1:7 Hebrew On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius. This event occurred on February 15, 519 B.c.; also see note on 1:1.
  2. 1:16 Hebrew and the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem.