Notes on Zechariah
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible Notes
Zec 1:1
1:1 In the eighth month, in the second year of {a} Darius, came the word of the LORD unto {b} Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
The Argument - Two months after Haggai had begun to prophesy, Zechariah was also sent of the Lord to help him in the labour, and to confirm the same doctrine. First therefore, he puts them in remembrance for what reason God had so severely punished their fathers: and yet comforts them if they will truly repent, and not abuse this great benefit of God in their deliverance which was a figure of that true deliverance, that all the faithful should have from death and sin, by Christ. But because they remained still in their wickedness, and lack of desire to set forth God's glory, and were not yet made better by their long banishment, he rebukes them most sharply: yet for the comfort of the repentant, he ever mixes the promise of grace, that they might by this means be prepared to receive Christ, in whom all should be sanctified to the Lord.
(a) Who was the son of Histaspis.
(b) This was not the Zechariah, of which mention is made in 2Ch 24:20 , but he had the same name, and is called the son of Berechiah, as he was, because he came of those progenitors, as of Joiada or Berechiah, and Iddo.
Zec 1:2
1:2 The LORD hath been {c} sore displeased with your fathers
(c) He speaks this to make them afraid of God's judgments, so that they should not provoke him as their fathers had done, whom he so grievously punished.
Zec 1:3
1:3 Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; {d} Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.
(d) Let your fruits declare that you are God's people, and that he has wrought in you by his Spirit, and mortified you: for otherwise man has no power to return to God, but God must convert him; Jer 31:18 La 5:21 Isa 31:6 45:21
Zec 1:5
1:5 Your fathers, where {e} [are] they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
(e) Though your fathers are dead, yet God's judgments in punishing them ought still to be before your eyes: and though the prophets are dead, yet their doctrine remains for ever; 2Pe 1:15 .
Zec 1:6
1:6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of {f} your fathers? and {g} they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
(f) Seeing you saw the force of my doctrine in punishing your fathers, why do you not fear the threatenings contained in the same, and declared by my Prophets?
(g) As men astonished with my judgments, and not that they were touched with true repentance.
Zec 1:7
1:7 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which [is] the month {h} Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
(h) Which includes part of January and part of February.
Zec 1:8
1:8 I {i} saw by night, and behold {k} a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that [were] in the bottom; and behind him [were there] {l} red horses, speckled, and white.
(i) This vision signifies the restoration of the Church: but as yet it would not appear to man's eyes, which is here meant by the night, by the bottom, and by the myrtle trees, which are black, and give a dark shadow. Yet he compares God to a King who has his posts and messengers abroad, by whom he still works his purpose and brings his matters to pass.
(k) Who was the chief among the rest of the horsemen.
(l) These signify the various offices of God's angels, by whom God sometimes punishes, and sometimes comforts, and brings forth his works in various ways.
Zec 1:12
1:12 Then the {m} angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
(m) That is, Christ the mediator prayed for the salvation of his Church, which was now troubled, when all the countries about them were at rest.
Zec 1:14
1:14 So the angel that talked with me said to me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am {n} jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
(n) Though for a time God defers his help and comfort from his Church, yet this declares that he still loves them most dearly, as a most merciful father his children, or a husband his wife, and when it is expedient for them, his help is ever ready.
Zec 1:15
1:15 And I am very greatly displeased with the nations [that are] at ease: for I was but {o} a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
(o) In destroying the reprobate, I showed myself but a little angry toward my Church, but the enemy would have destroyed them also, and did not consider the goal of my chastisements.
Zec 1:16
1:16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; I have returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line {p} shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
(p) To measure out the buildings.
Zec 1:17
1:17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet {q} be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
(q) The abundance will be so great, that the places of storage will not be able to contain these blessings that God will send, but will even break because of fullness.
Zec 1:18
1:18 Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold {r} four horns.
(r) Which signifies all the enemies of the Church: east, west, north, and south.
Zec 1:20
1:20 And the LORD showed me four {s} craftsmen.
(s) These craftsmen or smiths are God's instruments, who with their mallets and hammers break these hard and strong horns which would overthrow the Church, and declare that no enemies' horn is so strong, but God has a hammer to break it in pieces.
Zec 2:1
2:1 I lifted up my eyes again, and looked, and behold a {a} man with a measuring line in his hand.
(a) This is the angel who was Christ: for in respect of his office he is often called an angel, but in respect of his eternal essence, is God, and so called.
Zec 2:4
2:4 And said to him, Run, speak to this {b} young man, saying, {c} Jerusalem shall be inhabited [as] towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle in it:
(b) Meaning himself, Zechariah.
(c) Signifying the spiritual Jerusalem and Church under Christ, which would be extended by the Gospel through all the world, and would need no material walls, nor trust in any worldly strength, but would be safely preserved and dwell in peace among all their enemies.
Zec 2:5
2:5 For I, saith the LORD, will be to her a wall of {d} fire on every side, and will {e} be the glory in the midst of her.
(d) To defend my Church, to strike fear in the enemies, and to destroy them if they approach near.
(e) In me they will have their full felicity and glory.
Zec 2:6
2:6 Ho, ho, [come {f} forth], and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four {g} winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
(f) He calls to those who partly for fear, and partly for their own case, remained still in captivity, and so preferred their own personal benefits to the benefits of God promised in his Church.
(g) As it was I that scattered you, so I have power to restore you.
Zec 2:7
2:7 {h} Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest [with] the daughter of Babylon.
(h) By fleeing from Babylon, and coming to the Church.
Zec 2:8
2:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the {i} glory hath he sent me to the nations which wasted you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the {k} apple of his eye.
(i) Seeing that God had begun to show his grace among you by delivering you, he continues the same still toward you, and therefore sends me his angel and his Christ to defend you from your enemies, so that they will not hurt you, neither along the way nor at home.
(k) You are so dear to God, that he can no more allow your enemies to hurt you, than a man can endure to be thrust in the eye; Ps 17:8 .
Zec 2:9
2:9 For, behold, I will shake my hand {l} upon them, and {m} they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath {n} sent me.
(l) Upon the heathen your enemies.
(m) They will be your servants, as you have been theirs.
(n) This must necessarily be understood of Christ, who being God equal with his Father, was sent, as he was Mediator to dwell in his Church and to govern them.
Zec 3:1
3:1 And he showed me Joshua the high priest {a} standing before the angel of the LORD, and {b} Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
(a) He prayed to Christ the Mediator for the state of the Church.
(b) Which declares that the faithful do not only war with flesh and blood, but with Satan himself, and spiritual wickedness; Eph 6:12 .
Zec 3:2
3:2 And the {c} LORD said to Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a {d} brand plucked out of the fire?
(c) That is, Christ speaks to God as the mediator of his Church, that he would rebuke Satan: and here he shows himself to be the continual preserver of his Church.
(d) Meaning that Joshua was wonderfully preserved in the captivity, and now Satan sought to afflict and trouble him when he was doing his office.
Zec 3:3
3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with {e} filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
(e) With regard to the glorious garments and precious stones that the priests wore before the captivity: and by this contemptible state the Prophet signifies, that these small beginnings would be made excellent when Christ will make the full restitution of his Church.
Zec 3:4
3:4 And he answered and spoke to those that stood before him, saying, Take away the {e} filthy garments from him. And to him he said, Behold, I have {f} caused thy iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
(e) See Geneva "Zec 3:3"
(f) He shows of what apparel he speaks, which is, when our filthy sins are taken away, and we are clothed with God's mercies, which refers to the spiritual restitution.
Zec 3:5
3:5 And I said, Let them {g} set a clean mitre upon his head. So they set a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
(g) The Prophet prays that besides the raiment, the Priest might also have attire for his head accordingly, that is, that the dignity of the priesthood might be perfect: and this was fulfilled in Christ, who was both Priest and King. And here all those are condemned, that can content themselves with any average reformation in religion, seeing the Prophet desires the perfection, and obtains it.
Zec 3:7
3:7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also {h} judge my house, and shalt also keep my {i} courts, and I will give thee places to walk among {k} these that stand by.
(h) That is, have rule and government in my Church, as your predecessors have had.
(i) By which he means to have the whole charge and ministry of the Church.
(k) That is, the angels, who represented the whole number of the faithful: signifying that all the godly would willingly receive him.
Zec 3:8
3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they {l} [are] men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the {m} BRANCH.
(l) Because they follow my word, they are condemned in the world, and esteemed as monsters. See Geneva "Isa 8:18"
(m) That is, Christ, who did so humble himself, that he not only became the servant of God, but also the servant of men: and therefore in him they should have comfort, even though in the world they are condemned; Isa 11:1 Jer 23:5 33:14-15 .
Zec 3:9
3:9 For behold the {n} stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I {o} will engrave the engraving of it, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will {p} remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
(n) He shows that the ministers cannot build before God lay the first stone, which is Christ, who is full of eyes, both because he gives light to all others, and that all ought to seek light from him; Zec 4:10 .
(o) That is, I will make perfect in all points, as a thing done by the hand of God.
(p) Though I have punished this land for a time, yet I will even now be pacified, and punish their sins no more.
Zec 3:10
3:10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the {q} vine and under the fig tree.
(q) You will then live in peace and quietness, that is, in the kingdom of Christ; Isa 2:2 Mic 4:4 Ha 2:9 .
Zec 4:2
4:2 And said to me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a {a} lamp stand all [of] gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps, and seven {b} pipes to the seven lamps, which [were] upon the top of it:
(a) Which was ever in the midst of the temple, signifying that the graces of God's Spirit would shine, here in most abundance, and in all perfection.
(b) Which conveyed the oil that dropped from the trees into the lamps, so that the light never went out: and this vision was to strengthen and encourage the faithful that God had sufficient power in himself to continue his graces, and to bring his promise to pass even though he had no help from man.
Zec 4:6
4:6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD to {c} Zerubbabel, saying, Not by {d} might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
(c) Who was a figure of Christ, and therefore this doctrine was directed to all the Church who are his body and members.
(d) He shows that God's power alone is sufficient to preserve his Church, even though he does not use man's help to do it.
Zec 4:7
4:7 Who [art] thou, O {e} great mountain? before Zerubbabel [thou shalt become] a plain: and {f} he shall bring forth its headstone [with] shoutings, [crying], Grace, grace to it.
(e) He compares the power of the adversaries to a great mountain, who thought the Jews were nothing with regard to them, and would have hindered Zerubbabel, who represented Christ, whom the enemies daily labour to stop in the building of his spiritual Temple, but all in vain.
(f) Though the enemies think to stop this building, yet Zerubbabel will lay the highest stone of it, and bring it to perfection, so that all the godly will rejoice, and pray to God that he would continue his grace and favour toward the Temple.
Zec 4:9
4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and {g} thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me to you.
(g) Meaning, the Prophet, that I am Christ sent from my Father for the building and preservation of my spiritual temple.
Zec 4:10
4:10 For who hath despised the day of {h} small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the {i} plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel [with] those seven; {k} they [are] the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
(h) Signifying that all were discouraged at the small and poor beginnings of the temple.
(i) By which he signifies the plummet and line, that is, that Zerubbabel who represented Christ, would go forward with his building to the joy and comfort of the godly, though the world was against him, and though his own for a while were discouraged, because they do not see things pleasant to the eye.
(k) That is, God has seven eyes: meaning, a continual providence, so that neither Satan nor any power in the world, can go about to bring anything to pass to hinder his work; Zec 5:9 .
Zec 4:14
4:14 Then said he, These [are] the two {l} anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
(l) Which were always green and full of oil, so that still they poured forth oil into the lamps: signifying, that God will continually maintain and preserve his Church, and endue it still with abundance and perfection of grace.
Zec 5:2
5:2 And he said to me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying {a} scroll; its length [is] twenty cubits, and its breadth ten cubits.
(a) Because the Jews had provoked God's plagues by condemning his word, and casting off all judgment and equity, he shows that God's curses written in this book had justly happened both to them and their fathers. But now if they would repent, God would send the same among the Chaldeans and their former enemies.
Zec 5:3
5:3 Then said he to me, This [is] the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that {b} stealeth shall be cut off [as] on this {c} side according to it; and every one that {d} sweareth shall be cut off [as] on that side according to it.
(b) That is, does any injury toward his neighbour.
(c) Meaning, wherever he is in the world.
(d) He that transgresses the first table of the ten commandments, and does not serve God correctly but abuses his name.
Zec 5:6
5:6 And I said, What [is] it? And he said, This [is] an {e} ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This [is] their {f} resemblance through all the earth.
(e) Which was a measure in dry things, containing about five gallons.
(f) That is, all the wickedness of the ungodly is in God's sight, which he keeps in a measure, and can shut it or open it at his pleasure.
Zec 5:7
5:7 And, behold, there was lifted up a {g} talent of lead: and this [is] a {h} woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
(g) To cover the measure.
(h) Which represents iniquity, as in the next verse.
Zec 5:8
5:8 And he said, This [is] {i} wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon its mouth.
(i) Signifying that Satan would not have such power against the Jews to tempt them, as he had in times past, but that God would shut up iniquity in a measure as in a prison.
Zec 5:9
5:9 Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two {k} women, and the wind [was] in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
(k) Which declared that God would execute his judgment by the means of the weak and infirm.
Zec 5:11
5:11 And he said to me, To build for it an house in the land of {l} Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
(l) To remove the iniquity and affliction that came from Judah because of the judgment, to place it forever in Babylon.
Zec 6:1
6:1 And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four {a} chariots out from between {b} two mountains; and the mountains [were] mountains of brass.
(a) By chariots here, as by horses before, he means the swift messengers of God to execute and declare his will.
(b) By the mountains he means the external counsel and providence of God, by which he has from before all eternity declared what will come to pass, and that which neither Satan nor all the world can alter.
Zec 6:2
6:2 In the first chariot [were] {c} red horses; and in the second chariot {d} black horses;
(c) Which signifies the great cruelty and persecution that the Church had endured under different enemies.
(d) Signifying that they had endured great afflictions under the Babylonians.
Zec 6:3
6:3 And in the third chariot {e} white horses; and in the fourth chariot {f} spotted and bay horses.
(e) These represented their state under the Persians, who restored them to their liberty.
(f) Which signified that God would sometimes give his Church rest, and pour his plagues upon their enemies, as he did in destroying Nineveh and Babylon, and other of their enemies.
Zec 6:5
6:5 And the angel answered and said to me, These [are] the four {g} spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
(g) Meaning, all the actions and motions of God's Spirit, whom according to his unchangeable counsel he causes to appear through all the world.
Zec 6:6
6:6 The black horses which [are] in it go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the spotted go forth toward the {h} south country.
(h) That is, towards Egypt, and other countries there about.
Zec 6:7
6:7 And the {i} bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Go from here, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
(i) That is, those of different colours, which ask permission, to signify that Satan has no power to hurt or afflict, until God gives it to him; Job 1:12 .
Zec 6:8
6:8 Then he cried upon me, and spoke to me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my {k} spirit in the north country.
(k) By punishing the Chaldeans my anger ceased, and you were delivered.
Zec 6:10
6:10 Take of [them of] the captivity, [even] of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, who are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of {l} Josiah the son of Zephaniah;
(l) To receive from him and the other three, money to make the two crowns: who were men of great authority among the Jews, and doubted of the restitution of the kingdom, and of the priesthood, and hurt others by their example.
Zec 6:11
6:11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set [them] upon the {m} head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
(m) Because this could not be attributed to any one according to the Law, therefore it follows that Joshua must represent the Messiah, who was both Priest and King.
Zec 6:12
6:12 And speak to him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name [is] The {n} BRANCH; and he shall grow {o} up out of his place, and he shall {p} build the temple of the LORD:
(n) Meaning Christ, of whom Joshua was the figure: for in Greek they were both called Jesus.
(o) That is, of himself without the help of man.
(p) Which declares that no one could build this temple of which Haggai speaks, but only Christ: and therefore it was spiritual, and not material; Ha 2:9 .
Zec 6:13
6:13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the {q} glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between {r} them both.
(q) Of which Joshua had but a shadow.
(r) The two offices of the kingdom and priesthood, will be joined together in such a way, that they will no longer be separated.
Zec 6:14
6:14 And the crowns shall be to {s} Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to {t} Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a {u} memorial in the temple of the LORD.
(s) Who was also called Heldai.
(t) He was also called Joshias.
(u) That they may acknowledge their infirmity, who thought that all things would be restored immediately: and of this their infidelity these two crowns will remain as tokens; Ac 1:6 .
Zec 6:15
6:15 And they [that are] {x} far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me to you. And [this] shall come to pass, if ye will diligently {y} obey the voice of the LORD your God.
(x) That is, the Gentiles by the preaching of the Gospel, will help toward the building of the spiritual temple.
(y) If you will believe and remain in the obedience of faith.
Zec 7:1
7:1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, [that] the word of the LORD came to Zechariah in the fourth [day] of the ninth month, [even] in {a} Chisleu;
(a) Which contained part of November and part of December.
Zec 7:2
7:2 When {b} they had sent to the house of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,
(b) That is, the rest of the people that yet remained in Chaldea, sent to the Church at Jerusalem for the resolution of these questions, because these feasts were consented upon by the agreement of the whole Church, the one in the month that the temple was destroyed, and the other when Gedaliah was slain; Jer 41:2 .
Zec 7:3
7:3 [And] to speak to the priests who [were] in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I {c} weep in the fifth month, {d} separating myself, as I have done these so many {e} years?
(c) By weeping and mourning are shown what exercises they used in their fasting.
(d) That is, prepare myself with all devotion to his fast.
(e) Which had been since the time the temple was destroyed.
Zec 7:5
7:5 Speak to all the people of the land, and to the {f} priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh [month], even those seventy years, did ye at all fast to me, {g} [even] to me?
(f) For there were both of the people, and of the priests, those who doubted with regard to this controversy, besides those who as yet remained in Chaldea, and argue about it, as of one of the chief points of their religion.
(g) For they thought they had gained favour with God because of this fast, which they invented by themselves: and though fasting of itself is good, yet because they thought it a service toward God, and trusted in it, it is here reproved.
Zec 7:6
7:6 And when ye ate, and when ye drank, did ye not eat {h} [for yourselves], and drink [for yourselves]?
(h) Did you not eat and drink for your own benefit and necessity, and so likewise you abstained according to your own imaginings, and not after the command and direction of my Law.
Zec 7:7
7:7 [Should ye] not [hear] the words which the LORD {i} hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and her cities around her, when [men] inhabited the south and the plain?
(i) By this he condemns their hypocrisy, who thought by their fasting to please God, and by such things as they invented, and in the meantime would not serve him as he had commanded.
Zec 7:9
7:9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, {k} Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
(k) He shows that they did not fast with a sincere heart, but because of hypocrisy, and that it was not done from a pure religion, because they lacked these offices of charity which should have declared that they were godly; Mt 23:23 .
Zec 7:11
7:11 But they refused to hearken, and {l} withdrew the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
(l) And would not carry the Lord's burden, which was sweet and easy, but would bear their own, which was heavy and grievous to the flesh, thinking to gain merit by it: which metaphor is taken from oxen, which shrink at the yoke; Ne 9:29 .
Zec 7:12
7:12 Yea, they made their hearts [as] an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his {m} spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
(m) Which declares that they did not only rebel against the Prophets, but against the Spirit of God that spoke in them.
Zec 7:14
7:14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate {n} after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land {o} desolate.
(n) That is, after they were taken captive.
(o) By their sins by which they provoked God's anger.
Zec 8:2
8:2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I was {a} jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
(a) I loved my city with a singular love, so that I could not endure that any should do her any injury.
Zec 8:3
8:3 Thus saith the LORD; I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a {b} city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
(b) Because she will be faithful and loyal toward me her husband.
Zec 8:4
8:4 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; There shall yet old {c} men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
(c) Though their enemies did greatly molest and trouble them, yet God would come and dwell among them, and so preserve them as long as nature would allow them to live, and increase their children in great abundance.
Zec 8:6
8:6 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it is {d} marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in my eyes? saith the LORD of hosts.
(d) He shows in what our faith consists, that is, to believe that God can perform that which he has promised, though it seem ever so impossible to man; Ge 13:14, Rom 4:20 .
Zec 8:8
8:8 And I will bring them, and they shall {e} dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
(e) So that their return will not be in vain: for God will accomplish his promise, and their prosperity will be sure and stable.
Zec 8:9
8:9 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Let your {f} hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, who [were] in the day [when] the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
(f) Let neither respect of your personal benefits, neither counsel of others, nor fear of enemies, discourage you in the going forward with the building of the temple, but be steadfast and obey the Prophets, who encourage you to that.
Zec 8:10
8:10 For before these days there was no hire for {g} man, nor any hire for beast; neither [was there any] peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men every one against his neighbour.
(g) For God cursed your work, so that neither man nor beast had profit from their labours.
Zec 8:14
8:14 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish {h} you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:
Zec 8:15
8:15 So again have I thought in these days {i} to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear ye not.
(i) Which declares that man cannot turn to God until he changes man's heart by his Spirit, and so begin to do good to them, which is to pardon his sins and to give him his graces.
Zec 8:19
8:19 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth [month], and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the {k} tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.
(k) Which fast was appointed when the city was besieged, and was the first fast of these four. And here the prophet shows that if the Jews will repent, and turn wholly to God, they will have no more occasion to fast, or to show signs of heaviness, for God will send them joy and gladness.
Zec 8:20
8:20 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; [It shall] yet [come to pass], that there shall come {l} people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
(l) He declares the great zeal that God would give the Gentiles to come to his Church, and to unite with the Jews in his true religion, which would be in the kingdom of Christ.
Zec 9:1
9:1 The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of {a} Hadrach, and Damascus [shall be] the {b} rest of it: when the {c} eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, [shall be] toward the LORD.
(a) By which he means Syria.
(b) God's anger will remain upon their chief city, and not spare even as much as that.
(c) When the Jews will convert and repent, then God will destroy their enemies.
Zec 9:2
9:2 And Hamath also shall border {d} by it; Tyre, and Zidon, though it be {e} very wise.
(d) That is, by Damascus: meaning, that Harnath or Antiochia would be under the same rod and plague.
(e) He secretly shows the cause of their destruction, because they deceived all others by their craft and subtilty, which they cloaked with this name of wisdom.
Zec 9:4
9:4 Behold, the LORD will cast her out, and he will smite her {f} power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire.
(f) Though those of Tyre think themselves invincible by reason of the sea that surrounds them, yet they will not escape God's judgments.
Zec 9:6
9:6 And a {g} bastard shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
(g) Meaning, that all would be destroyed, save a very few, that would remain as strangers.
Zec 9:7
9:7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations from between his {h} teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, [shall be] for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and {i} Ekron as a Jebusite.
(h) He promises to deliver the Jews when he will take vengeance on their enemies for their cruelty, and the wrongs they did to them.
(i) As the Jebusites had been destroyed, so would Ekron and all the Philistines.
Zec 9:8
9:8 And I will encamp about {k} my house because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now {l} have I seen with my eyes.
(k) He shows that God's power alone will be sufficient to defend his Church against all adversaries, be they ever so cruel, or assert their power ever so often.
(l) That is, God has now seen the great injuries and afflictions with which they have been afflicted by their enemies.
Zec 9:9
9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh to thee: {m} he [is] just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon a {n} donkey, and upon a colt the foal of a donkey.
(m) That is, he has righteousness and salvation in himself for the use and benefit of his Church.
(n) Which declares that they should not look for such a king as would be glorious in the eyes of man, but should be poor, and yet in himself have all power to deliver his own: and this is meant of Christ, as in Mt 21:5 .
Zec 9:10
9:10 And I will cut off the {o} chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace to the nations: and his dominion [shall be] from {p} sea to sea, and from the {q} river to the ends of the earth.
(o) No power of man or creature will be able to stop this kingdom of Christ, and he will peaceably govern them by his word.
(p) That is, from the Red Sea, to the Sea called Syriacum: and by these places which the Jews knew, he meant an infinite space and area over the whole world.
(q) That is, from the Euphrates.
Zec 9:11
9:11 {r} As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy {s} prisoners out of the pit in which [is] no water.
(r) Meaning Jerusalem, or the Church which is saved by the blood of Christ, of which the blood of the sacrifices was a figure. And it is here called the covenant of the Church, because God made it with his Church: and left it with them because of the love that he had for them.
(s) God shows that he will deliver his Church out of all dangers, no matter how great they may seem.
Zec 9:12
9:12 Turn ye to the {t} strong hold, ye {u} prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare [that] I will render {x} double to thee;
(t) That is, into the holy land where the city and the temple are, where God will defend you.
(u) Meaning the faithful, who seemed to be in danger of their enemies on every side, and yet lived in hope that God would restore them to liberty.
(x) That is, double benefits and prosperity, in respect of that which your fathers enjoyed from David's time to the captivity.
Zec 9:13
9:13 When I have bent Judah for me, filled the {y} bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
(y) I will make Judah and Ephraim, that is, my whole Church, victorious against all enemies, which he here means by the Greeks.
Zec 9:15
9:15 The LORD of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, {z} and subdue the sling stones; and they shall drink, [and] make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, [and] as the corners of the altar.
(z) He promises that the Jews will destroy their enemies, and have abundance and excess of all things, as there is abundance on the altar when the sacrifice is offered. And these things are not to move them to excess, but to sobriety, and a thankful remembrance of God's great liberality.
Zec 9:16
9:16 And the LORD their God shall save them in that day as the flock of his people: for they [shall be as] the {a} stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon his land.
(a) The faithful will be preserved, and reverenced by all, that their very enemies will be compelled to esteem them: for God's glory will shine in them, as Josephus declares of Alexander the great when he met Jadi the high priest.
Zec 10:1
10:1 Ask ye of the {a} LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; [so] the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
(a) The Prophet reproves the Jews, because by their own infidelity they turn away God's promised graces, and so famine came by God's just judgment. Therefore to avoid this plague, he exhorts them to turn to God, and to pray in faith to him, and so he will give them abundance.
Zec 10:2
10:2 For the {b} idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore {c} they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because [there was] no shepherd.
(b) He calls to remembrance God's punishments in times past, because they trusted not in him, but in their idols and sorcerers who always deceived them.
(c) That is, the Jews went into captivity.
Zec 10:3
10:3 My anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the {d} goats: for the LORD of hosts hath visited his flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as {e} his majestic horse in the battle.
(d) Meaning, the cruel governors who did oppress the poor sheep; Eze 34:16-17 .
(e) He will be merciful to his Church, and cherish them as a king or prince does his best horse, which will be for his own use in war.
Zec 10:4
10:4 Out {f} of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every {g} oppressor together.
(f) Out of Judah will the chief governor proceed, who will be as a corner to uphold the building, and as a nail to fasten it together.
(g) Over their enemies.
Zec 10:6
10:6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the {h} house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I [am] the LORD their God, and will hear them.
(h) That is, the ten tribes, which would be united under Christ to the rest of the Church.
Zec 10:8
10:8 I will {i} hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.
(i) By which he declares the power of God, who needs no great preparation when he will deliver his own: for with a gesture or hiss he can call them suddenly from all places.
Zec 10:9
10:9 And I will {k} sow them among the people: and they shall remember me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and {l} turn again.
(k) Though they will yet be scattered and seem to be lost, yet it will be profitable to them: for there they will come to the knowledge of my name, which was accomplished under the Gospel, among whom it was first preached.
(l) Not that they would return into their country, but be gathered and joined in one faith by the doctrine of the Gospel.
Zec 10:11
10:11 And he {m} shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart.
(m) He alludes to the deliverance of the people out of Egypt, when the angel smote the floods and rivers.
Zec 11:1
11:1 Open thy doors, O {a} Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.
(a) Because the Jews thought themselves so strong by reason of this mountain, that no enemy could come to hurt them, the Prophet shows that when God sends the enemies, it will show itself ready to receive them.
Zec 11:2
11:2 Wail, {b} fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are laid waste: wail, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the {c} vintage is come down.
(b) Showing that if the strong men were destroyed, the weaker were not able to resist.
(c) Seeing that Lebanon was destroyed, which was the strongest fortress, the weaker places could not hope to hold out.
Zec 11:3
11:3 [There is] a voice of the wailing of the shepherds; for their {d} glory is destroyed: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is laid waste.
(d) That is, the fame of Judah and Israel would perish.
Zec 11:4
11:4 Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the {e} slaughter;
(e) Which being now destined to be slain, were delivered as out of the lion's mouth.
Zec 11:5
11:5 Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves {f} not guilty: and they that sell them say, {g} Blessed [be] the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.
(f) Their governors destroy them without any remorse of conscience, or yet thinking that they do evil.
(g) He notes the hypocrites, who always have the name of God in their mouths, though in their life and doings they deny God, attributing their gain to God's blessings, which comes from the wealth of their brethren.
Zec 11:6
11:6 For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, {h} I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his {i} king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver [them].
(h) I will cause one to destroy another.
(i) Their governors will execute cruelty over them.
Zec 11:7
11:7 And I will feed the flock of slaughter, [even] you, {k} O poor of the flock. And I took to me {l} two staffs; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
(k) That is, the small remnant, whom he though worthy to show mercy to.
(l) God shows his great benefits toward his people to convince them of greater ingratitude, who would neither be ruled by his most beautiful order of government, neither continue in the bands of brotherly unity, and therefore he breaks both the one and the other. Some read "Destroyers" instead of "Bands", but in Zec 11:14 the second reading is confirmed.
Zec 11:8
11:8 {m} Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed {n} them, and their soul also abhorred me.
(m) By which he shows his care and diligence that he would not allow them to have evil rulers, so that they would consider his great love.
(n) Meaning, the people, because they would not acknowledge these great benefits of God.
Zec 11:11
11:11 And it was broken in that day: and so the {o} poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it [was] the word of the LORD.
(o) He shows that the least always profit by God's judgments.
Zec 11:12
11:12 And I said to them, If ye think good, give [me] {p} my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty [pieces] of silver.
(p) Besides their ingratitude, God accuses them of malice and wickedness, who did not only forget his benefits, but esteemed them as nothing.
Zec 11:13
11:13 And the LORD said to me, Cast it to the {q} potter: a glorious price that I was valued at by them. And I took the thirty [pieces] of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.
(q) Showing that it was too little to pay his wages with, which could hardly suffice to make a few tiles to cover the temple.
Zec 11:15
11:15 And the LORD said to me, Take to thee yet {r} the instruments of a foolish shepherd.
(r) Signifying that they should have a certain type of regiment and outward show of government: but in effect it would be nothing, for they would be wolves, and devouring beasts instead of shepherds.
Zec 11:16
11:16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, [who] shall not visit those that are cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that which is broken, nor feed that which {s} standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.
(s) And is in health and sound.
Zec 11:17
11:17 Woe to the idle shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword [shall be] upon his {t} arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be wholly dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
(t) By the arm he signifies strength, as he does wisdom and judgments by the eye: that is, the plague of God will take away both your strength and judgment.
Zec 12:1
12:1 The burden of the word of the LORD for {a} Israel, saith the LORD, who stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
(a) That is, the ten tribes, which neglected God's benefit in delivering their brethren, and had rather remain in captivity, than to return home when God called them.
Zec 12:2
12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a {b} cup of trembling to all the people around, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah [and] against Jerusalem.
(b) Jerusalem will be defended against all her enemies: so will God defend all Judah also, and will destroy the enemies.
Zec 12:5
12:5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The {c} inhabitants of Jerusalem [shall be] my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.
(c) Every captain, that had many under him before, will now think that the small power of Jerusalem will be sufficient to defend them against all enemies, because the Lord is among them.
Zec 12:7
12:7 The LORD also shall save the {d} tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not magnify [themselves] against Judah.
(d) The people who are now as it were dispersed by the fields, and lie open to their enemies, will be preserved by my power just as if they were under their kings (which is meant by the house of David), or in their defended cities.
Zec 12:10
12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of {e} grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have {f} pierced, and they shall mourn for {g} him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.
(e) They will have the feeling of my grace by faith, and know that I have compassion on them.
(f) That is, whom they have continually vexed with their obstinacy, and grieved my Spirit. In Joh 19:37 it is referred to Christ's body, whereas here it is referred to the Spirit of God.
(g) They will turn to God by true repentance, whom before they had so grievously offended by their ingratitude.
Zec 12:11
12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the {h} mourning of {i} Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
(h) They will exceedingly lament and repent for their offences against God.
(i) Which was the name of a town and place near to Megiddo, where Josiah was slain; 2Ch 35:22 .
Zec 12:12
12:12 And the {k} land shall mourn, every family {l} apart; the family of the {m} house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
(k) That is, in all places where the Jews will remain.
(l) Signifying, that this mourning or repentance would not be a vain ceremony: but every one touched with his own griefs will lament.
(m) Under these certain families he includes all the tribes, and shows that both the kings and the priests had by their sins pierced Christ.
Zec 12:13
12:13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of {n} Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
Zec 12:14
12:14 All the families that {o} remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
(o) That is, who were elect by grace, and preserved from the common destruction.
Zec 13:1
13:1 In that day there {a} shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
(a) He shows what will be the fruit of their repentance, that is, remission of sins by the blood of Christ, which will be a continual running fountain, and purge them from all uncleanness.
Zec 13:2
13:2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will cut off the {b} names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the {c} prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
(b) He promises that God will also purge them from all superstition, and that their religion will be pure.
(c) Meaning, the false prophets and teachers, who are the corrupters of all religion, whom the Prophet here calls unclean spirits.
Zec 13:3
13:3 And it shall come to pass, [that] when any shall yet {d} prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say to him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him {e} shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.
(d) That is, when they will prophesy lies, and make God, who is the author of truth, a cloak for them.
(e) He shows what zeal the godly will have under the kingdom of Christ; De 13:6,9 .
Zec 13:4
13:4 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the prophets shall {f} be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:
(f) God will make them ashamed of their errors and lies, and bring them to repentance, and they will no more wear prophet's apparel to make their doctrine seem more holy.
Zec 13:5
13:5 But he shall say, I [am] no {g} prophet, I [am] a farmer; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
(g) They will confess their former ignorance, and be content to labour for their living.
Zec 13:6
13:6 And [one] shall say to him, What [are] these {h} wounds in thy hands? Then he shall answer, [Those] with which I was wounded [in] the house of my friends.
(h) By this he shows that though their parents and friends dealt more gently with them, and did not put them to death, yet they would so punish their children that became false prophets, that the marks and signs would remain forever.
Zec 13:7
13:7 Awake, O sword, against my {i} shepherd, and against the man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.
(i) The Prophet warns the Jews, that before this great comfort under Christ would come, there would be a horrible dissipation among the people: for their governors and pastors would be destroyed, and the people would be as scattered sheep. And the evangelist applies this to Christ, because he was the head of all pastors; Mt 26:31 .
Zec 13:8
13:8 And it shall come to pass, [that] in all the land, saith the LORD, {k} two parts in it shall be cut off [and] die; but the third shall be left in it.
(k) The greatest part will have no portion of these blessings, and yet they that will enjoy them will be tried with great afflictions, so that is will be known that only God's power and his mercies preserve them.
Zec 14:1
14:1 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be {a} divided in the midst of thee.
(a) He arms the godly against the great temptations that would come, before they enjoyed this prosperous estate promised under Christ, that when these dangers came, they might know that they were warned of them before.
Zec 14:3
14:3 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he {b} fought in the day of battle.
(b) As your fathers and you have had experience both at the Red Sea, and at all other times.
Zec 14:4
14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the {c} mount of Olives, which [is] before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst of it toward the east and toward the west, [and there shall be] a very great {d} valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
(c) By this manner of speech the Prophet shows God's power and care over his Church, and how he will as it were by a miracle save it.
(d) So that out of all the parts of the world, they will see Jerusalem, which was before his with this mountain: and this he means of the spiritual Jerusalem the Church.
Zec 14:5
14:5 And ye shall flee [to] the {e} valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal: yea, ye shall flee, as ye fled from before the {f} earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD {g} my God shall come, [and] all the saints with thee.
(e) He speaks of the hypocrites, who could not abide God's presence, but would flee into all places, where they might hide themselves among the mountains.
(f) Read Am 1:1 .
(g) Because they did not credit the Prophet's words, he turns to God and comforts himself in that that he knew that these things would come, and says, "You, O God, with your angels will come to perform this great thing."
Zec 14:7
14:7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, {h} not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, [that] at evening it shall be light.
(h) Signifying, that there would be great troubles in the Church, and that the time of it is in the Lord's hands, yet at length (which is here meant by the evening) God would send comfort.
Zec 14:8
14:8 And it shall be in that day, [that] living {i} waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.
(i) That is, the spiritual graces of God, which would always continue in most abundance.
Zec 14:9
14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one {k} LORD, and his name one.
(k) All idolatry and superstition will be abolished, and there will be one God, one faith, and one religion.
Zec 14:10
14:10 All the land shall be turned {l} as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate to the place of the first gate, to the corner gate, and [from] the tower of Hananeel to the king's winepresses.
(l) This new Jerusalem will be seen through all the world, and will excel the first in excellency, wealth, and greatness.
Zec 14:13
14:13 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] {m} a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on {n} the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
(m) God will not only raise up war outside, but sedition at home to test them.
(n) To hurt and oppress him.
Zec 14:14
14:14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the nations around shall be gathered together, {o} gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
(o) The enemies are rich, and therefore will not come to entreat, but to destroy and shed blood.
Zec 14:15
14:15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the donkey, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this {p} plague.
(p) As the men would be destroyed, Zec 14:12 .
Zec 14:18
14:18 And if the family of {q} Egypt shall not go up, and shall not come, that [have] no [rain]; there shall be the plague, with which the LORD will smite the nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
(q) By the Egyptians, who were the greatest enemies to true religion, he means all the Gentiles.
Zec 14:20
14:20 In that day there shall be upon the {r} bells of the horses, HOLINESS TO THE LORD; and the {s} pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
(r) Signifying to whatever service they were put now
whether to labour, or to serve in war), they were now holy, because the Lord had sanctified them.
(s) The one as precious as the other, because they will be sanctified.
Zec 14:21
14:21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness to the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and boil in them: and in that day there shall be no more the {t} Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts.
(t) But all will be pure and clean, and there will neither by hypocrites, nor any that will corrupt the true service of God.
Return to the
Documents page
