Zechariah 4

The Golden Lampstand and Olive Trees

1 Then ¹the angel who was speaking with me returned and ²roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep.

2 He said to me, "³What do you see?" And I said, "I see, and behold, a ⁴lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its ⁵seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it;

3 also ⁶two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side."

4 Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, "What are these, ⁷my lord?"

5 So ⁸the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, "⁹Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, my lord."

6 Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to ¹⁰Zerubbabel saying, '¹¹Not by might nor by power, but by My ¹²Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts.

7 'What are you, O great ¹³mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with ¹⁴shouts of "Grace, grace to it!""'

8 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have ¹⁵laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will ¹⁶finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.

10 "For who has despised the day of ¹⁷small things? But these ¹⁸seven will be glad when they see the ¹⁹plumb * line * in the hand of Zerubbabel -these are the ²⁰eyes of the LORD which ²¹range to and fro throughout the earth."

11 Then I said to him, "What are these ²²two olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?"

12 And I answered the second time and said to him, "What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?"

13 So he answered me, saying, "²³Do you not know what these are?" And I said, "No, ²⁴my lord."

14 Then he said, "These are the two ²⁵anointed * ones who are ²⁶standing by the ²⁷Lord of the whole earth."

Zechariah 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

A vision of a candlestick, with two olive trees. (1-7) Further encouragement. (8-10) An explanation respecting the olive trees. (11-14)

Verses 1-7 The prophet's spirit was willing to attend, but the flesh was weak. We should beg of God that, whenever he speaks to us, he would awaken us, and we should then stir up ourselves. The church is a golden candlestick, or lamp-bearer, set up for enlightening this dark world, and holding forth the light of Divine revelation. Two olive trees were seen, one on each side the candlestick, from which oil flowed into the bowl without ceasing. God brings to pass his gracious purposes concerning his church, without any art or labour of man; sometimes he makes use of his instruments, yet he needs them not. This represented the abundance of Divine grace, for the enlightening and making holy the ministers and members of the church, and which cannot be procured or prevented by any human power. The vision assures us that the good work of building the temple, should be brought to a happy end. The difficulty is represented as a great mountain. But all difficulties shall vanish, and all the objections be got over. Faith will remove mountains, and make them plains. Christ is our Zerubbabel; mountains of difficulty were in the way of his undertaking, but nothing is too hard for him. What comes from the grace of God, may, in faith, be committed to the grace of God, for he will not forsake the work of his own hands.

Verses 8-10 The exact fulfilment of Scripture prophecies is a convincing proof of their Divine original. Though the instruments be weak and unlikely, yet God often chooses such, to bring about great things by them. Let not the dawning light be despised; it will shine more and more to the perfect day. Those who despaired of finishing the work, shall rejoice when they see Zerubbabel giving directions what to do, and taking care that the work be done. It is a comfort to us that the same all-wise, almighty Providence, which governs the earth, is in particular conversant about the church. All that have the plummet in their hands, must look up to the eyes of the Lord, have constant regard to Divine Providence, act in dependence on its guidance and submission to its disposals. Let us fix our faith on Christ, and view Him carrying on his work according to his own glorious plan, and daily bringing his spiritual building nearer to completion.

Verses 11-14 Zechariah desires to know what are the two olive trees. Zerubbabel and Joshua, this prince and this priest, were endued with the gifts and graces of God's Spirit. They lived at the same time, and both were instruments in the work and service of God. Christ's offices of King and Priest were shadowed forth by them. From the union of these two offices in his person, both God and man, the fullness of grace is received and imparted. They built the temple, the church of God. So does Christ spiritually. Christ is not only the Messiah, the Anointed One himself, but he is the Good Olive to his church; and from his fulness we receive. And the Holy Spirit is the unction or anointing which we have received. From Christ the Olive Tree, by the Spirit the Olive Branch, all the golden oil of grace flows to believers, which keeps their lamps burning. Let us seek, through the intercession and bounty of the Saviour, supplies from that fulness which has hitherto sufficed for all his saints, according to their trials and employments. Let us wait on him in his ordinances, desiring to be sanctified wholly in body, soul, and spirit.

Cross References

• 1. Zechariah 1:9
• 2. 1 Kings 19:5-7; Jeremiah 31:26
• 3. Jeremiah 1:13; Zechariah 5:2
• 4. Exodus 25:31, 37; Jeremiah 52:19
• 5. Revelation 4:5
• 6. Zechariah 4:11; Revelation 11:4
• 7. Zechariah 1:9; Zechariah 4:5, 13; Zechariah 6:4
• 8. Zechariah 1:9; Zechariah 4:1
• 9. Zechariah 4:13
• 10. Ezra 5:2; Haggai 2:4, 5
• 11. Isaiah 11:2-4; Isaiah 30:1; Hosea 1:7
• 12. 2 Chronicles 32:7, 8; Ephesians 6:17
• 13. Psalms 114:4, 6; Isaiah 40:4; Jeremiah 51:25; Nahum 1:5; Zechariah 14:4, 5
• 14. Ezra 3:10, 11; Psalms 84:11
• 15. Ezra 3:8-10; Ezra 5:16; Haggai 2:18
• 16. Ezra 6:14, 15; Zechariah 6:12, 13
• 17. Nehemiah 4:2-4; Amos 7:2, 5; Haggai 2:3
• 18. Zechariah 3:9; Revelation 8:2
• 19. Amos 7:7, 8
• 20. 2 Chronicles 16:9; Proverbs 15:3; Jeremiah 16:17
• 21. Zechariah 1:10; Revelation 5:6
• 22. Zechariah 4:3; Revelation 11:4
• 23. Zechariah 4:5
• 24. Zechariah 4:4, 5
• 25. Exodus 29:7; Exodus 40:15; 1 Sam 16:1, 12, 13; Isaiah 61:1-3; Daniel 9:24-26
• 26. Zechariah 3:1-7
• 27. Micah 4:13

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "said to me, saying"
• [b]. Lit "you" (plural)
• [c]. Or "But they will rejoice when they see...Zerubbabel. These seven are the eyes of the LORD
• [d]. Lit "plummet stone"
• [e]. Or "clusters"
• [f]. Lit "sons of fresh oil"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 4

In this chapter are contained the vision of a golden candlestick, and of two olive trees by it, and the explanation thereof. The preparation to this vision, which is the awaking of the prophet, as of a man out of sleep, is in Zec 4:1. The vision of the candlestick, and olive trees, is in Zec 4:2,3. The candlestick is described by the matter of it, gold; and by the parts of it, its bowl, lamps, and pipes; and the olive trees by their situation; the explanation of which is at the request of the prophet, he not knowing what they meant, Zec 4:4,5 when it is observed to him, that this represents, under the type of Zerubbabel building the temple, the building of the Gospel church by Christ; and which is done and finished, not by might or power of man, but by the Spirit, notwithstanding all opposition, and contempt of it, to the great joy of many, who observe the grace of God, and his providential care and goodness, in it, Zec 4:6-10 and upon the prophet's inquiring the meaning of the two olive trees, which he was ignorant of, he is told that these are the two anointed ones that stood by the Lord of the whole earth, Zec 4:11-14.