Zechariah 6 Study Notes: Four Chariots and the Crowned Priest
In the last night vision four chariots, the spirits of heaven, go out across the world at the LORD's command. Zechariah is told to crown Joshua the high priest as a sign of the Branch, a builder of the temple who rules as king and priest, and builders from far away are promised.
General
According to 6:12, what will the man called the Branch do?
Answer: He will sprout up where He is and build the LORD's temple
Zechariah is to give Joshua this message from the LORD: a man named the Branch will sprout up where He stands and will build the LORD's temple (6:12). The Branch was already promised in 3:8, and Jeremiah used the same title for a righteous King from David's family line (Jeremiah 23:5). The temple was being rebuilt in Zechariah's day, but Christians rightly see this promise reaching its full meaning in Christ. He builds God's true temple, His people, joined together in Him as a home where God lives (Ephesians 2:20-22) and built like living stones into a house for God's worship (1 Peter 2:5).
- Zechariah 6:12 (BSB)“And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.”Zechariah is to tell Joshua about a man named the Branch and the work He will do.
- Jeremiah 23:5 (BSB)“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.”Jeremiah promised a righteous Branch raised up for David who would reign as King.
- Ephesians 2:20-22 (BSB)“built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.”Paul describes God's people joined in Christ as a sacred temple where God lives.
- 1 Peter 2:5 (BSB)“you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”Believers are being built, as living stones, into a house of spiritual worship through Christ.
Theological
What work does the LORD assign to the man named the Branch (6:12)?
Answer: He will sprout up where He is and build the LORD's temple
Joshua is told that a man named the Branch will sprout from where He is and build the LORD's temple (6:12). The title links back to 3:8 and to the prophets' promise of a righteous Branch raised up for David to reign as King (Jeremiah 23:5). Though the rebuilding of the Second Temple was under way, the promise points beyond it to Christ, who builds the true temple of God: His people, fitted together in Him as God's dwelling by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:20-22), being built as living stones into a house for spiritual worship (1 Peter 2:5).
- Zechariah 6:12 (BSB)“And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.”Zechariah is to tell Joshua about a man named the Branch and the work He will do.
- Jeremiah 23:5 (BSB)“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.”Jeremiah promised a righteous Branch raised up for David who would reign as King.
- Ephesians 2:20-22 (BSB)“built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.”Paul describes God's people joined in Christ as a sacred temple where God lives.
- 1 Peter 2:5 (BSB)“you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”Believers are being built, as living stones, into a house of spiritual worship through Christ.
General
Who is Zechariah told to crown with the ornate crown made of silver and gold?
Answer: Joshua son of Jehozadak, who served as high priest
The LORD tells Zechariah to collect gifts from exiles who had come back from Babylon, go that day to Josiah's home, and fashion a fine crown of silver and gold (6:10-11). He is to place it on Joshua son of Jehozadak, who was high priest (6:11; Haggai 1:1). Placing a crown on a priest is a striking sign, since 6:13 goes on to speak of one who rules from a throne and is also a priest. In 3:8 Joshua and his companions were already called a sign pointing ahead to God's Servant, the Branch, and the next verses explain what this crowning points to.
- Zechariah 6:10-11 (BSB)““Take an offering from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon—and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.”The LORD directs Zechariah to collect gifts from returned exiles, fashion a crown and place it on the high priest.
- Zechariah 3:8 (BSB)“Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch.”Joshua and his companions were called a sign of the coming Servant, the Branch.
- Haggai 1:1 (BSB)“In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating”Haggai names Joshua, Jehozadak's son, as high priest in the rebuilding era.
Theological
Whom does the LORD instruct Zechariah to crown in 6:11?
Answer: Joshua son of Jehozadak, who served as high priest
Zechariah is to receive gifts from returned exiles, go to Josiah's home, fashion an ornate crown of silver and gold, and place it on Joshua son of Jehozadak, who was high priest (6:10-11; Haggai 1:1). Crowning a priest is a deliberate sign-act, explained by the words that follow. Already in 3:8 Joshua and his companions were declared to be a sign of the coming Servant, the Branch, and 6:12-13 explains the sign by announcing a man in whom royal and priestly office meet.
- Zechariah 6:10-11 (BSB)““Take an offering from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon—and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak.”The LORD directs Zechariah to collect gifts from returned exiles, fashion a crown and place it on the high priest.
- Zechariah 3:8 (BSB)“Hear now, O high priest Joshua, you and your companions seated before you, who are indeed a sign. For behold, I am going to bring My servant, the Branch.”Joshua and his companions were called a sign of the coming Servant, the Branch.
- Haggai 1:1 (BSB)“In the second year of the reign of Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, stating”Haggai names Joshua, Jehozadak's son, as high priest in the rebuilding era.
General
How does the angel explain the four chariots in the final night vision?
Answer: Heaven's four spirits, sent out from the presence of the Lord
Zechariah sees four chariots emerging between two bronze mountains, pulled by red, black, white and dappled horses, every one of them powerful (6:1-3). When he asks what they are, the angel says they are heaven's four spirits, setting out from their place in the presence of the Lord who rules the whole world (6:4-5). The text stresses that they serve God and go out at His command, as the horsemen of the first vision did (1:10). God owns the world (Psalm 24:1) and uses even the winds as His messengers (Psalm 104:4).
- Zechariah 6:1-5 (BSB)“And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong. So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?” And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.”Zechariah sees four chariots with different colored horses, and the angel explains them.
- Zechariah 1:10 (BSB)“Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.””In the first vision the LORD likewise sent horses out across the world.
- Psalm 104:4 (BSB)“He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.”God employs the winds as His servants and envoys.
- Psalm 24:1 (BSB)“A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.”The whole world and everyone in it belong to the LORD.
Theological
What does the interpreting angel say the four chariots are (6:4-5)?
Answer: Heaven's four spirits, sent out from the presence of the Lord
The eighth vision shows four chariots emerging between two bronze mountains, drawn by red, black, white and dappled horses (6:1-3). The angel identifies them as heaven's four spirits, setting out from where they stand before the sovereign Lord of the whole world (6:4-5). The vision forms a frame with the first, where horses were likewise sent by the LORD to go throughout the world (1:10). Its emphasis is God's universal sovereignty: the world is His (Psalm 24:1), and His agents, like the winds that serve Him (Psalm 104:4), act only at His command.
- Zechariah 6:1-5 (BSB)“And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong. So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?” And the angel told me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth from their station before the Lord of all the earth.”Zechariah sees four chariots with different colored horses, and the angel explains them.
- Zechariah 1:10 (BSB)“Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.””In the first vision the LORD likewise sent horses out across the world.
- Psalm 104:4 (BSB)“He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants.”God employs the winds as His servants and envoys.
- Psalm 24:1 (BSB)“A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.”The whole world and everyone in it belong to the LORD.
General
What does 6:13 say about how the Branch will rule?
Answer: He will reign as king and also serve as priest while enthroned
The Branch will build the LORD's temple, be dressed in majesty, and reign from His throne. He will also serve as priest while enthroned, with peace and harmony between the two (6:13). In Israel the offices of king and priest had been held by different men, so one man holding both offices is something new. This points to Christ, who is both King and Priest. God promised David's Lord a priesthood that lasts forever (Psalm 110:4), and Hebrews shows Jesus as the High Priest who took His seat beside God's throne after offering a single sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 8:1; 10:12). Putting a crown on the high priest (6:11) is a sign that looks ahead to Him.
- Zechariah 6:13 (BSB)“Yes, He will build the temple of the LORD; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. And He will be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two.’”The Branch is described as both ruling from His throne and serving as priest there.
- Psalm 110:4 (BSB)“The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.””David's Lord is sworn to an everlasting priesthood like Melchizedek's.
- Hebrews 8:1 (BSB)“The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,”Hebrews presents Jesus as the high priest seated beside God's throne in heaven.
- Hebrews 10:12 (BSB)“But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.”After offering a single sacrifice for sin, Christ took His seat at God's right hand.
Theological
How does 6:13 describe the reign of the Branch?
Answer: He will reign as king and also serve as priest while enthroned
The Branch is to build the temple, bear royal majesty, and reign from His throne; He will also be priest while enthroned, with peace and harmony between the two (6:13). Under the old covenant the royal and priestly offices were held by different men, so their union in one person is remarkable. This points to Christ, who is both King and Priest. Psalm 110:4 promises an eternal priesthood like that of Melchizedek, and Hebrews presents Jesus as the High Priest who, having offered a single sacrifice for sin for all time, is seated beside God's heavenly throne (Hebrews 8:1; 10:12). The crowning of Joshua (6:11) is a sign-act anticipating that royal priesthood.
- Zechariah 6:13 (BSB)“Yes, He will build the temple of the LORD; He will be clothed in splendor and will sit on His throne and rule. And He will be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two.’”The Branch is described as both ruling from His throne and serving as priest there.
- Psalm 110:4 (BSB)“The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.””David's Lord is sworn to an everlasting priesthood like Melchizedek's.
- Hebrews 8:1 (BSB)“The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,”Hebrews presents Jesus as the high priest seated beside God's throne in heaven.
- Hebrews 10:12 (BSB)“But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.”After offering a single sacrifice for sin, Christ took His seat at God's right hand.
General
What does the LORD tell Zechariah about those sent to the north (6:8)?
Answer: They have set His Spirit at rest in the northern country
The strong horses are keen to set out, and at the LORD's command they patrol the earth (6:7). Then the LORD calls Zechariah and tells him that the ones who went north have set His Spirit at rest in that northern country (6:8). Earlier in the book the LORD called His people to escape from the north, a place linked with Babylon (2:6-7). Many readers connect it with the LORD's earlier anger against complacent nations that made His people's suffering worse (1:15), now settled. Above all, the LORD who reigns over everything (Psalm 103:19) sends out His servants, and His purpose is carried out.
- Zechariah 6:7-8 (BSB)“As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. Then the LORD summoned me and said, “Behold, those going to the land of the north have given rest to My Spirit in the land of the north.””The horses patrol the earth at the LORD's word, and He tells Zechariah what those sent north have done.
- Zechariah 2:6-7 (BSB)““Get up! Get up! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven,” declares the LORD. “Get up, O Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the Daughter of Babylon!””Earlier the LORD called His people to flee the north and escape from Babylon.
- Zechariah 1:15 (BSB)“but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have added to the calamity.’”In the first vision the LORD declared fierce anger against complacent nations that had made Judah's suffering worse.
- Psalm 103:19 (BSB)“The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”The LORD reigns from heaven over everything, including the lands the chariots patrol.
Theological
What does the LORD declare concerning those sent north (6:8)?
Answer: They have set His Spirit at rest in the northern country
Keen to set out, the strong horses patrol the earth at the LORD's word (6:7). The LORD then announces to Zechariah that those who went to the north have set His Spirit at rest there (6:8). Within the book the north is linked with Babylon, from which the exiles were summoned to flee (2:6-7). Many connect the statement with the LORD's fierce anger against complacent nations (1:15), now quieted. Above all, the sovereign LORD who reigns over everything (Psalm 103:19) dispatches His agents, and His purpose regarding that land is accomplished.
- Zechariah 6:7-8 (BSB)“As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. Then the LORD summoned me and said, “Behold, those going to the land of the north have given rest to My Spirit in the land of the north.””The horses patrol the earth at the LORD's word, and He tells Zechariah what those sent north have done.
- Zechariah 2:6-7 (BSB)““Get up! Get up! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven,” declares the LORD. “Get up, O Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the Daughter of Babylon!””Earlier the LORD called His people to flee the north and escape from Babylon.
- Zechariah 1:15 (BSB)“but I am fiercely angry with the nations that are at ease. For I was a little angry, but they have added to the calamity.’”In the first vision the LORD declared fierce anger against complacent nations that had made Judah's suffering worse.
- Psalm 103:19 (BSB)“The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”The LORD reigns from heaven over everything, including the lands the chariots patrol.
General
What condition does 6:15 attach to the promise that distant people will come to help build?
Answer: If they carefully listen to and obey the LORD their God
The crown is to stay in the LORD's temple to honor the men named there (6:14). Then the LORD promises that people from distant places will come and help build His temple, and when that happens the people will know the LORD sent His messenger to them. This will come about if they carefully obey their God (6:15), echoing the promise of blessing in the law (Deuteronomy 28:1). Isaiah also foresaw foreigners helping to build up Jerusalem (Isaiah 60:10), and Paul uses the same language of distance for Gentiles who were once far from God but are now near through Christ (Ephesians 2:13).
- Zechariah 6:14-15 (BSB)“The crown will reside in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and the gracious son of Zephaniah. Even those far away will come and build the temple of the LORD, and you will 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.””The crown is kept in the temple as a memorial, and the LORD promises builders from afar, with a call to obedience.
- Deuteronomy 28:1 (BSB)““Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.”The law promised blessing to Israel if they faithfully obeyed the LORD their God.
- Isaiah 60:10 (BSB)“Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Although I struck you in anger, yet in favor I will show you mercy.”Isaiah foresaw foreigners helping to rebuild Jerusalem.
- Ephesians 2:13 (BSB)“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”Paul says Gentiles once distant from God are now near in Christ.
Theological
On what condition does 6:15 say the promise of builders from afar will come to pass?
Answer: If they carefully listen to and obey the LORD their God
After the crown is placed in the temple to honor the men named there (6:14), the LORD promises that people from distant places will come and help build His temple, confirming that the LORD sent His messenger. The promise is joined to a condition: it will happen if the people carefully heed their God (6:15), the covenant language of Deuteronomy 28:1. Obedience is the fitting response of a people God has already restored, not the ground of His grace. The ingathering of builders from afar recalls Isaiah 60:10, and Paul describes Gentiles once distant now brought near in Christ (Ephesians 2:13).
- Zechariah 6:14-15 (BSB)“The crown will reside in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and the gracious son of Zephaniah. Even those far away will come and build the temple of the LORD, and you will 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.””The crown is kept in the temple as a memorial, and the LORD promises builders from afar, with a call to obedience.
- Deuteronomy 28:1 (BSB)““Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.”The law promised blessing to Israel if they faithfully obeyed the LORD their God.
- Isaiah 60:10 (BSB)“Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Although I struck you in anger, yet in favor I will show you mercy.”Isaiah foresaw foreigners helping to rebuild Jerusalem.
- Ephesians 2:13 (BSB)“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”Paul says Gentiles once distant from God are now near in Christ.