Zechariah Chapter 4
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, shall ye invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig-tree.
2
And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
3
And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have seen, and, behold, a candlestick all of gold, with its bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are upon the top thereof;
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and two olive-trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
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And I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
6
Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.
7
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts.
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Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel
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thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings of Grace, grace, unto it.
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Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
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The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto you.
12
For who hath despised the day of small things? for these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel;
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these are the eyes of Jehovah, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
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Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive-trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.
2
And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I see, and behold, a lamp-stand all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon, seven [lamps] and seven pipes to the lamps, which are upon the top thereof;
3
and two olive-trees beside it, one on the right of the bowl, and the other on the left of it.
4
And I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5
And the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.
6
And he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith Jehovah of hosts.
7
Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel [thou dost become] a plain; and he shall bring forth the head-stone with shoutings: Grace, grace unto it!
8
And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
9
The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; and his hands shall finish it: and thou shalt know that Jehovah of hosts hath sent me unto you.
10
For who hath despised the day of small things? Yea, they shall rejoice [even] those seven — and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel: these are the eyes of Jehovah, which run to and fro in the whole earth.
11
And I answered and said unto him, What are these two olive-trees on the right of the lamp-stand and on its left?
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And I answered the second time and said unto him, What are the two olive-branches which are beside the two golden tubes that empty the gold out of themselves?
13
And he spoke to me, saying, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.
14
And he said, These are the two sons of oil, that stand before the Lord of the whole earth.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
And the angel that talked with me returned, and awakened me, as when a man is awakened out of his sleep.
2
And he said to me, What seest thou? And I said, I have seen, and behold a candlestick all of gold, and its bowl upon it, and seven lamps upon it, and seven oil funnels to the lamps upon it:
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and two olive-trees above it, one on the right of the bowl, and one on the left.
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And I inquired, and spoke to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these things, [my] lord?
5
And the angel that talked with me answered, and spoke to me, saying, Knowest thou not what these things are? And I said, No, [my] lord.
6
And he answered and spoke to me, saying, This is the word of the Lord to Zorobabel, saying, Not by mighty power, nor by strength, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord Almighty.
7
Who art thou, the great mountain before Zorobabel, that thou shouldest prosper? whereas I will bring out the stone of the inheritance, the grace of it the equal of [my ] grace.
8
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
9
The hands of Zorobabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands shall finish it: and thou shalt know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to thee.
10
For who has despised the small days? surely they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet of tin in the hand of Zorobabel: these are the seven eyes that look upon all the earth.
11
And I answered, and said to him, What are these two olive-trees, which are on the right and left hand of the candlestick?
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And I asked the second time, and said to him, What are the two branches of the olive-trees that are by the side of the two golden pipes that pour into and communicate with the golden oil funnels?
13
And he said to me, Knowest thou not what these are? and I said, No, [my] lord.
14
And he said, These are the two anointed ones [that] stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Et reversus est angelus, qui loquebatur in me, et suscitavit me, quasi virum, qui suscitatur de somno suo.
2
Et dixit ad me: Quid tu vides? Et dixi: Vidi, et ecce candelabrum aureum totum, et lampas eius super caput ipsius, et septem lucernæ eius super illud: et septem infusoria lucernis, quæ erant super caput eius.
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Et duæ olivæ super illud: una a dextris lampadis, et una a sinistris eius.
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Et respondi, et aio ad angelum, qui loquebatur in me, dicens: Quid sunt hæc, domine mi?
5
Et respondit angelus, qui loquebatur in me, et dixit ad me: Numquid nescis quid sunt hæc? Et dixi: Non, domine mi.
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Et respondit, et ait ad me, dicens: Hoc est verbum Domini ad Zorobabel, dicens: Non in exercitu, nec in robore, sed in spiritu meo, dicit Dominus exercituum.
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Quis tu mons magne coram Zorobabel? in planum: et educet lapidem primarium, et exæquabit gratiam gratiæ eius.
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Et factum est verbum Domini ad me, dicens:
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Manus Zorobabel fundaverunt domum istam, et manus eius perficient eam: et scietis quia Dominus exercituum misit me ad vos.
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Quis enim despexit dies parvos? et lætabuntur, et videbunt lapidem stanneum in manu Zorobabel. Septem isti oculi sunt Domini, qui discurrunt in universam terram.
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Et respondi, et dixi ad eum: Quid sunt duæ olivæ istæ ad dexteram candelabri, et ad sinistram eius?
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Et respondi secundo, et dixi ad eum: Quid sunt duæ spicæ olivarum, quæ sunt iuxta duo rostra aurea, in quibus sunt suffusoria ex auro?
13
Et ait ad me, dicens: Numquid nescis quid sunt hæc? Et dixi: Non, domine mi.
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Et dixit: Isti sunt duo filii olei, qui assistunt Dominatori universæ terræ.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
The angel who talked with me came again and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep.
2
He said to me, “What do you see?” I said, “I have seen, and behold, a lamp stand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps which are on the top of it;
3
and two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it.”
4
I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?”
5
Then the angel who talked with me answered me, “Don’t you know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”
6
Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the LORD’s word to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD of Armies.
7
Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace, to it!’”
8
Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
9
“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it; and you will know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you.
10
Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are the LORD’s eyes, which run back and forth through the whole earth.”
11
Then I asked him, “What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lamp stand and on the left side of it?”
12
I asked him the second time, “What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts that pour the golden oil out of themselves?”
13
He answered me, “Don’t you know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.”
14
Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
And the messenger who is speaking with me doth turn back, and stir me up as one who is stirred up out of his sleep,
2
and he saith unto me, `What art thou seeing?' And I say, `I have looked, and lo, a candlestick of gold--all of it, and its bowl <FI>is<Fi> on its top, and its seven lamps <FI>are<Fi> upon it, and twice seven pipes <FI>are<Fi> to the lights that <FI>are<Fi> on its top,
3
and two olive-trees <FI>are<Fi> by it, one on the right of the bowl, and one on its left.'
4
And I answer and speak unto the messenger who is speaking with me, saying, `What <FI>are<Fi> these, my lord?'
5
And the messenger who is speaking with me answereth and saith unto me, `Hast thou not known what these <FI>are<Fi> ?' And I say, `No, my lord.'
6
And he answereth and speaketh unto me, saying: `This <FI>is<Fi> a word of Jehovah unto Zerubbabel, saying: Not by a force, nor by power, But--by My Spirit, said Jehovah of Hosts.
7
Who <FI>art<Fi> thou, O great mountain Before Zerubbabel--for a plain! And he hath brought forth the top-stone, Cries of Grace, grace--<FI> are<Fi> to it.'
8
And there is a word of Jehovah to me, saying,
9
Hands of Zerubbabel did found this house, And his hands do finish it, And thou hast known that Jehovah of Hosts Hath sent me unto you.
10
For who trampled on the day of small things, They have rejoiced, And seen the tin weight in the hand of Zerubbabel, These seven <FI>are<Fi> the eyes of Jehovah, They are going to and fro in all the land.'
11
And I answer and say unto him, `What <FI>are<Fi> these two olive-trees, on the right of the candlestick, and on its left?'
12
And I answer a second time, and say unto him, `What <FI>are<Fi> the two branches of the olive trees that, by means of the two golden pipes, are emptying out of themselves the oil?'
13
And he speaketh unto me, saying, `Hast thou not known what these <FI>are<Fi> ?' And I say, `No, my lord.'
14
And he saith, `These <FI>are<Fi> the two sons of the oil, who are standing by the Lord of the whole earth.'
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).