4 The vision of the golden candlestick, and the exposition thereof.
1 And the Angel that talked with me, came again and waked me, as a man that is raised out of his sleep,
2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold, a [a]candlestick all of gold with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps therein, and seven [b]pipes to the lamps which were upon the top thereof,
3 And two olive trees over it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4 So I answered and spake to the Angel that talked with me, saying, What are these my Lord?
5 Then the Angel that talked with me, answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord.
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto [c]Zerubbabel, saying, Neither by [d]an army nor strength, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
7 Who art thou, O [e]great mountain, before Zerubbabel? thou shall be a plain, and [f]he shall bring forth the headstone thereof, with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
8 Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
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 unto you.
10 For who hath despised the day of the [h]small things? but they shall rejoice, and shall see the stone of [i]tin in the hand of Zerubbabel: [j]these seven are the eyes of the Lord, which go through the whole world.
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right and upon the left side thereof?
12 And I spake moreover, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches, which through the two golden pipes empty themselves into the gold?
13 And he answered me, and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord.
14 Then said he, These are the two [k]olive branches, that stand with the ruler of the whole earth.
Footnotes
- Zechariah 4:2 Which was ever in the midst of the Temple, signifying that the graces of God’s spirit should shine there in most abundance, and in all perfection.
- Zechariah 4:2 Which conveyed the oil that dropped from the trees into the lamps, so that the light never failed: and this vision was to confirm the faithful that God had sufficient power in himself to continue his graces, and to bring his promise to pass though he had no help of man.
- Zechariah 4:6 Who was a figure of Christ and therefore this doctrine was directed to all the Church who are his body and members.
- Zechariah 4:6 He showeth that God’s power only is sufficient to preserve his Church, though he use not man’s help thereunto.
- Zechariah 4:7 He compareth the power of the adversaries to a great mountain, who thought the Jews nothing in respect of them, and would have hindered Zerubbabel, who represented Christ, whom the enemies daily labor to let in the building of his spiritual Temple, but all in vain.
- Zechariah 4:7 Though the enemies think to stay this building, yet Zerubbabel shall lay the highest stone thereof, and bring it to perfection, so that all the godly shall rejoice, and pray unto God that he would continue his grace and favor toward the Temple.
- Zechariah 4:9 Meaning, the Prophet, that I am Christ sent of my Father for the building and preservation of my spiritual Temple.
- Zechariah 4:10 Signifying, that all were discouraged at the small and poor beginnings of the Temple.
- Zechariah 4:10 Whereby he signifieth the plummet and line, that is, that Zerubbabel which represented Christ, should go forward with his building to the joy and comfort of the godly, though the world be against him, and though his for a while be discouraged, because they see not things pleasant to the eye.
- Zechariah 4:10 That is, God hath 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, Zech. 5:9.
- Zechariah 4:14 Which were ever 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.