3 Then the Angel showed me (in my vision) Joshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the Lord; and Satan was there too, at the Angel’s right hand, accusing Joshua of many things.
2 And the Lord said to Satan, “I reject your accusations, Satan;[a] yes, I, the Lord, for I have decided to be merciful to Jerusalem—I rebuke you. I have decreed mercy to Joshua and his nation; they are like a burning stick pulled out of the fire.”
3 Joshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood before the Angel of the Lord.
4 Then the Angel said to the others standing there, “Remove his filthy clothing.” And turning to Joshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”
5-6 Then I said, “Please, could he also have a clean turban on his head?” So they gave him one.
Then the Angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Joshua and said, 7 “The Lord Almighty declares: ‘If you will follow the paths I set for you and do all I tell you to, then I will put you in charge of my Temple, to keep it holy; and I will let you walk in and out of my presence with these angels. 8 Listen to me, O Joshua the High Priest, and all you other priests, you are illustrations of the good things to come. Don’t you see?—Joshua represents my servant the Branch[b] whom I will send. 9 He will be the Foundation Stone of the Temple that Joshua is standing beside, and I will engrave this inscription on it seven times:[c] I will remove the sins of this land in a single day. 10 And after that,’ the Lord Almighty declares, ‘you will all live in peace and prosperity, and each of you will own a home of your own where you can invite your neighbors.’”
Footnotes
- Zechariah 3:2 I reject your accusations, Satan, literally, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan.”
- Zechariah 3:8 the Branch, i.e., the Messiah, Christ.
- Zechariah 3:9 I will engrave this inscription on it seven times, literally, “See the stone with seven facets I have set before Joshua, and I will engrave its inscription.”