_turned, and lift up_ Rather, LIFTED UP AGAIN. Comp. Zechariah 5:1 . _looked_ Rather, SAW. _four chariots_ These have very commonly been identified with the four great powers or kingdoms of Daniel's visions (chap. 2, 7). The first chariot, as to the destination of which the vision is silent, will t... [ Continue Reading ]
_red horses_ The colours of the horses are not necessarily significant (see Zechariah 1:8, and note there). They have, however, been interpreted, as for example by Pusey: "Red, as the colour of blood, represented Babylon as sanguinary (Revelation 6:4)." "The colour _black_doubtless symbolises the he... [ Continue Reading ]
_grisled and bay_ Rather, SPOTTED AND ACTIVE, or STRONG, as in margin of A. V. and R. V. They were spotted, perhaps with white spots on a dark ground, "sparsis pellibus albo dixit" (Virgil, _Ec_. ii. 41); comp. Genesis 31:10; Genesis 31:12. In addition to the mention of their distinguishing colour,... [ Continue Reading ]
_spirits_ Rather, WINDS. Comp. Revelation 7:1. _from standing before_ as servants to receive His commands. Psalms 104:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the black horses which are therein_ Lit. (THAT) WHEREIN ARE THE BLACK HORSES, (THEY, THE HORSES) ARE GOING FORTH, &c., i.e. _The chariot wherein are the black horses goeth forth_, &c. R. V. _the north country_ The land of Babylon, see Zechariah 2:6. _the south country_ probably Egypt. Comp. Danie... [ Continue Reading ]
_walk to and fro through the earth_ The supposed mixed colour of these horses has been thought to signify a mixed exercise of judgment and mercy by the power which they represent: "partim ut malis supplicia irrogarent, partim ut bonos, si qui supersint, defenderent." Rosenm. But the scope of the vis... [ Continue Reading ]
_cried he upon me_ The word is used of a royal proclamation cried aloud through the city. Jonah 3:7. Here the loud call of the Angel was probably intended to rouse the prophet's attention to what was the chief point of the vision. _quieted my spirit_ Lit. HAVE CAUSED MY SPIRIT TO REST, which was per... [ Continue Reading ]
_came unto me_ There is no note of time. It may well have been shortly after the night on which Zechariah saw the visions, or the day on which he told them to the people.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take_ Lit. TO TAKE. This has been thought to be a general direction, extending to all that they had brought, "let (their offerings) be received, or accepted;" the special taking of silver and gold for a particular purpose by the prophet being mentioned in the next verse. But there is no reason what... [ Continue Reading ]
_crowns_ The plural may perhaps be used for _one_crown (_a crown_, R. V. margin), as it is apparently in Job 31:36. Or there may have been two wreaths or fillets, possibly one of each precious metal, woven into a crown. In Zechariah 6:14 where the word again occurs it is joined with a verb in the si... [ Continue Reading ]
_the_ BRANCH] See chap. Zechariah 3:8 and note. _out of his place_ Lit. FROM UNDER HIM. Comp. for the expression Exodus 10:23; and for the meaning Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 53:2. Other less satisfactory renderings are, _it shall grow up under Him_, i.e. all things fair and good shall spring up and flouri... [ Continue Reading ]
_Even he shall build_ The repetition of these words from the preceding verse is emphatic, as is the introduction now of the personal pronoun, HE. It is as much as to say, you are building a temple of the Lord, but the building of the true temple is reserved for Him. _bear the glory_ i.e. the _royal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Helem_ This may of course be another name borne by the person who in Zechariah 6:10 is called Heldai. The conjecture, however, that Helem is a copyist's error for Heldai, the difference between the two Hebrew words being slight, is not improbable. _to Hen_ Rather (as in R. V. margin), TO THE FAVOUR... [ Continue Reading ]
_they that are far off_ Comp. Ephesians 2:13; Ephesians 2:17, where there is perhaps a reminiscence of the οἱ μακρὰν of the LXX. here. "The counsel of peace," and the "building in the temple of the Lord," may also have been in St Paul's mind when he wrote that passage. _if ye will diligently obey_ T... [ Continue Reading ]