Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Zechariah
Chapter 4: Not by Might, but by My Spirit
Zechariah sees a golden lampstand fed by two olive trees, and God turns the vision into a message for the discouraged temple builders and for every servant of God since. The great mountain of opposition looming over the work will melt: 'Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain.' The secret is not human strength: 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.' The final stone of the temple will be set in place with shouts of 'Grace, grace unto it,' and the God who watches over the small beginnings asks, 'who hath despised the day of small things?' The lampstand shining by the oil of the two olive trees pictures a people who give light not by their own effort but by the constant supply of God's Spirit. It is the charter verse for every work done in God's strength rather than our own.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Zechariah chapter 4, the vision of the golden lampstand and the word "not by might, but by my spirit." For each section you will find the KJV text, the Hebrew words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. The chapter teaches that God's work is done by God's Spirit, not human strength, and that He does not despise small beginnings. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Gold and Olive Oil
A light fed by a constant supply of oil.
By My Spirit
God's work done in God's power, not ours.
Grace, Grace Unto It
The mountain leveled, the work finished by grace.
The Day of Small Things
God's care for humble beginnings.
Not by Might, nor by Power, but by My Spirit (Zechariah 4:1-7)
Zechariah sees a golden lampstand fed by two olive trees, and God interprets it for Zerubbabel: the work will be finished not by human might but by God's Spirit, and the great mountain of obstacles will become a plain, the last stone set with shouts of grace.
Grace, Grace Unto It
"And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it."
Hebrew Study
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." "Might" (chayil) is collective strength, armies, resources, numbers; "power" (koach) is individual force and ability. God says His work will be accomplished by neither, "but by my spirit" (ruach). The golden lamp gave light not by the effort of the lamps but by the oil flowing constantly from the olive trees, a picture of the Spirit's supply. This is one of the great charter verses of Scripture for God's work: it is done by God's Spirit, not by human strength. Zerubbabel could not finish the temple by force or numbers, but the Spirit would accomplish it. The same is true of the church: it is built and lit not by human eloquence, organization, or power, but by the Holy Ghost, "ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1:8). What God calls us to do, He does through us by His Spirit.
"Who art thou, O great mountain?... Grace, grace unto it." The "great mountain" is the mass of opposition and obstacle looming over the work, discouragement, enemies, impossibility, and God flattens it: "before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain." And when the final "headstone" (the top or capstone) is set to complete the temple, the crowd will shout, "Grace, grace unto it." The building will be finished by grace, and grace will be its crowning word. So it is with all God's work in us: the mountains that seem immovable become level ground before His Spirit, and the finished work is crowned not with our boasting but with the cry of grace. "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it" (Philippians 1:6), and when it is complete, the shout is "grace, grace," from first stone to last.
Explanation
The angel wakes Zechariah for a new vision: "a candlestick all of gold," with a bowl on top feeding "seven lamps" through "seven pipes," and "two olive trees" beside it supplying the oil. The lamp shines continually because the oil flows continually from the living trees, no one has to keep filling it by hand. When Zechariah asks what it means, the angel gives the interpretation as "the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel": "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." The temple, and the light of God's people, will be sustained not by human effort but by the Spirit's constant supply.
God then addresses the discouragement of the builders. The obstacles are a "great mountain," but God asks it, "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain." What towered impossibly will be leveled. And the completion is certain: "he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it." The last stone will go up amid shouts of grace, the work finished and crowned by God's favor, not human achievement. From beginning to end, the work is the LORD's, done by His Spirit, leveled by His power, and crowned by His grace.
Gospel Focus
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit" is the secret of all fruitful service, and it is deeply humbling and deeply freeing. God's work is not accomplished by our strength, our cleverness, our numbers, or our resources, but by His Spirit. The lamp did not shine by its own effort but by the oil that flowed into it; we shine only as the Spirit supplies us. This frees us from the crushing burden of thinking the work depends on our power, and it humbles us out of thinking we can achieve it in our own strength. Whatever God has called you to, ministry, witness, holiness, endurance, it will be done "by my spirit." Stop striving in the flesh; seek the constant supply of the Spirit, and let God do His work through you.
And take courage against the "great mountain." Every servant of God faces obstacles that loom impossibly, opposition, weakness, discouragement, sheer improbability. To all of them God says, "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain." What is impossible to us is level ground to His Spirit. And when the work is done, the shout is not "look what I accomplished" but "Grace, grace unto it." The finished work of God in us is crowned with grace, because from the first stone to the headstone it was all His doing. Face your mountains not with your might but with His Spirit, and one day you will shout over the finished work, "Grace, grace."
Who Hath Despised the Day of Small Things? (Zechariah 4:8-14)
God assures that the hands which began the temple will finish it, rebukes the contempt for small beginnings, and reveals that the two olive trees are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
The Eyes of the LORD, Which Run to and Fro
"Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. 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? And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord. Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth."
Hebrew Study
"who hath despised the day of small things?" The returned exiles' temple was a modest thing, and many "despised" it as too small to matter (compare Haggai 2:3). God rebukes that contempt. He does not despise small beginnings; He delights in them and watches over them, "for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel." The plumb-line in Zerubbabel's hand meant the building was going up straight and would be completed. God's greatest works often start small, a manger, a mustard seed, twelve disciples, and grow to fill the earth. "The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which... is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest" (Matthew 13:31-32). Never despise the day of small things, in a church, in a ministry, in your own growth, for God is often doing His greatest work in what looks smallest.
"the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth." The "seven" are "the eyes of the LORD" ranging over all the earth, His perfect, watchful, all-seeing care and sovereignty. Nothing in the work, or in the world, escapes His sight, "the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). The same all-seeing eyes appear in Revelation as the "seven eyes" of the Lamb, "which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth" (Revelation 5:6). God is watching over His work everywhere; His eyes miss nothing, and He acts in strength for His people. The "two anointed ones" (literally, "sons of oil"), likely Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the priest, are the channels through whom God's Spirit-oil flows to His people, a pairing of king and priest that finds its fullness in Christ, the true Anointed One who is both King and Priest.
Explanation
God gives Zechariah a further word of assurance: "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it." The one who began the work will complete it, proof that God's messenger spoke truly. Then God rebukes the discouragement that looked down on the modest project: "who hath despised the day of small things?" Far from despising it, God's own eyes are on it, "the seven... are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth", His all-seeing, sovereign care watching over every stone.
Zechariah, still curious, asks about "the two olive trees" and "two olive branches" that "empty the golden oil out of themselves" to feed the lamp. The answer: "These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth", most likely Zerubbabel and Joshua, the king-figure and the priest, standing ready in God's presence as channels of His Spirit to the people. Through these anointed servants, the oil of God's Spirit flows to keep the lamp of God's people burning. The vision closes having taught its lesson: the work is God's, done by His Spirit, watched by His eyes, supplied through His anointed, and no beginning is too small for Him to bring to glorious completion.
Gospel Focus
"Who hath despised the day of small things?" is a word of hope for everyone tempted to look down on small beginnings, their own or others'. God does not measure as we do. He delights to start small and grow great: the Saviour of the world came as a baby in a manger; His kingdom began as a mustard seed and twelve unlikely men; and it fills the earth. The small church, the hidden ministry, the slow growth in your own soul, none of these are despised by God; His eyes are on them, and His hand is at work. Do not grow weary because the work seems small; the God who watches over the whole earth is watching over your small day and will bring it to completion.
And rest in "the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth." God sees everything, everywhere, all the time, and His seeing is not cold surveillance but caring sovereignty, "to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." Wherever you serve, however unseen by others, you are not unseen by God. The same all-seeing eyes belong to the Lamb, "the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth," and they are on you for good. And the whole vision points to Christ, the true Anointed One who is both King and Priest, through whom the oil of the Spirit flows to keep His people shining. Your light does not depend on your own strength; it depends on the Spirit supplied through Christ. Keep close to Him, and shine, "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit."
Chapter 4 in Review
Zechariah 4 shows a golden lampstand shining by the oil of two olive trees, and turns it into the great lesson of God's work: "Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." The mountain of opposition will become a plain, and the last stone will go up amid shouts of "Grace, grace unto it." God assures that the hands which began the temple will finish it, rebukes the contempt for the "day of small things," reveals that His all-seeing "eyes... run to and fro through the whole earth," and identifies the "two anointed ones" who channel His Spirit to His people.
For the Apostolic reader this chapter is a charter for Spirit-empowered service and a comfort for small beginnings. It teaches that God's work, in the church and in the soul, is done not by human strength but by the Holy Ghost, freeing us from striving in the flesh and humbling us out of self-reliance. It levels the mountains that loom over God's servants and crowns the finished work with grace, not human boasting. It assures us that God does not despise small things but watches over them with all-seeing eyes and brings them to completion. And it points to Christ, the true Anointed King-Priest, through whom the oil of the Spirit flows to keep His people burning. Face your mountains by His Spirit, do not despise your small day, and shine by the oil He supplies.
- God's work is done "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit" (4:6; Acts 1:8).
- The lamp shines by the oil supplied, not its own effort; we shine by the Spirit's supply (4:2-3).
- The "great mountain" of obstacles becomes a plain before God's Spirit (4:7).
- The finished work is crowned with grace, not boasting: "Grace, grace unto it" (4:7; Philippians 1:6).
- God does not despise "the day of small things" (4:10; Matthew 13:31-32).
- "The eyes of the LORD... run to and fro through the whole earth" in caring sovereignty (4:10; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Revelation 5:6).
Questions for Reflection
- Are you striving in your own strength, or relying on God's Spirit for His work?
- What "great mountain" do you need to face by the Spirit rather than by might?
- Are you despising a "day of small things" that God is watching over and will complete?
- Does it comfort you that God's all-seeing eyes are on your unseen service for good?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Key terms: chayil ("might," collective strength) and koach ("power," individual force) and ruach ("spirit," verse 6); "two anointed ones" (verse 14) is literally "two sons of oil." The golden lampstand: Exodus 25:31-40; and the church as lampstands, Revelation 1:12-20. God's work by His Spirit, not human strength: 1 Samuel 17:47; Psalm 20:7; 33:16-17; Hosea 1:7; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Ephesians 6:10-18. Mountains removed by faith and the Spirit: Isaiah 40:4; Matthew 17:20; 21:21; Mark 11:23. "Grace, grace" and God finishing what He begins: Philippians 1:6; 2:13; 1 Peter 5:10; Jude 24. Not despising small beginnings: Job 8:7; Haggai 2:3; Matthew 13:31-33; Luke 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. The all-seeing eyes of the LORD: 2 Chronicles 16:9; Proverbs 15:3; Psalm 139:1-12; Zechariah 3:9; Revelation 5:6. Christ the Anointed King-Priest: Psalm 110:1-4; Zechariah 6:12-13; Hebrews 7:1-3, 24-25. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The golden lampstand and "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit," the mountain leveled by grace: Zechariah 4:1-7; Acts 1:8; Philippians 1:6.
- The day of small things, the all-seeing eyes of the LORD, and the two anointed ones: Zechariah 4:8-14; Matthew 13:31-32; 2 Chronicles 16:9.