Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Zechariah
Chapter 6: A Priest Upon His Throne
Zechariah's night visions close with four chariots drawn by colored horses, 'the four spirits of the heavens,' going out to patrol the earth and carry out God's sovereign will among the nations. Then the visions give way to a dramatic sign-act. God tells Zechariah to make crowns of silver and gold and set them on the head of Joshua the high priest, and to declare: 'Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH... he shall build the temple of the LORD... and he shall be a priest upon his throne.' A priest was crowned as king, a thing forbidden in Israel, because it pointed to One who would hold both offices at once: the Messiah, King and Priest together, Jesus Christ. 'The counsel of peace shall be between them both,' for in Him kingship and priesthood are perfectly joined, and He builds a temple of living stones gathered even from those 'far off.'
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Zechariah chapter 6, the four chariots and the crowning of the BRANCH. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Hebrew words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. The chapter reveals the Messiah as the King-Priest who builds God's true temple. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Four Spirits of the Heavens
God's agents patrolling the whole earth.
Crowns of Silver and Gold
A priest crowned as a sign of the Messiah.
A Priest Upon His Throne
King and Priest joined in one, Jesus Christ.
They That Are Far Off
A temple built with stones from every nation.
The Four Spirits of the Heavens (Zechariah 6:1-8)
Four chariots drawn by colored horses go out from between mountains of brass, the agents by which the sovereign Lord of all the earth carries out His will among the nations, quieting His Spirit in the land of the north.
From Standing Before the Lord of All the Earth
"And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country."
Hebrew Study
"the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth." The four chariots are God's agents, "the four spirits" (or winds) sent to the four corners of the earth to accomplish His purposes. They go out "from standing before the Lord of all the earth", they are His servants, dispatched from His presence to do His bidding among the nations. The picture is of God's total, active sovereignty over world affairs; nothing happens in "the north country" or "the south country" but by His command. Like the horsemen of chapter 1 and the chariots here, and later the "four spirits" and horsemen of Revelation (Revelation 6), these show that the movements of empires are under the hand of "the Lord of all the earth." However chaotic history looks, God's chariots patrol every corner, and His will is done.
"have quieted my spirit in the north country." The "north country" was Babylon, the great oppressor from which the exiles had come, the direction from which judgment had always fallen on Judah. God says the chariots sent north "have quieted my spirit" there, His righteous anger against the oppressor is satisfied; justice has been done. The word "quieted" (caused to rest) pictures God's wrath finding rest once judgment is complete. This is a comfort to God's people: the Lord of all the earth does not leave the oppressor unjudged forever. His Spirit is "quieted" when justice is accomplished, and His people can rest knowing He has dealt with their enemies. "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord" (Romans 12:19).
Explanation
The last of Zechariah's night visions shows "four chariots" emerging "from between two mountains... of brass," drawn by horses of different colors, red, black, white, and "grisled and bay." When Zechariah asks their meaning, the angel answers: "These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth." They are God's dispatched agents, sent to the corners of the world to carry out His will.
The chariots go out, to "the north country," "the south country," and "to and fro through the earth," patrolling the nations on God's business. And the vision ends with a word of resolution: "these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country." God's judgment on Babylon, the northern oppressor, is complete, and His Spirit is at rest. The whole world is under the government of "the Lord of all the earth," whose chariots ensure His purposes are accomplished everywhere. The visions began with horsemen patrolling the earth (chapter 1) and end here with chariots doing the same, framing the night visions with the assurance that God rules the nations.
Gospel Focus
The four chariots are a comfort to every believer who looks at world events and wonders if anyone is in control. They "go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth", the movements of nations, the rise and fall of powers, the turmoil in "the north" and "the south," are all under God's command, carried out by His own agents. History is not adrift; it is patrolled. "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all" (Psalm 103:19). When the news frightens you, remember God's chariots ride to every corner of the earth to do His will.
And take comfort that God's Spirit is "quieted" when justice is done. The oppressor is not beyond His reach; the Lord of all the earth deals with the "north country" in His time, and His righteous anger finds rest when the wrong is righted. We need not avenge ourselves or despair that evil goes unanswered, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." The God who governs the nations by His chariots will settle every account. Rest in His sovereignty over the whole earth, and leave the judging of your enemies to the One whose chariots patrol every land.
He Shall Be a Priest Upon His Throne (Zechariah 6:9-15)
God tells Zechariah to crown Joshua the high priest as a living sign of the coming BRANCH, the Messiah who will build the LORD's temple, bear the glory, and unite in Himself the offices of king and priest, gathering builders even from far off.
Behold the Man Whose Name Is The BRANCH
"And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD. And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God."
Hebrew Study
"he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." This is the doctrinal heart of the chapter, and it is astonishing. In Israel the two great offices, king (from Judah, the line of David) and priest (from Levi, the line of Aaron), were strictly kept apart; when King Uzziah tried to act as priest, he was struck with leprosy (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). Yet here a priest, Joshua, is crowned, as a sign of One who would hold both offices at once: "he shall be a priest upon his throne." "The counsel of peace shall be between them both" means the two offices are perfectly at peace, joined in one person. This is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is both King and Priest, "a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (Hebrews 5:6; 7:1-3), the King who reigns and the Priest who intercedes. In Him, kingly rule and priestly mediation are united, and He alone brings the "counsel of peace" between God and man.
"Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH... he shall build the temple of the LORD." The BRANCH (tsemach, sprout, as in 3:8) is again the Messiah, who "shall grow up out of his place", springing quietly from David's line, and who "shall build the temple of the LORD." Zerubbabel was building the physical temple, but the greater Builder is the BRANCH, who builds God's true temple, the church, "in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:21). The Lord Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). "They that are far off shall come and build", the Gentiles, "afar off," gathered in to help build this temple (Ephesians 2:13, 17-22). The King-Priest builds a living temple of people from every nation.
Explanation
God turns the vision into a sign-act. Zechariah is to take silver and gold brought by returnees from Babylon and "make crowns," then set them "upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest." This is startling, a priest being crowned like a king. But the crowning is a prophecy in action, for God says: "Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH... he shall build the temple of the LORD."
Then the great declaration: "he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." The coming Messiah will be both King (ruling on His throne) and Priest (a priest upon that same throne), the two offices joined in perfect peace in one person. The crowns are laid up "for a memorial in the temple," a lasting reminder of the promise. And the temple He builds will draw in the distant: "they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD." Joshua wore the crown for a day as a sign; the true King-Priest, Jesus, wears it forever.
Gospel Focus
The crowning of Joshua is one of the clearest Messianic signs in the prophets, and it points straight to Jesus Christ as our King-Priest. In Israel these offices could never be held by one man; a king who tried to be priest was struck with leprosy. But the Messiah unites them: "he shall be a priest upon his throne." This is exactly what we have in Jesus, who is "a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec", a King who reigns and a Priest who offered Himself and now intercedes. As King He rules over all; as Priest He ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). We need both, a King strong enough to rule and save, and a Priest near enough to sympathize and plead, and in Christ we have both in one Person. "The counsel of peace" between God and us is secured because our King is also our Priest.
And rejoice that the BRANCH "shall build the temple of the LORD," and that "they that are far off shall come and build." The temple He builds is not stone but living people, the church, and He gathers its stones from every nation, including those "afar off", the Gentiles, once "strangers from the covenants," now "fellowcitizens with the saints... built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone" (Ephesians 2:19-20). If you were "far off," Christ has drawn you near to be built into His temple. The King-Priest is still building, and He gathers His stones from the ends of the earth. Come and be built into the temple He is raising, with Christ Himself as King, Priest, and cornerstone.
Chapter 6 in Review
Zechariah 6 closes the night visions and crowns the Messiah. Four chariots, "the four spirits of the heavens," go out "from standing before the Lord of all the earth" to patrol the nations and accomplish His will, His judgment on the northern oppressor complete, His Spirit "quieted." Then God turns to a sign-act: crowns of silver and gold are set on Joshua the high priest, with the declaration, "Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH... he shall build the temple of the LORD... and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both." A priest is crowned king, because the coming Messiah unites both offices, and He builds a temple that draws in even those "far off."
For the Apostolic reader this chapter reveals Christ as the King-Priest and the Builder of God's true temple. It assures us that the Lord of all the earth governs the nations by His chariots, so history is never out of His hands. And it lifts up the great Messianic sign: the offices of king and priest, kept apart in Israel on pain of judgment, are joined forever in Jesus Christ, "a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec," the King who reigns and the Priest who intercedes, in whom is "the counsel of peace" between God and man. He is building His church, a living temple gathered from every nation, and He calls all who were "far off" to be built into it. Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH, our King, our Priest, and the cornerstone.
- God governs the nations by His chariots, "the Lord of all the earth"; history is never out of His hands (6:5; Psalm 103:19).
- God's Spirit is "quieted" when justice is done to the oppressor (6:8; Romans 12:19).
- A priest crowned as king pictures the Messiah who holds both offices (6:11-13; 2 Chronicles 26:16-21).
- Christ is King and Priest in one, "a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec" (6:13; Hebrews 5:6; 7:25).
- The BRANCH builds God's true temple, the church (6:12; Ephesians 2:21; Matthew 16:18).
- Those "far off," the Gentiles, are gathered to build in that temple (6:15; Ephesians 2:13, 19).
Questions for Reflection
- Does it steady you to know God's chariots patrol every corner of the earth?
- How does it help you to have Christ as both your reigning King and your interceding Priest?
- Have you, once "far off," been drawn near to be built into Christ's temple?
- Are you letting the King-Priest build His church through your life?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Key terms: "the four spirits of the heavens" (verse 5, also "winds"); tsemach ("BRANCH," verse 12). God's sovereignty over the nations by His agents: Zechariah 1:8-11; Psalm 103:19-22; Daniel 4:35; Revelation 6:1-8; 7:1. God's wrath satisfied and quieted: Ezekiel 5:13; 16:42; Isaiah 1:24; Romans 12:19. The separation of king and priest in Israel: Numbers 16-18; 1 Samuel 13:8-14; 2 Chronicles 26:16-21. The Messiah as King-Priest after Melchizedek: Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 110:1-4; Hebrews 5:5-10; 6:20; 7:1-28; and Christ's kingly rule, Psalm 2; Revelation 19:16. The BRANCH: Isaiah 4:2; 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; Zechariah 3:8. Christ building His temple, the church, from every nation: Matthew 16:18; John 2:19-21; 1 Corinthians 3:9-17; Ephesians 2:11-22; 1 Peter 2:4-6. 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 four chariots and the sovereign Lord of all the earth: Zechariah 6:1-8; Psalm 103:19; Revelation 6:1-8.
- The crowning of the BRANCH, King-Priest and temple-builder: Zechariah 6:9-15; Hebrews 7:1-3; Ephesians 2:19-22.