the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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New Living Translation
Zechariah 4:12
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I also said to him, "I saw two olive branches by the gold tubes with gold colored oil flowing from them. What do these things mean?"
And I responded the second time and said to him, "What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?"
I also asked him, "What are the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes, from which the olive oil flows to the lamps?"
And I answered the second time, and said to him, What are these two olive-branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the gold out of themselves?
And I answered again, and said to him, What [are these] two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden [oil] out of themselves?
And a second time I said to him, "What are these two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes by which the golden oil is emptied?"
And a second time I answered and said to him, "What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the golden oil is poured out?"
I asked him the second time, "What are these two olive-branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that pour the golden oil out of themselves?"
And Y answeryde the secounde tyme, and seide to hym, What ben the tweyne eeris, ether ripe fruyt, of olyues, that ben bisidis the twei bilis of gold, in whiche ben oile vesselis of gold?
And I answered the second time, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the golden oil out of themselves?
And I questioned him further, "What are the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes from which the golden oil pours?"
And what is the meaning of the two branches from which golden olive oil flows through the two gold pipes?"
And I answered the second time, and said unto him, What are these two olive-branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the golden oil out of themselves?
And answering a second time, I said to him, What are these two olive branches, through whose gold pipes the oil is drained out?
Then I asked the question again: "What are those two olive branches discharging gold[-colored oil] through the two gold spouts?"
And I answered the second time and said unto him, What are the two olive-branches which are beside the two golden tubes that empty the gold out of themselves?
And I answered the second time, and said unto him: 'What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that empty the golden oil out of themselves?'
And I answered againe and said vnto him, What be these two oliue branches, which through the two golden pipes emptie the golden oyle out of themselues?
A second time I said to him, "What are the two olive branches beside the two gold places that hold the oil to be poured out?"
And a second time I said to him, "What are these two branches of the olive trees, which pour out the oil through the two golden pipes?"
And I spake moreouer, and said vnto him, What bee these two oliue branches, which thorowe the two golden pipes emptie themselues into the golde?
And I answered the second time and said to him, What are these two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes which pour the golden oil out of themselves?
And I responded a second time, and said unto him, - What are the two branches of the olive- trees which join the two golden tubes, which empty out of them the golden oil?
And I answered again, and said to him: What are the two olive branches, that are by the two golden beaks, in which are the funnels of gold?
And a second time I said to him, "What are these two branches of the olive trees, which are beside the two golden pipes from which the oil is poured out?"
I spake moreouer, and saide vnto him: What be these two olyue braunches which through the two golden pypes emptie them selues into the golde?
And I asked the second time, and said to him, What are the two branches of the olive-trees that are by the side of the two golden pipes that pour into and communicate with the golden oil funnels?
And what is the meaning of the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes from which the olive oil pours?"
And I questioned him further, “What are the two streams of the olive trees, from which the golden oil is pouring through the two golden conduits?”
I asked him the second time, "What are these two olive-branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that pour the golden oil out of themselves?"
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 I replied a second time and asked him, "What are these two twigs of olive trees on the right of the lampstand and on its left?"
And I answered a second time and said to him, What are the two clusters of olive trees beside the two golden pipes, emptying the golden oil from themselves?
And I answer a second time, and say unto him, `What [are] the two branches of the olive trees that, by means of the two golden pipes, are emptying out of themselves the oil?'
I spake morouer, & sayde vnto him: what be these ij. olyue braunches which (thorow ye two golden pipes) emptie them selues into the golde?
Before he could reply I asked again, "What are these two extensions of the olive trees, which are emptying out the golden oil through the two golden pipes?"
And I further answered and said to him, "What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles [fn] of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?"
And I answered the second time and said to him, "What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?"
And I answered the second time and said to him, "What are the two olive branches which are beside the two golden pipes, which empty the golden oil from themselves?"
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
What be: Matthew 20:23, Revelation 11:4
through: Haggai 1:1, *marg. Heb. by the hand of
empty: etc. or, empty out of themselves oil into gold
the golden: Heb. the gold
Reciprocal: Genesis 8:11 - an olive Ezekiel 17:22 - highest Zechariah 4:2 - seven pipes to the seven lamps Zechariah 4:3 - General Zechariah 4:4 - What
Cross-References
When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord .
Abel also brought a gift—the best portions of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!"
Cain had sexual relations with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Then Cain founded a city, which he named Enoch, after his son.
Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech.
One day Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice; listen to me, you wives of Lamech. I have killed a man who attacked me, a young man who wounded me.
If someone who kills Cain is punished seven times, then the one who kills me will be punished seventy-seven times!"
All your work will be for nothing, for your land will yield no crops, and your trees will bear no fruit.
"And for those of you who survive, I will demoralize you in the land of your enemies. You will live in such fear that the sound of a leaf driven by the wind will send you fleeing. You will run as though fleeing from a sword, and you will fall even when no one pursues you.
May his children wander as beggars and be driven from their ruined homes.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And I answered again, and said unto him,.... Before he could have an answer to the former question, he puts the following, as being of the same import:
What [be these] two olive branches; which grew upon the olive trees, and were nearest to the candlestick, and the pipes that were to the lamps: these, in Zechariah 4:14, are interpreted of the two anointed ones, or sons of oil, and may design the ministers of the word, if, by the "golden oil" after mentioned, is meant the Gospel; even a set of evangelical preachers in Gospel times, in the various periods of the church; Christ's faithful witnesses, who stand on each side of the bowl, and receive out of Christ's fulness gifts and grace to fit them for their work; and on each side of the candlestick, the church, to impart the oil of the Gospel to it. These may be compared to "olive trees" for their beauty and comeliness in the eyes of saints, to whom they bring the good news of salvation by Christ, Hosea 14:6 and for their greenness and flourishing condition, being filled with the gifts and graces of the Spirit, Psalms 52:8 and for their fruitfulness; for, as the olive tree produces an oil used both for light and food, so they bring the Gospel with them, which is the means of spiritual light, and contains in it refreshing and delightful food, Deuteronomy 8:8 and for their fatness, with which they honour God and men, Judges 9:9 so ministers of the Gospel honour Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit, by ascribing the contrivance, obtaining, and application of salvation to each of them; and they honour men, by acquainting them what honour all the saints have through Christ, being made kings and priests by him; and by showing them what honour they shall have hereafter. And they may be compared to "olive branches", with respect to Christ the good olive tree, in whom they are as branches; are bore by him, and subsist in him; receive all they have from him, and do all they do in his strength: and also for their tenderness and weakness in themselves, and for their fruitfulness from him.
Which through the two golden pipes empty the golden [oil] out of themselves? if by the "two" olive trees and branches, or anointed ones, ministers of the Gospel are intended; then, by the "golden oil", is meant, not the Spirit and his grace, which is sometimes compared to oil; nor inward spiritual joy and peace, the oil of gladness, for ministers cannot communicate either of these to others; but the Gospel, and the precious truths of it, compared to "oil", because of a healing, cheering, and refreshing nature; and because beautifying, feeding, and fattening; and because of a searching and penetrating nature, and being pure, unmixed, and good for light: and to "golden" oil, or oil, that, being poured out, is like liquid gold, for colour, value, splendour, purity, and duration: and this they "empty out"; which phrase denotes the fulness of the blessing of the Gospel they come with; their free and ready delivery of it; their faithfulness in giving out all, and keeping back nothing that may be profitable; and their ease and satisfaction of mind in so doing and this they do, not out of the corrupt fountains of moral philosophy; nor from the writings of others; nor out of their own heads, or from mere notional knowledge; but out of their hearts, and from their inward experience of Gospel truths; and which is not to be understood exclusive of Christ, or of the Scriptures of truth, from whence they fetch all truth; nor have they this knowledge and experience of or from themselves. The means by which they communicate the golden oil of the Gospel are "the two golden pipes", the ministry of the word, and administration of ordinances; which are like "pipes" or canals, through which Gospel grace is conveyed; and are "golden", are valuable, to be kept pure, and are durable; they are but "pipes", or means, and not to be depended on, yet they are "golden", and not to be despised. But if by the two olive trees, or anointed ones, are meant two divine Persons, of which see Zechariah 4:14 then by the "golden oil" may be intended the grace of God, often compared to "oil" in Scripture, in allusion to oil in common, or to the anointing oil, which was made of precious spices; or rather, as here, to the lamp oil for the candlestick in the tabernacle, which was pure oil olive: grace, like oil, is of a cheering and refreshing nature, hence called "oil of gladness"; very beautifying and adorning; like oil, it makes the face to shine; and by it the church, and all believers, become "all glorious within": it is of a searching nature; like oil, it penetrates into the heart, and has its seat there; and as oil will not mix with other liquid, so neither will grace with sin and corruption: but chiefly, as here, may it be compared to oil olive, because it burns and gives light, as that does in the lamp. The lamp of a profession, without the oil of grace, is a dark and useless thing. Grace is a light in the inward parts, and causes the light of an outward conversation to shine in good works before men; and this may be truly called "golden", being exceeding valuable, yea, much more precious than gold that perisheth; it being as durable, nay, much more durable than that, for it will last for ever, and can never be lost; see 1 Peter 1:7 and of this the word and ordinances are the means; and so may be designed by the pipes, through which it is conveyed to the souls of men; for "faith", and other graces of the Spirit, "come by hearing, and hearing by the word of God", Romans 10:17 hence says the apostle to the Galatians, Galatians 3:2, "received ye the Spirit"; that is, the special gifts and graces of the Spirit, comparable to the best oil and purest gold; "by the works of the law", or through the preaching of that, through the doctrine of justification by the works of it, "or by the hearing of faith?" by the doctrine of justification by faith in the righteousness of Christ, or by the Gospel preached and heard: this is the usual way in which the Spirit and his grace are communicated to men; hence the Gospel is called the "Spirit", and "the ministration of the Spirit", 2 Corinthians 3:6 and this seems to be a further confirmation of this sense of the words, since this golden oil is distinct from the pipes through which it flows; as grace is from the Gospel, through which it is received; whereas, in the other sense, they seem to coincide.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
What are the two spikes of the olive? - Comparing the extreme branches of the olive-tree, laden with their fruit, to the ears of corn, which âwere by or in the hand of the golden pipes, which empty forth the golden oil from themselves.â Zechariahâs expression, in the hand of or, if so be, by the hand of the two pipes, shows that these two were symbols of living agents, for it is nowhere, used except of a living agent, or of that which it personified as such.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Zechariah 4:12. What be these two olive branches — That is, two boughs laden with branches of olive berries.
