Bible Commentaries
Zechariah 6

Verses 1-15

Zechariah 6:1-8 The Vision of the Four Chariots In Zechariah 6:1-8 we have the vision of the four chariots marked by the distinct colors of their horses.

Zechariah 6:3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.

Zechariah 6:3 Word Study on “grisled” Gesenius says the Hebrew word “grisled” “barod” ( בָּרֹד ) (H1261) means, “sprinkled with spots, especially white ones.” Strong says it means, “spotted, grisled.” Holladay says it means, “speckled, dappled.” Webster says the word “grisled,” or “grizzled” means, “gray; grayish; sprinkled or mixed with gray; of a mixed white and black.” The Enhanced Strong says it is used 4 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as “grisled.” The uses are found in:

Genesis 31:10, “And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled .”

Genesis 31:12, “And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.”

Zechariah 6:3, “And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.”

Zechariah 6:6, “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.”

Zechariah 6:4 Word Study on “bay” Strong says the Hebrew word “bay” “amats” ( אָמֹץ ) (H554) means, “of a strong color, i.e. red, bay.” BDB says it means, “bay, dappled, piebald (of colour).” Webster says the word “dappled” means, “marked with spots of different shades of color; spotted; variegated.” Webster says the word “bay” means, “reddish-brown, chestnut-colored.” Webster says the word “piebald” means, “having spots and patches of black and white, or other colors; mottled.”

Zechariah 6:4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?

Zechariah 6:6 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.

Zechariah 6:6 Comments - Irving Baxter, Jr. suggests that the black horse is the same as the one in the four horses of the Apocalypse. He calls this horse the spirit of Capitalism. He says that Zechariah 6:6-8 is a prophecy stating that all industrialized nations on earth will be found in the northern hemisphere, such as the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Canada and Japan. [8]

[8] Irvin Baxter, Jr., A Message for the President, (Richmond, Indiana: Endtime, Inc.) 1986, chapter 3.

Zechariah 6:7 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.

Zechariah 6:8 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.

Zechariah 6:8 Comments - Irving Baxter Jr. interprets Zechariah 6:8 to mean that the spread of Capitalism has quenched the work of the Holy Spirit in these wealthy nations since prosperity often causes men to turn their hearts towards materialism and away from God. It is easier to get people to come to Christ who are under poverty and oppression than those who live in comfort and wealth. [9]

[9] Irvin Baxter, Jr., A Message for the President, (Richmond, Indiana: Endtime, Inc.) 1986, chapter 3.

Zechariah 6:11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;

Zechariah 6:11 Comments - In Zechariah 6:11 the Lord tells the prophet to make crowns of silver and gold and to crown the high priest named Joshua the son of Josedech. The crown was an instrument only worn by kings, and certainly never by a Jewish priest, nor did this happen in the heathen cultures. This must have been a little confusing to those who heard Zechariah and watched him crown Joshua. But the Lord gives an explanation in Zechariah 6:13 by saying that the Branch, a reference to the Messiah, “shall be a priest upon his throne”. Therefore, we have a clear description of the coming Messiah serving both in the office of a high priest and a king, which is exactly the way the New Testament describes Jesus Christ our Saviour. The phrase “make crowns” refers to the degree of royalty; for we read a description of Jesus Christ in Revelation 19:12 saying, “and on his head were many crowns.” Thus, Zechariah was asked to make an ornate crown with many diadems.

Zechariah 6:12 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:

Zechariah 6:12 “and he shall grow up out of his place” Comments - Some scholars interpret the phrase “and he shall grow up out of his place” to mean that the Branch will humbly rise up from among his on land and people. [10]

[10] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Zechariah, in A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Old and New Testaments, in e-Sword, v. 7.7.7 [CD-ROM] (Franklin, Tennessee: e-Sword, 2000-2005), comments on Zechariah 6:12.

Zechariah 6:12 “and he shall build the temple of the LORD” Comments - We understand from the New Testament that the Temple that Jesus Christ will build is the New Testament Church, the body of Christ, the believers that are saved and make up the people of God, who come from every tribe and nation. The Church is called the “Temple of God” in 1 Corinthians 3:16. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus told Peter that upon this rock He would build His Church.

1 Corinthians 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”

Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

We know from the Gospels that the first temple that Jesus would rebuild would be His own body by His resurrection; for He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19)