What Zechariah is about

Zechariah opens with a call to repentance: 'Return to Me, and I will return to you.' The first of eight night visions follows—a rider on a red horse among myrtle trees, with angelic horsemen reporting that the whole earth is at rest. The angel of the LORD intercedes for Jerusalem, and God responds with comforting, jealous love for Zion, promising that the temple will be rebuilt and prosperity restored.

Zechariah prophesied contemporaneously with Haggai in 520-518 BC, during the early reign of Darius I. The 'seventy years' of divine anger (v. 12) references Jeremiah's prophecy. The myrtle tree setting in a ravine symbolizes Israel's lowly post-exilic condition, while the colored horses recall Persian imperial courier systems.

Key themes

Vision Messiah Cleansing Hope

Where to start in Zechariah

Zechariah 3 · The Filthy Garments Zechariah 4 · Not by Might Zechariah 8 · The City of Truth Zechariah 9 · Your King Comes Zechariah 14 · The Lord Will Be King

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All 14 chapters

Zechariah

1 Night Visions Eight visions in one night — horsemen, lampstands, flying scrolls. Strange images that carry a clear message: God is returning to Jerusalem, and everything will change. 2 The Man with a Measuring Line A young man sets out to measure Jerusalem. An angel stops him: the city will be too big for walls. God Himself will be a wall of fire around it. 3 The Filthy Garments Joshua the high priest stands before God in filthy clothes. Satan accuses. God rebukes — and replaces the rags with rich garments. Grace as a wardrobe change. 4 Not by Might Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. A golden lampstand fed by two olive trees. The power behind the rebuilding is not human. 5 The Flying Scroll A scroll flies through the air. A woman sits in a basket carried to Babylon. Bizarre visions that deal with sin's removal from the land. 6 Four Chariots Four chariots patrol the earth between two mountains of bronze. A crown is placed on Joshua's head. Priest and king converge in one figure. 7 Hearts of Stone When you fasted, was it really for me? God wants justice and mercy, not ritual. The people who came before hardened their hearts — and God scattered them. 8 The City of Truth Old men and old women will again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with cane in hand. And the streets will be filled with boys and girls playing. Peace as normalcy. 9 Your King Comes Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Your king comes to you — righteous and having salvation, humble and riding on a donkey. Jesus entered Jerusalem on these very words. 10 The Scattered Gathered Ask the Lord for rain. He will make the storm clouds. The scattered people of Judah and Ephraim will be gathered, strengthened, and brought home. 11 The Rejected Shepherd A good shepherd is rejected — his pay, thirty pieces of silver, thrown to the potter. The details land with full force in the New Testament. 12 They Will Look on Me They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and mourn as for an only son. A prophecy that reads like a description of the crucifixion. 13 The Fountain Opened On that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David — for sin and impurity. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. 14 The Lord Will Be King The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His name the only name. The final vision: living water flowing from Jerusalem.

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