Zechariah 2:3
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, | Then the angel who was speaking with me went out, and another angel came out to meet him | And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedIn one of Zechariah's night visions, a man sets out to measure Jerusalem. As he goes, the angel who has been explaining the visions to Zechariah goes forth, and a second angel comes out to meet him. That meeting leads straight into the message of the next verses: Jerusalem will overflow beyond any walls, because the LORD himself will be her wall of fire. Zechariah 2:1Zechariah 2:2Zechariah 2:3Zechariah 2:4Zechariah 2:5Zechariah overview
SpeakingZechariah the prophet tells what he saw in the vision. Zechariah overviewZechariah 2:1
ToThe vision was given for the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon and were rebuilding the temple. Zechariah overview
Also involvedTwo angels act in this verse. One is "the angel that talked with me," the guide who also explains other visions to Zechariah (1:19, 4:5). The other is a second angel who is not named. Their message concerns Jerusalem and "this young man" (v. 4), whom the text does not name. Zechariah 2:3Zechariah 2:4Zechariah 1:19Zechariah 4:5Zechariah 1:14
The interpreting angel goes out, and another angel meets him with orders to run and deliver God's word. The message is that Jerusalem will be like open towns without walls, crowded with people and cattle, and that the LORD will be a wall of fire around her and the glory in her midst. The verse shows a heavenly message being hurried along to God's people. Zechariah 2:3Zechariah 2:4Zechariah 2:5
The scene takes place in a vision, and its subject is Jerusalem. The prophet wrote among the returned exiles in Jerusalem. Zechariah 2:2Zechariah overview
The eventsThis is one of the eight night visions in the opening chapters of Zechariah. The visions came while the returned exiles were being stirred to rebuild the temple under Darius king of Persia. Zechariah overviewZechariah 1:8
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote it, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree that chapters 1-8, including this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview
HereThe meeting of the two angels moves the vision from measuring to promising. Jerusalem does not need to be marked out by walls, because God will protect her and dwell in her midst. Zechariah 2:2Zechariah 2:4Zechariah 2:5Zechariah 2:10
In the whole of ScriptureZechariah's book promises that God is jealous for Jerusalem and will dwell in the midst of her. The same guiding angel brings comfort elsewhere, carrying the LORD's "good words and comfortable words" and his great jealousy for Zion. Zechariah overviewZechariah 1:13Zechariah 1:14Zechariah 2:10
For readersA small, struggling people rebuilding a ruined city heard that God's plan for them was bigger than any wall. The urgency of "Run, speak" shows that God was eager for them to hear this comfort. Zechariah overviewZechariah 2:4Zechariah 2:5
- angelמַלְאָךְ
The word means "messenger" or "representative," and can mean an angel. The angels here carry God's word, and the guiding angel explains visions and passes on messages to the prophet. Strong's H4397HZechariah 1:14Zechariah 4:5
- went forthיָצָא
The word means to go out or go forth, often with a purpose. The same phrase, "the angel that talked with me went forth," opens another vision in 5:5. It marks the angel setting out on God's business. Strong's H3318GZechariah 5:5
Takeaway
This verse is a hinge in the vision. Heaven's messengers meet and hurry to tell God's people that Jerusalem will be filled beyond her walls, with the LORD himself as her wall of fire and her glory. Zechariah 2:3Zechariah 2:4Zechariah 2:5
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 520-518 BC. King of Persia: Darius I (522-486 BC). Where Zechariah prophesied. A small, poor community was rebuilding the temple among the ruins of the city Babylon had burned.
Who ruled
- King of PersiaDarius I522-486 BC
Zechariah dates his messages by the years of Darius. Darius confirmed Cyrus's decree and ordered the temple work to go on at royal expense. Zechariah 1:1Zechariah 7:1Ezra 6:1-12Haggai 1:1Behistun Inscription
- Governor of JudahZerubbabelc. 520 BC
A descendant of David who led the rebuilding. "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it." Zechariah 4:6-10Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:8
- High priestJoshua the high priestc. 520 BC
Called Jeshua in Ezra. He stands in Zechariah's vision clothed in filthy garments, which are taken away, and later receives crowns as a sign. Zechariah 3:1-10Zechariah 6:11Haggai 1:1Ezra 3:2
- Persian governor "on this side the river"Tattenaic. 520 BC
The governor of the province west of the Euphrates. He asked who had allowed the building, wrote to Darius, and was told to let the work go on. Ezra 5:3-6Ezra 6:6-13
What was happening, 539 BC to 332 BC
- 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus king of Persia took Babylon, ending the empire that had destroyed Jerusalem. Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleThe first return
Cyrus let the exiles go home to build the LORD's house. About fifty thousand returned with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Ezra 1:1-4Ezra 2:1-2Ezra 2:64-65
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe foundation is laid, then the work stops
The returned exiles laid the temple's foundation with shouting and weeping. Opposition from their neighbors stopped the work until the second year of Darius. Ezra 3:10-13Ezra 4:4-5Ezra 4:24
- 525 BCWarPersia conquers Egypt
Cyrus's son Cambyses invaded and took Egypt, bringing the whole region from the Nile to the Indus under one king. Herodotus, Histories 3.1-16
- 522-521 BCWarDarius crushes the revolts
When Darius took the throne, provinces across the empire rebelled, Babylon twice. By 520 he had put them all down. Compare the riders' report in Zechariah's first vision: "all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." Behistun InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 3.150-159Zechariah 1:11
- 520 BCGod's peopleHaggai and Zechariah stir the people to build
In Darius's second year the two prophets urged the people to take up the temple work again, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua began to build. Ezra 5:1-2Haggai 1:1-15Zechariah 1:1
- c. 520-519 BCRulersDarius confirms Cyrus's decree
Tattenai questioned the building. A search found Cyrus's decree at Achmetha, and Darius ordered the work to continue and be paid for from royal taxes. Ezra 5:3-6:12
- 515 BCBuildingThe second temple is finished
The temple was finished on the third day of Adar in Darius's sixth year and dedicated with joy. Ezra 6:14-18Zechariah 4:9
- 490-479 BCWarPersia's wars with Greece
Persia invaded Greece twice and was turned back at Marathon (490), Salamis (480) and Plataea (479). Greece, which Zechariah names in 9:13, was becoming Persia's great rival. Herodotus, Histories 6.102-117Herodotus, Histories 8.40-96Herodotus, Histories 9.1-89Zechariah 9:13
- 445 BCBuildingNehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem's walls
Under the Persian king Artaxerxes, Nehemiah came from Shushan and rebuilt the walls in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 2:1-8Nehemiah 6:15
- 332 BCWarAlexander takes Tyre and Gaza
Alexander the Great besieged island Tyre for seven months and then Gaza for two, on his way to Egypt. Zechariah 9 speaks of Tyre's "strong hold" and of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ekron and Ashdod. Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 2.15-27Zechariah 9:3-7
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records (the Behistun Inscription, the Cyrus Cylinder, the Babylonian Chronicles) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and there! | וְהִנֵּ֗ה | ve-hi-NEH | H2009 | beholdהִנֵּה (hin.neh) behold, lo, see, if |
| the angel | הַמַּלְאָ֛ךְ | ha-mal-'AKH | H4397H | messengerמַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) : messenger 1) messenger, representative 1a) messenger 1b) angel 1c) the theophanic angel |
| who was speaking | הַדֹּבֵ֥ר | ha-do-VER | H1696G | to speak: speakדָבַר (da.var) : speak/tell/command 1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing 1a) (Qal) to speak 1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to speak 1c2) to promise 1d) (Pual) to be spoken 1e) (Hithpael) to speak 1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight |
| [was] going out | יֹצֵ֑א | yo-TZE' | H3318G | to come out: comeיָצָא (ya.tsa) : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth |
| and an angel | וּמַלְאָ֣ךְ | u-mal-'AKH | H4397H | messengerמַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) : messenger 1) messenger, representative 1a) messenger 1b) angel 1c) the theophanic angel |
| another | אַחֵ֔ר | 'a-CHER | H0312 | anotherאַחֵר (a.cher) 1) another, other, following 1a) following, further 1b) other, different |
| [was] going out | יֹצֵ֖א | yo-TZE' | H3318G | to come out: comeיָצָא (ya.tsa) : come/go_out/escape 1) to go out, come out, exit, go forth 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come out or forth, depart 1a2) to go forth (to a place) 1a3) to go forward, proceed to (to or toward something) 1a4) to come or go forth (with purpose or for result) 1a5) to come out of 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to go or come out, bring out, lead out 1b2) to bring out of 1b3) to lead out 1b4) to deliver 1c) (Hophal) to be brought out or forth |
| to meet him | לִקְרָאתֽוֹ׃ | lik-ra-TO | H7122G | to encounter: meetקָרָא (qa.ra) : meet 1) to encounter, befall, meet 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to meet, encounter 1a2) to befall (fig) 1b) (Niphal) to meet, meet unexpectedly 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to meet |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.