Zechariah 3
King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context
About this chapter
AI-assisted, sourcedZechariah sees Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD "clothed with filthy garments," with Satan at his right hand "to resist him," and the LORD rebukes Satan. The filthy garments are taken away, "I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee," and Joshua is clothed and given a fair mitre. The LORD promises, "I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH," and says, "I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day." Zechariah 3:1Zechariah 3:2Zechariah 3:3Zechariah 3:4Zechariah 3:5Zechariah 3:8Zechariah 3:9
Who, where, when, and the key verses
Who
Joshua the high priest; the angel of the LORD; Satan; "those that stood before him"; and Joshua's "fellows that sit before thee," called "men wondered at." Zechariah 3:1Zechariah 3:4Zechariah 3:8
Where
The scene is a vision of Joshua "standing before the angel of the LORD." Joshua is promised that if he walks in God's ways, he shall "judge my house" and "keep my courts." Zechariah 3:1Zechariah 3:7
When
No new date is given in this chapter; the book's dated messages run from the second year of Darius, about 520 BC, to his fourth year, about 518 BC. Most scholars agree that chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, under Darius king of Persia. Zechariah overview
How it fits
After the promise that the LORD "shall choose Jerusalem again" in chapter 2, the LORD here speaks as the one "that hath chosen Jerusalem." Chapter 4 turns to a golden candlestick and two olive trees. Zechariah 2:12Zechariah 3:2Zechariah 4:2Zechariah 4:3
Key verses
- Verse 2
"The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan... is not this a brand plucked out of the fire." Amos 4:11 uses the same picture: "ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning." Zechariah 3:2Amos 4:11
- Verse 4
"Take away the filthy garments from him... Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." Isaiah 61:10 rejoices, "he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation." Zechariah 3:3Zechariah 3:4Isaiah 61:10
- Verse 8
"I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH." Jeremiah 23:5 promises God "will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign." Zechariah 3:8Jeremiah 23:5
Takeaway
When the accuser stands against you, it is the LORD who rebukes him, and the filthy garments are taken away and replaced with clean ones; then walk in his ways. Zechariah 3:2Zechariah 3:4Zechariah 3:5Zechariah 3:7
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-29.
Joshua's filthy garments taken away
1And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
My servant the BRANCH
6And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, 7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. 8Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. 9For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.