Zechariah 3

Zechariah · Chapter 3

Zechariah 3:6

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.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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
6And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,Then the angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua:And the angel of Jehovah protested unto Joshua, saying,

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

In Zechariah's vision, Joshua the high priest has just had his filthy garments taken away and been clothed with clean garments and a fair mitre. Now the angel of the LORD solemnly charges Joshua. This verse opens that charge, which follows in verses 7-10 with conditions and promises from the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 3:3Zechariah 3:4Zechariah 3:5Zechariah 3:6Zechariah 3:7

SpeakingThe angel of the LORD speaks. Zechariah reports it as part of what he was shown. Zechariah 3:1Zechariah 3:6

ToJoshua the high priest of the returned exiles. Ezra calls him Jeshua. Zechariah 3:1Strong's H3091JZechariah overview

Also involvedJoshua's fellow priests and the land are also in view. The charge goes on to speak of them and of the BRANCH the LORD will bring forth. Zechariah 3:8Zechariah 3:9

After Joshua is cleansed and reclothed, the angel formally and earnestly charges him. The message that follows is: walk in the LORD's ways and keep his charge, and Joshua will judge God's house and keep his courts. Zechariah 3:4Zechariah 3:5Zechariah 3:6Zechariah 3:7Strong's H5749B

The scene is a vision of Joshua standing before the angel of the LORD. Zechariah prophesied in Jerusalem among the returned people. Zechariah 3:1Zechariah overview

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThis is one of Zechariah's eight night visions. It was given while the temple was being rebuilt after the return from Babylon. Zechariah overview

WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote it, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most agree chapters 1-8, which include this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview

HereThe verse marks a shift from cleansing to calling. God has removed Joshua's iniquity, and now he solemnly tells Joshua how to live and serve. Zechariah 3:4Zechariah 3:6Zechariah 3:7

In the whole of ScriptureGod called the returned people to turn to him and finish the temple. Here their high priest is cleansed and charged, and a sign points to the coming BRANCH and the removal of the land's iniquity in one day. Zechariah overviewZechariah 3:8Zechariah 3:9

For readersGod's cleansing comes first, and his call to walk in his ways follows. Elsewhere the LORD likewise says he 'earnestly protested' to Israel, 'saying, Obey my voice.' Zechariah 3:4Zechariah 3:7Jeremiah 11:7

Christians read this differently

Readers differ on who the angel of the LORD is. In this chapter the LORD speaks in the angel's presence, and other passages link the Angel closely with God himself. Some Christians see him as God appearing, often as Christ before his birth; others see a created angel speaking with God's full authority. Zechariah 3:2Strong's H4397HGenesis 48:15Genesis 48:16Hosea 12:4Isaiah 63:9

  • protestedעוּד
    Hebrew · ud · H5749B

    Here the word means to testify, affirm solemnly, warn, exhort, or charge. So the angel is not objecting to Joshua but solemnly charging him with what follows. Strong's H5749BZechariah 3:7

  • angelמַלְאָךְ
    Hebrew · ma.le.akh · H4397H

    The word means messenger or representative. It can also mean an angel, including the angel in whom God appears. Fittingly, the speaker brings the LORD's own words: 'Thus saith the LORD of hosts.' Strong's H4397HZechariah 3:7

  • Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַ
    Hebrew · ye.ho.shu.a · H3091J

    This Joshua is the son of Jehozadak, high priest after the return from exile, also called Jeshua in Ezra. His name means 'Jehovah is salvation.' Strong's H3091J

Takeaway

Once God has cleansed his servant, he solemnly charges him to walk in his ways. Grace and obedience come together here: first the clean garments, then the call. Zechariah 3:4Zechariah 3:6Zechariah 3:7

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

Behind this verse

Joshua the high priest, high priest
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

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
  1. 539 BC
    WarBabylon 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

  2. 538 BC
    God'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

  3. c. 536 BC
    God'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

  4. 525 BC
    WarPersia 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

  5. 522-521 BC
    WarDarius 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

  6. 520 BC
    God'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

  7. c. 520-519 BC
    RulersDarius 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

  8. 515 BC
    BuildingThe 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

  9. 490-479 BC
    WarPersia'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

  10. 445 BC
    BuildingNehemiah 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

  11. 332 BC
    WarAlexander 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

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and he admonishedוַיָּ֙עַד֙vai-YA-'adH5749B
to testify

עוּד (ud) 1) to bear witness 1a) (Qal) to bear witness, say again and again 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to testify, bear witness 1b2) to cause to testify, take or call as witness, invoke 1b3) to protest, affirm solemnly, warn, exhort or enjoin solemnly, admonish, charge 1c) (Hophal) to protest, give warning

[the] angel ofמַלְאַ֣ךְmal-'AKHH4397H
messenger

מַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) : messenger 1) messenger, representative 1a) messenger 1b) angel 1c) the theophanic angel

Yahwehיְהוָ֔הYAH-wehH3068G
Lord

אֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

in Joshuaבִּיהוֹשֻׁ֖עַbi-ho-SHU-a'H3091J
Joshua

יְהוֹשׁוּעַ (ye.ho.shu.a) A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.2; son of: Jehozadak (H3087); father of: Joiakim (H3113); also called Jeshua at Ezr.2.2; 3.2,8; 4.3; 5.2; 1x12.1,7,10,26; § Joshua or Jehoshua = "Jehovah is salvation" 1) son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim and successor to Moses as the leader of the children of Israel; led the conquest of Canaan 2) a resident of Beth-shemesh on whose land the Ark of the Covenant came to a stop after the Philistines returned it 3) son of Jehozadak and high priest after the restoration …

to sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le-MORH0559
to say

אָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.