Zechariah 4

Zechariah · Chapter 4

Zechariah 4:11

1And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,2And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:3And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.4So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?5Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.6Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.7Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.8Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,9The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.10For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.11Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?12And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?13And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.14Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
11Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?”Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive-trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

In a night vision Zechariah sees a gold lampstand with two olive trees beside it, one on each side. The angel has given a message for Zerubbabel and said the seven are "the eyes of the LORD," but has not yet explained the trees, so Zechariah asks about them here. The answer comes in verse 14: they are "the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth." Zechariah 4:2Zechariah 4:3Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:10Zechariah 4:14

SpeakingZechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, speaks. He tells the vision in his own words. Zechariah 4:11Zechariah overview

ToHe puts his question to "the angel that talked with me." The book as a whole was given to the people of Judah who had come back from Babylon, with Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. Zechariah 4:1Zechariah 4:4Zechariah 4:5Zechariah overview

Also involvedThe question concerns the two olive trees, which the angel later calls the two anointed ones who stand by the LORD of the whole earth. Zechariah 4:11Zechariah 4:14

Zechariah asks what the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand are. He then narrows the question to the two branches that empty golden oil through two golden pipes. The angel answers that they are the two anointed ones. Zechariah 4:11Zechariah 4:12Zechariah 4:13Zechariah 4:14

The book was written from Jerusalem, among the people who had returned from exile, and was meant for Jerusalem and Judah. The vision itself shows a lampstand and trees, not a named place. Zechariah overviewZechariah 4:2Zechariah 4:3

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThis is one of the eight night visions in 1:7-6:8. Zechariah's dated messages fall in the second to fourth years of Darius king of Persia, about 520-518 BC, while the temple was being rebuilt. Zechariah overview

WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote it, about 520-518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8, including this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC; many assign the undated chapters 9-14 to a later writer, while others hold Zechariah wrote the whole book. Zechariah overview

HereThe question leads to the angel's explanation of the trees. In this chapter the vision comes with the promise that Zerubbabel's hands will finish the temple, "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit." Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:9Zechariah 4:14Zechariah overview

In the whole of ScriptureWhen Zechariah first asks what the vision means, the angel answers with the word "by my spirit" (4:4-6), and the olive branches are shown emptying golden oil through two golden pipes (4:12). This fits the book's theme that God's work is done by his Spirit, not human might. Revelation 11:4 takes up the same picture of "two olive trees" standing before God. Zechariah 4:4Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:12Zechariah overviewRevelation 11:4

For readersZechariah asks when he does not understand, and God's messenger answers. Readers can likewise let the passage explain its own pictures, as verse 14 does here. Zechariah 4:11Zechariah 4:13Zechariah 4:14

Christians read this differently

Verse 14 says the trees are "the two anointed ones," but no cited Scripture names who they are. One reading takes them as Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest, the two leaders named in these chapters. Another reads them together with Revelation 11:4, which says "These are the two olive trees" of figures standing before God. Zechariah 4:14Zechariah 4:6Zechariah overviewRevelation 11:4

  • olive treesזַ֫יִת
    Hebrew · za.yit · H2132H

    The word means olive or olive tree. Verse 12 shows why olive trees fit the vision: their branches empty golden oil through the pipes. Strong's H2132HZechariah 4:12

  • candlestickמְנוֹרָה
    Hebrew · me.no.rah · H4501

    The Hebrew word means a lamp stand. Verse 2 describes it as holding seven lamps fed by pipes, and verse 12 speaks of golden oil, so it is a stand for oil lamps. Strong's H4501Zechariah 4:2Zechariah 4:12

Takeaway

Zechariah asks what the two olive trees are, and the angel answers that they are the two anointed ones who stand by the LORD of the whole earth. The vision carries the word that God's work is done "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit." Zechariah 4:11Zechariah 4:14Zechariah 4:6

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
  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 I answeredוָאַ֖עַןva-'A-'anH6030B
to answer

עָנָה (a.nah) 1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to answer, respond to 1a2) to testify, respond as a witness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to make answer 1b2) to be answered, receive answer Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָה "to answer" H6032)

and I saidוָאֹמַ֣רva-'o-MARH0559
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)

to himאֵלָ֑יו'e-LAVH0413
to(wards)

אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)

what?מַה־mah-H4100
what

מָא (ma) 1) what, whatever 1a) what? 1b) whatever, what, whatsoever 1c) how?, why?, wherefore? (with prefixes)

[are] [the] twoשְּׁנֵ֤יshe-NEIH8147
two

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number)

the olive treesהַזֵּיתִים֙ha-zei-TIMH2132H
olive

זַ֫יִת (za.yit) 1) olive, olive tree 1a) olive tree 1b) olives 2) mountain facing Jerusalem on the east side

the theseהָאֵ֔לֶהha-'E-lehH0428
these

אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)

atעַל־'al-H5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

[the] right [side] ofיְמִ֥יןye-MINH3225G
right

יָמִין (ya.min) 1) right, right hand, right side 1a) right hand 1b) right (of direction) 1c) south (the direction of the right hand when facing East) Also means: ya.min (יָמִין ": south" H3225H)

the lampstandהַמְּנוֹרָ֖הha-me-no-RAHH4501
lampstand

מְנוֹרָה (me.no.rah) lamp stand

and atוְעַל־ve-'al-H5921A
upon

עַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) …

left [side] itsשְׂמֹאולָֽהּ׃se-mo-LAHH8040G
left

שְׂמֹאל (se.mo.l) 1) the left, the left hand, the left side 1a) left 1b) left hand 1c) north (as one faces east)

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