Zechariah 4:14
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth. | So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.” | Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedIn one of Zechariah's night visions he sees a golden lampstand fed with oil by two olive trees. After he asks twice what the trees are, the angel tells him they are two anointed ones who stand by the LORD of the whole earth. The vision assures Zerubbabel that the temple will be finished by God's Spirit, not by human strength. Zechariah overviewZechariah 4:2Zechariah 4:3Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:9Zechariah 4:11Zechariah 4:12Zechariah 4:14
SpeakingThe angel that talked with Zechariah answers the prophet's question. Zechariah 4:1Zechariah 4:5Zechariah 4:13Zechariah 4:14
ToThe prophet Zechariah, who passed the vision on to the returned exiles in Judah, along with Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest. Zechariah 4:4Zechariah overview
Also involvedThe two anointed ones pictured by the olive trees. The verse does not name them. The chapter names Zerubbabel, and chapter 3 shows Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD. Zechariah 4:14Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:9Zechariah 3:1
The angel explains the two olive trees and their branches, which pour golden oil into the lampstand. They are two anointed ones who stand by the LORD. The lamp is kept supplied through those he has anointed, and the power is his Spirit. Zechariah 4:3Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:12Zechariah 4:14
The scene is a vision. The prophet lived and spoke in Jerusalem among the people who had returned from exile. Zechariah 4:1Zechariah overview
The eventsThis is one of the eight night visions in 1:7-6:8, given during the rebuilding of the temple. The dated messages fall in the second to fourth years of Darius king of Persia, about 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: written by Zechariah, about 520-518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree that chapters 1-8, which include this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Zechariah overview
HereThe vision encourages Zerubbabel and the people to finish the temple. The hands that laid its foundation will finish it, and no one should despise the day of small things. Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:7Zechariah 4:9Zechariah 4:10Zechariah overview
In the whole of ScriptureIn Scripture, God anointed men for his service, as priests were anointed to minister to him. Isaiah speaks of one the LORD anointed by his Spirit. Revelation 11:4 takes up Zechariah's picture of two olive trees standing before the God of the earth. Exodus 40:15Isaiah 61:1Revelation 11:4
For readersGod's work goes forward by his Spirit working through the servants he appoints, not by might or power. Small beginnings are not to be despised. Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:10Zechariah overview
Christians read this differently
The angel explains the olive trees as two anointed ones, but no cited Scripture names who they are. Many read them as Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest, the two leaders named in chapters 3-4. Others, following Revelation 11:4, see them as also pointing to the two figures Revelation calls the two olive trees standing before the God of the earth. Zechariah 4:14Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 3:1Zechariah 3:7Revelation 11:4
- anointed (fresh oil)יִצְהָר
The word behind "anointed" here means "fresh oil, shining (pure) oil." It ties the two figures to the olive branches that pour out golden oil in the same vision. Strong's H3323Zechariah 4:12Zechariah 4:14
- standעָמַד
The word can mean to "attend upon" or "be servant of." It pictures the two as servants waiting on the LORD, like "these that stand by" in Zechariah 3:7. Strong's H5975GZechariah 3:7
- Lordאָדוֹן
The lexicon lists "Lord of the whole earth" as a title for God. The anointed ones serve the one who rules all the earth, not only Judah. Strong's H0113Strong's H3605Strong's H0776G
Takeaway
The two olive trees are God's anointed servants who stand before him, and golden oil flows from them (4:12). The power behind the work is his Spirit, not human might. Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:14Zechariah 4:12
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 he said | וַיֹּ֕אמֶר | vai-YO-mer | H0559 | to sayאָמַר (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) |
| these | אֵ֖לֶּה | 'E-leh | H0428 | theseאֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) 1) these 1a) used before antecedent 1b) used following antecedent Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429) |
| [are] [the] two | שְׁנֵ֣י | she-NEI | H8147 | twoשְׁנַ֫יִם (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] sons of | בְנֵֽי־ | ve-nei- | H1121G | No entry |
| the fresh oil | הַיִּצְהָ֑ר | hai-yitz-HAR | H3323 | oilיִצְהָר (yits.har) fresh oil, shining (pure) oil |
| who stand | הָעֹמְדִ֖ים | ha-'o-me-DIM | H5975G | to stand: standעָמַד (a.mad) : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against … |
| at | עַל־ | 'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (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] lord of | אֲד֥וֹן | 'a-DON | H0113 | lordאָדוֹן (a.don) 1) firm, strong, lord, master 1a) lord, master 1a1) reference to men 1a1a) superintendent of household, of affairs 1a1b) master 1a1c) king 1a2) reference to God 1a2a) the Lord God 1a2b) Lord of the whole earth 1b) lords, kings 1b1) reference to men 1b1a) proprietor of hill of Samaria 1b1b) master 1b1c) husband 1b1d) prophet 1b1e) governor 1b1f) prince 1b1g) king 1b2) reference to God 1b2a) Lord of lords (probably = "thy husband, Yahweh") 1c) my lord, my master 1c1) reference to men 1c1a) master 1c1b) husband 1c1c) prophet 1c1d) prince 1c1e) king 1c1f) father 1c1g) Moses 1c1h) priest … |
| all | כָּל־ | kol- | H3605 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606) |
| the earth | הָאָֽרֶץ׃ | ha-'A-retz | H0776G | land: country/planetאֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.