Zechariah 4

Zechariah · Chapter 4

Zechariah 4:7

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
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.What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the top stone with shoutings of Grace, grace, unto it.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

In one of Zechariah's night visions, God sends word to Zerubbabel that the temple will be rebuilt "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit" (4:6). The "great mountain" set before him will become level ground. He will set the top stone in place while the people shout "Grace, grace unto it," because the hands that laid the foundation will also finish the house (4:9). Zechariah overviewZechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:7Zechariah 4:9

Commonly taken out of context

How it’s often usedQuoted as a word anyone can speak at a personal problem, commanding it to disappear by declaring "Who art thou, O great mountain?"

In contextThe words are God's specific promise to Zerubbabel that he would finish rebuilding the temple (4:6, 4:9). The mountain is levelled by the LORD's Spirit, not by the speaker's might or power, and the finished work is met with cries of grace. Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:7Zechariah 4:9

SpeakingThe angel who talked with Zechariah gives this as "the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel" (4:6). Zechariah the prophet records it. Zechariah 4:5Zechariah 4:6Zechariah overview

ToThe message is addressed to Zerubbabel, whom Haggai calls "governor of Judah" (Haggai 2:21). It was given through Zechariah to the Jews who had returned from exile in Babylon. Zechariah 4:6Zechariah overviewHaggai 2:21

Also involvedThe "great mountain" is spoken to directly and is told it will become a plain before Zerubbabel. The people who will rejoice at the work are also in view. Zechariah 4:7Zechariah 4:10

God promises that the great mountain will become level ground before Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel will bring out the top stone of the temple to shouts of "Grace, grace unto it." The next verses make the meaning plain: he laid the foundation and he will finish the house. Zechariah 4:7Zechariah 4:9Strong's H4334Strong's H7222

The setting is Jerusalem, among the returned exiles, where the house of the LORD was being rebuilt. Zechariah overviewZechariah 4:9

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThis was given while the temple was being rebuilt. Work had stopped under opposition, and it started again in the second year of Darius, about 520 BC. The temple was finished in Darius's sixth year. Zechariah overview

WrittenTraditional view: Zechariah wrote the book, and his dated messages run from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly view: most scholars agree that chapters 1-8, which include this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, though many assign chapters 9-14 to a later writer. Zechariah overview

HereThe verse encourages Zerubbabel and the people to finish the temple. It assures them that God's Spirit, not human strength, will bring the work to completion. Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:9Zechariah overview

In the whole of ScriptureZechariah's book holds that God's work is done by his Spirit and that he will dwell among his people in Jerusalem. Haggai, who prophesied at the same time, also gave Zerubbabel a promise that God had chosen him and would make him "as a signet" (Haggai 2:23). Zechariah overviewHaggai 2:23

For readersSmall, weak beginnings are not to be despised (4:10). When God has promised to finish a work, no obstacle is too great for his Spirit. The right response is to give the credit to his grace. Zechariah 4:10Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:7Strong's H2580

Christians read this differently

The text does not say what the "great mountain" stands for. Some read it as the difficulties and opposition that had stopped the temple work (Ezra 4:24, as given in the book setting). Others read it as a hostile power, as Jeremiah 51:25 calls Babylon a "destroying mountain." Zechariah 4:7Zechariah overviewJeremiah 51:25

  • plainמִישׁוֹר
    Hebrew · mi.shor · H4334

    The word means a level place or level ground. The image is of a mountain flattened completely, so nothing is left to block the builder. Strong's H4334Zechariah 4:7

  • headstone (top)רֹאשָׁה
    Hebrew · ro.shah · H7222

    This is the word for "top" or "topmost," joined with the word for stone. It marks the finishing stone of the building, which fits the promise that Zerubbabel's hands "shall also finish it" (4:9). Strong's H7222Strong's H0068GZechariah 4:9

  • graceחֵן
    Hebrew · chen · H2580

    The word means favour, grace or acceptance. The shout credits the finished temple to God's favour, which matches "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit" (4:6). Strong's H2580Zechariah 4:6

Takeaway

Zechariah 4:7 is God's promise that Zerubbabel would finish the temple despite every obstacle. The work would be done by God's Spirit, and its completion would be hailed as his grace. Zechariah 4:6Zechariah 4:7Zechariah 4:9

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

Zerubbabel, governor of judah
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

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
who?מִֽי־mi-H4310
who?

מִי (mi) who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever

[are] youאַתָּ֧ה'a-TAHH0859A
you

אַנְתָּה (an.tah) you, thou (second pers. sing.) Aramaic of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)

O mountainהַֽר־har-H2022G
mountain: mount

הַר (har) : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount

the greatהַגָּד֛וֹלha-ga-DOLH1419A
great: large

גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) adj 1) great 1a) large (in magnitude and extent) 1b) in number 1c) in intensity 1d) loud (in sound) 1e) older (in age) 1f) in importance 1f1) important things 1f2) great, distinguished (of men) 1f3) God Himself (of God) subst 1g) great things 1h) haughty things 1i) greatness Also means: ga.dol (גָּדוֹל ": old" H1419K) § Haggedolim = "the great one" (CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel

to beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif-NEIH6440G
face: before

פָּנֶה (pa.neh) : before/to/front 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of

Zerubbabelזְרֻבָּבֶ֖לze-ru-ba-VELH2216
Zerubbabel

זְרֻבָּבֶ֫ל (ze.rub.ba.vel) A man of the tribe of Judah living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.3.19; son of: Pedaiah (H6305H); brother of: Shimei (H8096J); father of: Meshullam (H4918H), Hananiah (H2608L), Shelomith (H8019I), Hashubah (H2807), Ohel (H0169), Berechiah (H1296), Hasadiah (H2619), Jushab-hesed (H3142) and Abiud (G0010); also called Sheshbazzar at Ezr.1.8,11; 5.14,16; KJV: Zorobabel at Mat.1.12,13; § Zerubbabel = "sown in Babylon" the grandson of king Jehoiachin and leader of the first group of returning exiles from Babylon

into level groundלְמִישֹׁ֑רle-mi-SHORH4334
plain

מִישׁוֹר (mi.shor) 1) level place, uprightness 1a) level country, table-land, plain 1b) level place 1c) uprightness

and he will bring forthוְהוֹצִיא֙ve-ho-TZI'H3318H
to come out: come

יָצָא (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

the stoneהָאֶ֣בֶןha-'E-venH0068G
stone

אֶ֫בֶן (e.ven) : stone 1) stone (large or small) 1a) common stone (in natural state) 1b) stone, as material 1b1) of tablets 1b2) marble, hewn stones 1c) precious stones, stones of fire 1d) stones containing metal (ore), tool for work or weapon 1e) weight 1f) plummet (stones of destruction) also made of metal 1g) stonelike objects, eg hailstones, stony heart, ice 1h) sacred object, as memorial Samuel set up to mark where God helped Israel to defeat the Philistines 1i) (simile) 1i1) sinking in water, motionlessness 1i2) strength, firmness, solidity 1i3) commonness 1j) (metaph) 1j1) petrified with terror …

the topהָרֹאשָׁ֔הha-ro-SHAHH7222
top

רֹאשָׁה (ro.shah) top, topmost

shoutingsתְּשֻׁא֕וֹתte-shu-'otH8663
storm

שָׁוָה (sha.vah) 1) (CLBL/BDB) storm 2) (TWOT) to set, place

graceחֵ֥ןchenH2580
favor

חֵן (chen) 1) favour, grace, charm 1a) favour, grace, elegance 1b) favour, acceptance

graceחֵ֖ןchenH2580
favor

חֵן (chen) 1) favour, grace, charm 1a) favour, grace, elegance 1b) favour, acceptance

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