Zechariah 6
King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context
About this chapter
AI-assisted, sourcedIn the last of the night visions, four chariots with red, black, white, and grisled and bay horses come from between two mountains of brass; the angel names them "the four spirits of the heavens," and those going north "have quieted my spirit in the north country." Zechariah is then told to take silver and gold from the returned exiles, make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the high priest. The word is, "Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH," who "shall build the temple of the LORD" and "shall be a priest upon his throne." Zechariah 6:1Zechariah 6:2Zechariah 6:3Zechariah 6:4Zechariah 6:5Zechariah 6:8Zechariah 6:10Zechariah 6:11Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Zechariah overview
Who, where, when, and the key verses
Who
Zechariah; "the angel that talked with me"; Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, "which are come from Babylon"; Josiah the son of Zephaniah; and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest. Zechariah 6:4Zechariah 6:10Zechariah 6:11
Where
The chariots go toward "the north country" and "the south country." Zechariah goes "into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah," and the crowns are kept "for a memorial in the temple of the LORD." Zechariah 6:6Zechariah 6:10Zechariah 6:14Babylon 1
When
No new date is given in this chapter; the next date comes in 7:1, "in the fourth year of king Darius." Most scholars agree that chapters 1-8 come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, under Darius king of Persia. Zechariah 7:1Zechariah overview
How it fits
The visions end with horses sent to "walk to and fro through the earth," and then the crowning of Joshua. Chapter 7 moves on to Darius's fourth year and a question about fasting. Zechariah 6:7Zechariah 6:11Zechariah 7:1Zechariah 7:3Zechariah overview
Key verses
- Verse 5
The angel names the chariots: "These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth." Zechariah 6:5
- Verse 13
"He shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne." Psalm 110:4 also speaks of one who is "a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Psalms 110:4
- Verse 15
"They that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD... And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God." Zechariah 6:15
Takeaway
God rules over all the earth and promised one who is both priest and king; the promise calls for diligent obedience. Zechariah 6:5Zechariah 6:13Zechariah 6:15
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.
The four chariots
1And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. 2In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 3And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 4Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 5And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth. 6The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country. 7And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth. 8Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
Crowns for Joshua: the BRANCH
9And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 10Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah; 11Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; 12And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 13Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 14And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD. 15And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.