Zechariah 6:11
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; | Take silver and gold, make an ornate crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jehozadak. | yea, take of them silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest; |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedAfter eight night visions, the LORD gives Zechariah a sign to act out. He is to take from returned exiles, then take silver and gold, make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the high priest. He then announces a man called The BRANCH who will build the LORD's temple and be a priest upon his throne. Zechariah 6:9Zechariah 6:10Zechariah 6:11Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Zechariah overview
SpeakingThe word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah and gave him this command. Zechariah 6:9Zechariah overview
ToThe command is given to Zechariah. He is then told to speak the message that goes with the crowning to Joshua the high priest. Zechariah 6:9Zechariah 6:12
Also involvedJoshua son of Josedech, high priest of the returned people. His father Josedech was carried captive to Babylon. Zechariah was to take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, and the crowns were to be a memorial for them and others. Zechariah 6:10Zechariah 6:14Strong's H3087Strong's H3091J
Zechariah is to make crowns of silver and gold and set them on the high priest's head. This is a sign-act. It is followed by the word "Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH," who will build the temple, bear the glory, and rule as a priest on his throne. The crowns were to be a memorial in the temple of the LORD. Zechariah 6:11Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Zechariah 6:14
Zechariah was to go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah, with exiles newly come from Babylon. The crowns were to be kept in the temple of the LORD. Zechariah's messages were given in Jerusalem. Zechariah 6:10Zechariah 6:14Zechariah overview
The eventsThis came after the night visions, during the dated messages of Zechariah. They run from Darius's second year (about 520 BC) to his fourth (about 518 BC), while the temple was being rebuilt. Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote it, 520-518 BC. Scholarly: most agree chapters 1-8, which include this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Many assign the undated chapters 9-14 to later writers. Zechariah overview
HereThe crowning was a visible sign pointing to the BRANCH, who would build the LORD's temple and join priestly and royal roles. It encouraged the returned people at a time when the temple was being rebuilt. Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Zechariah overview
In the whole of ScriptureJoshua had already been shown standing before the angel of the LORD and given a fair mitre (3:1, 5). Now a crown is placed where Israel's high priest wore the holy crown on his mitre (Exodus 39:30; Leviticus 8:9). The book goes on to promise Zion's coming king (9:9), and Revelation 19:12 pictures one with many crowns on his head. Zechariah 3:1Zechariah 3:5Exodus 39:30Leviticus 8:9Zechariah overviewRevelation 19:12
For readersThe sign was given with a condition: "this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God" (6:15). God's promises call for a people who listen and obey. Zechariah 6:15Zechariah overview
Christians read this differently
The passage does not name who the BRANCH is, so readings differ. Many read the crowning of a priest as pointing beyond Joshua to the Messiah, one person who is both priest and king (6:13). Others stress its meaning in its own day: priestly and civil leaders together seeing the temple built, with "the counsel of peace" between them both. Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Zechariah overview
- crownsעֲטָרָה
The word means a crown or wreath, and here it is plural. A priest's headgear was a mitre with the holy crown (Exodus 39:30; Zechariah 3:5). Scripture also speaks of a gold crown set on a king's head (Psalm 21:3). Strong's H5850Exodus 39:30Zechariah 3:5Psalms 21:3
- priestכֹּהֵן
With "great" (H1419A), the title is literally "the great priest," meaning the high priest. The lexicon's range for this word includes a priest-king, which fits 6:13: "he shall be a priest upon his throne." Strong's H3548Strong's H1419AZechariah 6:13
- Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַ
The name means "Jehovah is salvation." This Joshua is the son of Jehozadak, the high priest after the return, also called Jeshua in Ezra. Haggai 1:1 addresses the same man. Strong's H3091JHaggai 1:1
Takeaway
God had a crown set on the high priest's head as a sign of the coming BRANCH. He would build the LORD's temple and rule as a priest on his throne. The crowns were to be a memorial, and the sign came with a call to obey the LORD. Zechariah 6:11Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Zechariah 6:14Zechariah 6:15
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
- 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 you will take | וְלָקַחְתָּ֥ | ve-la-kach-TA | H3947G | to take: takeלָקַח (la.qach) : take 1) to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to take, take in the hand 1a2) to take and carry along 1a3) to take from, take out of, take, carry away, take away 1a4) to take to or for a person, procure, get, take possession of, select, choose, take in marriage, receive, accept 1a5) to take up or upon, put upon 1a6) to fetch 1a7) to take, lead, conduct 1a8) to take, capture, seize 1a9) to take, carry off 1a10) to take (vengeance) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be captured 1b2) to be taken away, be removed … |
| silver | כֶֽסֶף־ | khe-sef- | H3701G | silver: moneyכֶּ֫סֶף (ke.seph) : money/payment/silver 1) silver, money 1a) silver 1a1) as metal 1a2) as ornament 1a3) as colour 1b) money, shekels, talents |
| and gold | וְזָהָ֖ב | ve-za-HAV | H2091 | goldדְּהַב (de.hav) gold Aramaic of za.hav (זָהָב "gold" H2091) |
| and you will make | וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ | ve-'a-SI-ta | H6213H | to makeעֲבַד (a.vad) 1) to make, do 1a)(P'al) 1a1) to make, create 1a2) to do, perform 1b) (Ithp'al) 1b1) to be made into 1b2) to be done, be wrought, be performed, be executed, be carried out |
| a crowns | עֲטָר֑וֹת | a-ta-ROT | H5850 | crownעֲטָרָה (a.ta.rah) crown, wreath |
| and you will put [it] | וְשַׂמְתָּ֗ | ve-sam-TA | H7760A | to set: makeשׂוּם (sum) : make/establish 1) to put, place, set, appoint, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to put, set, lay, put or lay upon, lay (violent) hands on 1a2) to set, direct, direct toward 1a2a) to extend (compassion) (fig) 1a3) to set, ordain, establish, found, appoint, constitute, make, determine, fix 1a4) to set, station, put, set in place, plant, fix 1a5) to make, make for, transform into, constitute, fashion, work, bring to pass, appoint, give 1b) (Hiphil) to set or make for a sign 1c) (Hophal) to be set |
| on [the] head of | בְּרֹ֛אשׁ | be-ROSH | H7218A | headרֵאשׁ (resh) 1) chief, head 1a) head (of man) 1b) head (as seat of visions) 1c) chief 1d) sum (essential content) |
| Joshua | יְהוֹשֻׁ֥עַ | ye-ho-SHU-a' | H3091J | Joshuaיְהוֹשׁוּעַ (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 … |
| [the] son of | בֶּן־ | ben- | H1121A | son: childבֵּן (ben) : child/son |
| Jehozadak | יְהוֹצָדָ֖ק | ye-ho-tza-DAK | H3087 | Jehozadakיְהוֹצָדָק (ye.ho.tsa.daq) A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.6.14; son of: Seraiah (H8304H); brother of: Ezra (H5830); father of: Joshua (H3091J); also called Jozadak at Ezr.3.2,8; 5.2; 1x § Jehozadak or Josedech = "Jehovah is righteous" grandson of the high priest Hilkiah; son of the high priest Seraiah; and father of the high priest Joshua; he never attained the office of high priest himself because he was carried captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar |
| the priest | הַכֹּהֵ֥ן | ha-ko-HEN | H3548 | priestכֹּהֵן (ko.hen) 1) priest, principal officer or chief ruler 1a) priest-king (Melchizedek, Messiah) 1b) pagan priests 1c) priests of Jehovah 1d) Levitical priests 1e) Zadokite priests 1f) Aaronic priests 1g) the high priest Aramaic equivalent: ka.hen (כָּהֵן "priest" H3549) |
| the great | הַגָּדֽוֹל׃ | ha-ga-DOL | H1419A | great: largeגָּדוֹל (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 |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.