Zechariah 6

Zechariah · Chapter 6

Zechariah 6:12

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.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.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
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:And you are to tell him that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Here is a man whose name is the Branch, and He will branch out from His place and build the temple of the LORD.and speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah 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 Jehovah;

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

After eight night visions, God tells Zechariah to make crowns from silver and gold brought by returned exiles and set them on Joshua the high priest. Over Joshua he speaks this message about a man called the BRANCH, who will grow up out of his place and build the LORD's temple. The next verse adds that this man will rule on his throne and be a priest on his throne. Zechariah 6:9Zechariah 6:10Zechariah 6:11Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Zechariah overview

SpeakingThe LORD of hosts speaks, and Zechariah is told to pass the words on. Zechariah 6:9Zechariah 6:12

ToJoshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, on whose head the crowns are set. Zechariah 6:11Zechariah 6:12

Also involvedThe man named the BRANCH. Earlier, God told Joshua and his fellows that they were "men wondered at," for "I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH." So the Branch is someone God himself will bring forth. Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 3:8

A crowning that acts as a sign. God announces a man called the BRANCH who will grow up out of his place and build the LORD's temple. He will bear glory and rule on his throne as a priest on his throne. Zechariah 6:11Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Zechariah 3:8

Jerusalem, among the returned exiles. The crowning was linked to the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah. Zechariah 6:10Zechariah overview

JUDAHMediterranean SeaJerusalemTyreSidonDamascusHamath 1GazaAshdodMegiddo

The eventsThe temple was being rebuilt after the return from Babylon. Zechariah's dated messages in chapters 1-8 run from about 520 to 518 BC, in the reign of Darius king of Persia. The temple was finished in Darius's sixth year. Zechariah overview

WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the whole book. 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 a later writer. Zechariah overview

HereThe verse encourages a people rebuilding the temple. The true builder of the LORD's house is God's promised Branch, and the work is done "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit." Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Zechariah overviewZechariah 4:6

In the whole of ScriptureThe BRANCH is an earlier prophetic promise. Jeremiah names him a righteous Branch raised to David who will reign as King, and Isaiah speaks of a Branch growing from Jesse's roots. Zechariah adds that this King will also be a priest on his throne. Jeremiah 23:5Jeremiah 33:15Isaiah 11:1Zechariah 6:13

For readersGod's plan rests on a person he had already promised through earlier prophets and through Zechariah himself. This man would build God's house and rule as a priest on his throne. The people were also told that this would come to pass if they diligently obeyed the LORD's voice. Jeremiah 23:5Isaiah 11:1Zechariah 3:8Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Zechariah 6:15

Christians read this differently

No cited Scripture names who the Branch is. Many Christians read him as the Messiah alone, Jesus, the man God ordained and raised from the dead, who is both king and priest. Others also see a first, partial fulfillment in Zerubbabel, the governor given the word about the temple work, with full fulfillment in the Messiah. Readers also differ on whether "between them both" means harmony between two persons (a king and a priest) or between the two offices joined in the one Branch. Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Acts 17:31Zechariah 4:6Zechariah overview

  • BRANCHצֶ֫מַח
    Hebrew · tse.mach · H6780

    The word means a sprout, shoot or growth. The lexicon notes its use for the shoot of the Messiah from David's family tree, as in Jeremiah's "righteous Branch" raised to David. Strong's H6780Jeremiah 23:5Jeremiah 33:15

  • grow upצָמַח
    Hebrew · tsa.mach · H6779

    This verb means to sprout or spring up, matching the name Branch, which means a sprout. The picture is of growth like a plant, as in the Branch that grows out of Jesse's roots. Strong's H6779Strong's H6780Isaiah 11:1

  • out of his placeתַּחַת
    Hebrew · ta.chat · H8478J

    The Hebrew is literally "from under him." The lexicon gives it as an idiom for one's place, the place in which one stands. So the Branch grows up from his own place. Strong's H8478J

  • templeהֵיכָל
    Hebrew · he.khal · H1964G

    The word means palace or temple, and the lexicon describes the temple as the palace of God as king. That fits a Branch who builds God's house and sits on a throne. Strong's H1964GZechariah 6:13

Takeaway

Joshua's crowning came with a message about God's promised Branch, the one God said he would bring forth, from David's line. That man would build the LORD's temple and rule as both king and priest. Zechariah 6:11Zechariah 6:12Zechariah 6:13Zechariah 3:8Jeremiah 23:5

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 you will sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֤ve-'a-mar-TAH0559
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 himאֵלָיו֙'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)

to sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle-MORH0559
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)

thusכֹּ֥הkohH3541
thus

כֹּה (koh) 1) thus, here, in this manner 1a) thus, so 1b) here, here and there 1c) until now, until now...until then, meanwhile Aramaic equivalent: kah (כָּה "thus" H3542)

he saysאָמַ֛ר'a-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)

Yahwehיְהוָ֥הYAH-wehH3068G
Lord

אֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

of hostsצְבָא֖וֹתtze-va-'otH6635B
Hosts

צָבָא (tsa.va) The Hosts (of the Lord) Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

to sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle-MORH0559
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)

there!הִנֵּה־hi-neh-H2009
behold

הִנֵּה (hin.neh) behold, lo, see, if

a manאִ֞ישׁ'ishH0376G
man

אִישׁ (ish) : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)

[is] Branchצֶ֤מַחTZE-machH6780
branch

צֶ֫מַח (tse.mach) 1) sprout, growth, branch 1a) sprouting, growth, sprout 1b) growth (of process) 1c) sprout, shoot (of Messiah from Davidic tree)

name hisשְׁמוֹ֙she-MOH8034
name

שֵׁם (shem) 1) name 1a) name 1b) reputation, fame, glory 1c) the Name (as designation of God) 1d) memorial, monument Aramaic equivalent: shum (שֻׁם "name" H8036)

and from under himוּמִתַּחְתָּ֣יוu-mi-tach-TAVH8478J
underneath: under

תַּחַת (ta.chat) : under/below 1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m 1a) the under part adv accus 1b) beneath prep 1c) under, beneath 1c1) at the foot of (idiom) 1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig) 1c3) of subjection or conquest 1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands 1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun) 1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense) 1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged) conj …

he will sproutיִצְמָ֔חyitz-MACHH6779
to spring

צָמַח (tsa.mach) 1) to sprout, spring up, grow up 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to sprout, spring up 1a1a) of plants 1a1b) of hair 1a1c) of speech (fig.) 1b) (Piel) to grow abundantly or thickly 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to grow 1c2) to cause to sprout

and he will buildוּבָנָ֖הu-va-NAHH1129
to build

בְּנָה (be.nah) 1) to build 1a) (P'al) to build 1b) (Ithp'il) to be built

[the] temple ofהֵיכַ֥לhei-KHALH1964G
temple

הֵיכָל (he.khal) : temple 1) palace, temple, nave, sanctuary 1a) palace 1b) temple (palace of God as king) 1c) hall, nave (of Ezekiel's temple) 1d) temple (of heavenly temple)

Yahwehיְהוָֽהּ׃YAH-wehH3068G
Lord

אֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

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