Zechariah 6:4
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? | So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?” | Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedZechariah has just seen four chariots with horses of different colors coming out from between two mountains of brass. In this verse he asks the angel who talks with him what they are. The angel answers in the next verse: they are the four spirits of the heavens, sent out from before the LORD of all the earth. Zechariah 6:1Zechariah 6:2Zechariah 6:3Zechariah 6:4Zechariah 6:5
SpeakingZechariah the prophet speaks, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo. Zechariah 6:4Zechariah overview
ToHe speaks to "the angel that talked with me," the same guide who explains the earlier visions. Zechariah 6:4Zechariah 1:9Zechariah 1:19
Also involvedThe book was given to the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overview
The prophet asks a simple question about what the four chariots stand for. This is his usual pattern in the night visions: he sees, asks, and the angel explains (1:9, 1:19, 5:6). Here the angel says the chariots are "the four spirits of the heavens" going out over the earth. Zechariah 6:4Zechariah 6:5Zechariah 6:7Zechariah 1:9Zechariah 1:19Zechariah 5:6
The book was written from Jerusalem, among the people who had returned. In the vision, the chariots come from between two mountains of brass. Zechariah overviewZechariah 6:1
The eventsThis is the last of the eight night visions (1:7-6:8). The sources do not give a date for this vision itself; the book's dated messages run from the second year of Darius king of Persia, about 520 BC, to his fourth year, about 518 BC. Zechariah overview
WrittenTraditional: Zechariah wrote the book, with dated messages from about 520 to 518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars agree chapters 1-8, which include this verse, come from Zechariah in 520-518 BC, while many assign chapters 9-14 to a later writer. Zechariah overview
HereThe question opens the way for God's explanation, so that the vision is not left to guesswork. The answer shows the chariots going out from standing before the LORD, and those going north having "quieted my spirit in the north country." Zechariah 6:4Zechariah 6:5Zechariah 6:6Zechariah 6:8
In the whole of ScriptureThe book encouraged the returned exiles to finish rebuilding the temple, trusting that God was at work "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit." The chapter then turns to the crowning of Joshua and the promise of the man called the BRANCH, who will build the temple of the LORD. Zechariah overviewZechariah 6:11Zechariah 6:12
For readersThe prophet did not invent meanings for what he saw; he asked, and God's messenger explained. Readers today can follow the same pattern and let the passage itself say what the symbols mean, as verse 5 does here. Zechariah 6:4Zechariah 6:5Zechariah 1:9
- angelמַלְאָךְ
The word means messenger or representative, and can mean an angel. Throughout the visions this messenger's role is to explain to Zechariah what he sees. Strong's H4397HZechariah 1:9Zechariah 1:19Zechariah 5:10
- my lordאָדוֹן
This word means lord or master and is used for men such as a master, prince or king, as well as for God. Here it is Zechariah's respectful address to the angel, the same address he uses in 1:9. Strong's H0113Zechariah 1:9
Takeaway
Zechariah's question, "What are these, my lord?", lets God's messenger explain the vision: the chariots are the four spirits of the heavens sent from before the LORD. As with the horns in 1:19, Scripture here explains its own symbol. Zechariah 6:4Zechariah 6:5Zechariah 1:19
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
- Riders on patrol
- The Persian kings kept mounted messengers stationed along their roads. Herodotus says nothing mortal travels faster. Zechariah sees horsemen sent "to walk to and fro through the earth." Zechariah 1:8-11Zechariah 6:7Herodotus, Histories 8.98
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 I answered | וָאַ֙עַן֙ | va-'A-'an | H6030B | to answerעָנָה (a.nah) 1) to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to answer, respond to 1a2) to testify, respond as a witness 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to make answer 1b2) to be answered, receive answer Aramaic equivalent: a.nah (עֲנָה "to answer" H6032) |
| and I said | וָֽאֹמַ֔ר | va-'o-MAR | 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) |
| to | אֶל־ | 'el- | H0413 | 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) |
| the angel | הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ | ha-mal-'AKH | H4397H | messengerמַלְאָךְ (ma.le.akh) : messenger 1) messenger, representative 1a) messenger 1b) angel 1c) the theophanic angel |
| who was speaking | הַדֹּבֵ֣ר | ha-do-VER | H1696G | to speak: speakדָבַר (da.var) : speak/tell/command 1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing 1a) (Qal) to speak 1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to speak 1c2) to promise 1d) (Pual) to be spoken 1e) (Hithpael) to speak 1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight |
| what? | מָה־ | mah- | H4100 | whatמָא (ma) 1) what, whatever 1a) what? 1b) whatever, what, whatsoever 1c) how?, why?, wherefore? (with prefixes) |
| [are] 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) |
| O lord my | אֲדֹנִֽי׃ | 'a-do-NI | 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 … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.