Zechariah 6:7
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | And 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. | As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. | And the strong 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. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThis is the last of Zechariah's eight night visions. Four chariots come out from between two mountains of brass, and the angel says they are the four spirits of the heavens sent out from before the LORD of all the earth. In this verse the bay horses ask to go, are told to go, and they walk to and fro through the whole earth. Zechariah 6:1Zechariah 6:5Zechariah 6:7Zechariah overview
SpeakingZechariah tells the vision. The one who says "Get you hence" is called only "he," and in the next verse the same speaker calls out and speaks of "my spirit." Zechariah 6:4Zechariah 6:7Zechariah 6:8
ToZechariah received the vision for the people of Judah who had come back from exile in Babylon. Zechariah overviewZechariah 6:10
Also involvedThe bay horses with their chariot are sent out over the earth. The chariots are "the four spirits of the heavens" that stand before the LORD. Zechariah 6:5Zechariah 6:7
The other chariots head north and south. The bay horses are eager to go, and they are sent to patrol the whole earth. The picture is of the LORD's agents going out over all the earth at his command. Zechariah 6:6Zechariah 6:7Zechariah 6:5Zechariah 1:10
In the vision the chariots come out from between two mountains of brass and go out across the earth. Zechariah himself was among the returned exiles in Jerusalem. Zechariah 6:1Zechariah 6:7Zechariah overview
The eventsThe vision belongs to the night visions of 1:7-6:8. Zechariah'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: written by Zechariah in 520-518 BC. Scholarly: most scholars also place chapters 1-8 with Zechariah in those years, though many assign chapters 9-14 to a later writer. Zechariah overview
HereThe vision shows that the LORD of all the earth sends out his agents and rules over every land. The text does not say what each horse color stands for. Zechariah 6:5Zechariah 6:7Zechariah 6:8
In the whole of ScriptureThe visions open and close the same way. In 1:10 horses are sent "to walk to and fro through the earth," and here they do so again. Elsewhere, 2 Chronicles 16:9 says the eyes of the LORD run to and fro through the whole earth to show himself strong for those whose heart is perfect toward him. Zechariah 1:102 Chronicles 16:9Zechariah 6:7
For readersFor a small, weak people rebuilding the temple, this was a comfort: nothing on earth is outside the LORD's watch and reach. The same chapter calls them to "diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God." Zechariah overviewZechariah 6:7Zechariah 6:15
- bayאָמֹץ
The word here is glossed "the strong [horses]." Its definition gives both "strong" and the colors "bay, dappled, piebald." So the term can point to the horses' strength as well as their color. Strong's H0554
- walk to and froהוּךְ
This form means "to go about." The related verb's definition includes "to traverse" and "to walk about." It pictures a full patrol over the land, not a single trip, as in Zechariah 1:10. Strong's H1980IStrong's H1980GZechariah 1:10
- earthאֶ֫רֶץ
The word can mean the whole earth or a single land or country. In verse 6 the horses go to the "north country" and "south country." Here they are sent through the earth at large, which fits the title "the LORD of all the earth." Strong's H0776GZechariah 6:6Zechariah 6:5
Takeaway
The LORD of all the earth sends his servants wherever he wills, and they go at his word. No land is beyond his oversight. Zechariah 6:5Zechariah 6:72 Chronicles 16:9
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
- 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 the strong [horses] | וְהָאֲמֻצִּ֣ים | ve-ha-'a-mu-TZIM | H0554 | strongאָמֹץ (a.mots) 1) strong 2) bay, dappled, piebald (of colour) |
| they have gone out | יָצְא֗וּ | ya-tze-'U | H3318G | to come out: comeיָצָא (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 |
| and they have sought | וַיְבַקְשׁוּ֙ | vay-vak-SHU | H1245 | to seekבָּקַשׁ (ba.qash) 1) to seek, require, desire, exact, request 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to seek to find 1a2) to seek to secure 1a3) to seek the face 1a4) to desire, demand 1a5) to require, exact 1a6) to ask, request 1b) (Pual) to be sought |
| to go | לָלֶ֙כֶת֙ | la-LE-khet | H1980G | to go: wentהָלַךְ (ha.lakh) : went/go[away] 1) to go, walk, come 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away 1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.) 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to walk 1b2) to walk (fig.) 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to traverse 1c2) to walk about 1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk |
| to go about | לְהִתְהַלֵּ֣ך | le-hit-ha-LEKH | H1980I | to goהוּךְ (hukh) (P'al) to go, come, walk, be brought Aramaic of ha.lakh (הָלַךְ ": walk" H1980) |
| on the earth | בָּאָ֔רֶץ | ba-'A-retz | H0776G | land: country/planetאֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth … |
| and he said | וַיֹּ֕אמֶר | vai-YO-mer | 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) |
| go | לְכ֖וּ | le-KHU | H1980G | to go: wentהָלַךְ (ha.lakh) : went/go[away] 1) to go, walk, come 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away 1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.) 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to walk 1b2) to walk (fig.) 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to traverse 1c2) to walk about 1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk |
| go about | הִתְהַלְּכ֣וּ | hit-ha-le-KHU | H1980I | to goהוּךְ (hukh) (P'al) to go, come, walk, be brought Aramaic of ha.lakh (הָלַךְ ": walk" H1980) |
| on the earth | בָאָ֑רֶץ | va-'A-retz | H0776G | land: country/planetאֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth … |
| and they went about | וַתִּתְהַלַּ֖כְנָה | va-tit-ha-LAKH-nah | H1980I | to goהוּךְ (hukh) (P'al) to go, come, walk, be brought Aramaic of ha.lakh (הָלַךְ ": walk" H1980) |
| on the earth | בָּאָֽרֶץ׃ | ba-'A-retz | H0776G | land: country/planetאֶ֫רֶץ (e.rets) : country/field 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.