Zechariah 1

King James Version

Full text for Zechariah Chapter 1

1¶ In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

2The LORD hath been sore displeased with your fathers.

3Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.

4Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and [from] your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the LORD.

5Your fathers, where [are] they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?

6But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.

7¶ Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which [is] the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,

8I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that [were] in the bottom; and behind him [were there] red horses, speckled, and white.

9Then said I, O my lord, what [are] these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these [be].

10And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These [are they] whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

11And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.

12Then the angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?

13And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me [with] good words [and] comfortable words.

14So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

15And I am very sore displeased with the heathen [that are] at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

16Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

17Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.

18¶ Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.

19And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What [be] these? And he answered me, These [are] the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

20And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.

21Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These [are] the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up [their] horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Zechariah 1 opens with a divine call for Judah to repent and return to the Lord, warning against repeating their fathers' disobedience. The prophet then receives a vision of horsemen patrolling the earth, who report global tranquility, prompting an angel to lament Jerusalem's prolonged affliction. The Lord responds with promises of mercy, declaring His jealousy for Zion and His intent to rebuild His house. Finally, Zechariah sees four horns representing the nations that scattered Judah, followed by four carpenters appointed to destroy these oppressive powers.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with Zechariah receiving a divine message, urging the people to turn from their evil ways and return to the Lord, lest they suffer the same fate as their disobedient ancestors. Later, Zechariah experiences a nocturnal vision of a man on a red horse among myrtle trees, accompanied by other colored horses. An interpreting angel reveals these are the Lord's messengers, sent to patrol the earth, who report that the world is at peace. This prompts the angel of the Lord to question how long God will withhold mercy from Jerusalem, which has endured seventy years of indignation. The Lord responds with comforting words, declaring His great jealousy for Zion and His displeasure with the complacent heathen nations who exacerbated Judah's suffering. He promises to return to Jerusalem with mercies, ensuring His house will be rebuilt, and the city will prosper and be comforted. The chapter concludes with a vision of four horns, symbolizing the powers that scattered Judah, followed by four carpenters appointed to cast out and destroy these oppressive Gentile nations.

Long Summary

Zechariah 1 opens in the second year of Darius, with the prophet Zechariah receiving a direct word from the LORD. The initial message is a stern warning, reminding the people that the LORD was "sore displeased" with their ancestors due to their disobedience. Therefore, Zechariah is commanded to call the people to repentance, urging them to "Turn ye unto me," with the promise that the LORD will then "turn unto you." They are admonished not to repeat the mistakes of their fathers, who ignored the former prophets' calls to abandon their evil ways. The LORD emphasizes that while their fathers and the prophets are gone, His words and statutes were fulfilled upon the disobedient generation, serving as a testament to His justice. Later, on the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, Zechariah receives a second prophetic word, initiating a series of night visions. The first vision reveals a man riding a red horse, standing among myrtle trees in a valley, accompanied by other red, speckled, and white horses. Upon Zechariah's inquiry, an interpreting angel explains that these are the Lord's messengers, dispatched to "walk to and fro through the earth." The horsemen report back that the entire earth is "at rest," signifying a period of global tranquility while Judah remains under affliction. This report prompts the angel of the LORD to intercede, asking how long God will withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, which have suffered His indignation for seventy years. The LORD responds with "good words and comfortable words," instructing the angel to declare His fervent jealousy for Jerusalem and Zion. He expresses severe displeasure with the heathen nations who, though God was only "a little displeased," actively "helped forward the affliction." Consequently, the LORD promises to return to Jerusalem with mercies, affirming that His house will be rebuilt, and a measuring line will be stretched forth. He further declares that His cities will spread abroad through prosperity, and He will comfort and once again choose Jerusalem. The chapter concludes with Zechariah's vision of four horns, which the angel identifies as the powers that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. Immediately following this, the LORD shows Zechariah four carpenters. The angel explains that these carpenters are sent to "fray them," meaning to terrify and cast out the horns of the Gentiles that had lifted up their power over the land of Judah to scatter it. This vision offers a promise of divine intervention and judgment against the nations that oppressed God's people.

Core Concepts

  • Call to RepentanceThe initial message calls the people to "Turn ye unto me," emphasizing that God's willingness to turn to them is contingent upon their repentance from evil ways, contrasting with their fathers' disobedience.
  • Divine Displeasure and JusticeThe Lord expresses "sore displeasure" with the previous generations for their unheeding of the prophets, demonstrating that His words and statutes were ultimately fulfilled upon them as a consequence of their actions.
  • The Horsemen and Global SurveillanceA vision reveals celestial horsemen, identified as the Lord's messengers, sent to "walk to and fro through the earth" to observe its state, reporting that the world is currently "at rest."
  • God's Jealousy for JerusalemFollowing the report of global rest, the Lord declares His "great jealousy for Jerusalem and for Zion," indicating His fervent concern and protective zeal for His chosen city despite its prolonged affliction.
  • Judgment Against Complacent Heathen NationsThe Lord expresses severe displeasure with the "heathen that are at ease," because they actively "helped forward the affliction" of Judah, exceeding God's initial, lesser displeasure.
  • Promise of Restoration and RebuildingGod promises to return to Jerusalem with mercies, declaring that His "house shall be built" and the city will be comforted, chosen, and spread abroad through prosperity, signifying future blessing and renewal.
  • Four Horns and Four CarpentersThis vision symbolizes the oppressive Gentile powers ("four horns") that scattered Judah, followed by divine agents ("four carpenters") appointed to terrify and cast out these hostile nations.