Zechariah 3

King James Version

Full text for Zechariah Chapter 3

1¶ And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

2And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: [is] not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

3Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

4And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

5And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

6And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,

7Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

8¶ Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they [are] men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.

9For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone [shall be] seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

10In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Zechariah sees a vision of Joshua the High Priest, accused by Satan before the Angel of the LORD. The LORD rebukes Satan and commands Joshua's filthy garments, symbolizing iniquity, to be removed and replaced with clean raiment, signifying purification. Joshua is then charged to walk in God's ways, and the vision concludes with a prophecy of the coming "BRANCH" and the removal of the land's iniquity in one day.

Medium Summary

The prophet Zechariah is granted a vision of Joshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, with Satan present to accuse him. The LORD intervenes, rebuking Satan and declaring Joshua a "brand plucked out of the fire," chosen despite his defilement. Joshua is shown clothed in "filthy garments," representing his and the nation's sin, which the Angel commands to be removed. He is then clothed with "change of raiment" and a "fair mitre," signifying divine cleansing and restoration to his priestly office. The Angel then charges Joshua to walk in God's ways, promising him authority in God's house. The vision culminates with a prophecy of "my servant the BRANCH" and a symbolic stone with "seven eyes," through which the iniquity of the land will be removed in a single day, ushering in a time of peace and security.

Long Summary

Zechariah is shown a vision of Joshua the High Priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, with Satan positioned at his right hand to resist and accuse him. The LORD directly rebukes Satan, asserting His choice of Jerusalem and identifying Joshua as a "brand plucked out of the fire," emphasizing his deliverance. Joshua is depicted wearing "filthy garments," which symbolize the sin and defilement of both the high priest and the nation of Israel. The Angel of the LORD commands the removal of these defiled garments, proclaiming to Joshua, "Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee." Subsequently, Joshua is clothed with "change of raiment" and, at Zechariah's request, a "fair mitre" is placed upon his head, symbolizing his complete purification and restoration to the dignity of his priestly office. The Angel then delivers a solemn charge to Joshua, stating that if he walks in God's ways and keeps His commands, he will judge God's house, keep His courts, and be granted access to the divine presence. The vision then transitions to a significant prophecy concerning "my servant the BRANCH," a future Messianic figure. A symbolic "stone" with "seven eyes" is also presented, upon which the LORD promises to engrave, declaring that He will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. This profound act of national cleansing will lead to a future era of peace and security. The chapter concludes with the promise that in that day, every man shall invite his neighbour to dwell securely "under the vine and under the fig tree," an enduring image of prosperity and tranquility.

Core Concepts

  • Satan's AccusationSatan is depicted standing at Joshua's right hand to resist him, acting as the accuser and adversary against the high priest before the Angel of the LORD.
  • Divine Rebuke and ElectionThe LORD directly rebukes Satan, asserting His sovereign choice of Jerusalem and Joshua, referring to Joshua as a "brand plucked out of the fire," signifying his rescue and chosen status.
  • Filthy Garments of IniquityJoshua's "filthy garments" symbolize the sin and defilement of the high priest and, by extension, the nation of Israel, which must be addressed before divine service.
  • Cleansing and RestorationThe removal of Joshua's filthy garments and his re-clothing with "change of raiment" and a "fair mitre" signify God's act of forgiving iniquity and restoring him to a state of purity and his rightful priestly office.
  • The BranchThis is a prophetic title for a future servant of the LORD, understood as a Messianic figure, whose coming is intrinsically linked to the ultimate removal of iniquity.
  • The Stone with Seven EyesA symbolic stone upon which the LORD will engrave, representing a divine work through which the iniquity of the land will be removed in a single, decisive day.
  • Future Peace and SecurityThe chapter concludes with the promise that after the removal of iniquity, people will live securely "under the vine and under the fig tree," a biblical metaphor for a time of prosperity and peace.