Focused Passage

Zechariah 4:1-14

Not by Might but by My Spirit

From a Spirit-supplied lampstand vision, to the word that Zerubbabel will finish the temple not by might or power but by the LORD's Spirit, to the assurance that small beginnings will become completed worship before the Lord of all the earth.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and woke me, as a man is awakened from his sleep.

2 “What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.

3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left.”

4 “What are these, my lord?” I asked the angel who was speaking with me.

5 “Do you not know what they are?” replied the angel. “No, my lord,” I answered.

6 So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.

7 What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”

8 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me to you.

10 For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”

11 Then I asked the angel, “What are the two olive trees on the right and left of the lampstand?”

12 And I questioned him further, “What are the two olive branches beside the two gold pipes from which the golden oil pours?”

13 “Do you not know what these are?” he inquired. “No, my lord,” I replied.

14 So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who are standing beside the Lord of all the earth.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Then the angel הַמַּלְאָ֖ךְ H4397 Article | Noun - masculine singular who was speaking הַדֹּבֵ֣ר H1696 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with me בִּ֑י Preposition | first person common singular returned וַיָּ֕שָׁב H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular and woke me וַיְעִירֵ֕נִי H5782 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular as a man כְּאִ֖ישׁ H376 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁר־ H834 Pronoun - relative is awakened יֵע֥וֹר H5782 Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular from his sleep מִשְּׁנָתֽוֹ׃ H8142 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

What מָ֥ה H4100 Interrogative do you אַתָּ֖ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular see רֹאֶ֑ה H7200 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular he asked וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֵלַ֔י H413 Preposition | first person common singular I see רָאִ֣יתִי׀ H7200 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular a solid gold זָהָ֨ב H2091 Noun - masculine singular . . . כֻּלָּ֜הּ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular lampstand מְנוֹרַת֩ H4501 Noun - feminine singular construct I replied וַיֹּאמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular with וְהִנֵּ֣ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection a bowl וְגֻלָּ֣הּ H1543 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular at עַל־ H5921 Preposition the top רֹאשָׁ֗הּ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular and seven וְשִׁבְעָ֤ה H7651 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular lamps נֵרֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ H5216 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular on it עָלֶ֔יהָ H5921 Preposition | third person feminine singular - שִׁבְעָ֤ה H7651 Number - masculine singular with seven וְשִׁבְעָה֙ H7651 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular spouts מֽוּצָק֔וֹת H4166 Noun - feminine plural to the lamps לַנֵּר֖וֹת H5216 Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative עַל־ עַל־ H5921 Preposition - רֹאשָֽׁהּ׃ H7218 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 3

Original words

There are also two וּשְׁנַ֥יִם H8147 Conjunctive waw | Number - md olive trees זֵיתִ֖ים H2132 Noun - masculine plural beside it עָלֶ֑יהָ H5921 Preposition | third person feminine singular one אֶחָד֙ H259 Number - masculine singular on the right [side] מִימִ֣ין H3225 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct of the bowl הַגֻּלָּ֔ה H1543 Article | Noun - feminine singular and the other וְאֶחָ֖ד H259 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular on עַל־ H5921 Preposition its left שְׂמֹאלָֽהּ׃ H8040 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Verse 4

Original words

What מָה־ H4100 Interrogative are these אֵ֖לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural my lord אֲדֹנִֽי׃ H113 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular I asked וָאַ֙עַן֙ H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular . . . וָֽאֹמַ֔ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition the angel הַמַּלְאָ֛ךְ H4397 Article | Noun - masculine singular who was speaking הַדֹּבֵ֥ר H1696 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with me בִּ֖י Preposition | first person common singular - לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 5

Original words

Do you not הֲל֥וֹא H3808 Adverb - Negative particle know יָדַ֖עְתָּ H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular what מָה־ H4100 Interrogative they are הֵ֣מָּה H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural replied וַ֠יַּעַן H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular the angel הַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ H4397 Article | Noun - masculine singular - הַדֹּבֵ֥ר H1696 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular וַיֹּ֣אמֶר וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular אֵלַ֔י אֵלַ֔י H413 Preposition | first person common singular No לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle my lord אֲדֹנִֽי׃ H113 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular I answered אֵ֑לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural . . . וָאֹמַ֖ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Verse 6

Original words

So he said to me וַיַּ֜עַן H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular וַיֹּ֤אמֶר וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular This זֶ֚ה H2088 Pronoun - masculine singular is the word דְּבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition to אֵלַי֙ H413 Preposition | first person common singular . . . לֵאמֹ֔ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Zerubbabel זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל H2216 Noun - proper - feminine singular . . . לֵאמֹ֑ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Not לֹ֤א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle by might בְחַ֙יִל֙ H2428 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular nor וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle by power בְכֹ֔חַ H3581 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular but כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction . . . אִם־ H518 Conjunction by My Spirit בְּרוּחִ֔י H7307 Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct | first person common singular says אָמַ֖ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָאֽוֹת׃ H6635 Noun - common plural
Verse 7

Original words

What מִֽי־ H4310 Interrogative are you אַתָּ֧ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular O great הַגָּד֛וֹל H1419 Article | Adjective - masculine singular mountain הַֽר־ H2022 Noun - masculine singular Before לִפְנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct Zerubbabel זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל H2216 Noun - proper - feminine singular you will become a plain לְמִישֹׁ֑ר H4334 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Then he will bring forth וְהוֹצִיא֙ H3318 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the capstone הָאֶ֣בֶן H68 Article | Noun - feminine singular . . . הָרֹאשָׁ֔ה H7222 Article | Noun - feminine singular accompanied by shouts of תְּשֻׁא֕וֹת H8663 Noun - feminine plural construct Grace חֵ֥ן H2580 Noun - masculine singular construct grace חֵ֖ן H2580 Noun - masculine singular to it לָֽהּ׃פ Preposition | third person feminine singular
Verse 8

Original words

Then the word דְבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֖ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular came וַיְהִ֥י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to me אֵלַ֥י H413 Preposition | first person common singular saying לֵאמֹֽר׃ H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 9

Original words

The hands יְדֵ֣י H3027 Noun - feminine dual construct of Zerubbabel זְרֻבָּבֶ֗ל H2216 Noun - proper - feminine singular have laid the foundation יִסְּד֛וּ H3245 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural of this הַזֶּ֖ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular house הַבַּ֥יִת H1004 Article | Noun - masculine singular and his hands וְיָדָ֣יו H3027 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine dual construct | third person masculine singular will complete it תְּבַצַּ֑עְנָה H1214 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine plural Then you will know וְיָ֣דַעְתָּ֔ H3045 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular that כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֖וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural has sent me שְׁלָחַ֥נִי H7971 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular to you אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ H413 Preposition | second person masculine plural
Verse 10

Original words

For כִּ֣י H3588 Conjunction who מִ֣י H4310 Interrogative has despised בַז֮ H936 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular the day לְי֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular of small things קְטַנּוֹת֒ H6996 Adjective - feminine plural But these אֵ֑לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural seven שִׁבְעָה־ H7651 Number - masculine singular eyes עֵינֵ֣י H5869 Noun - cdc of the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular which הֵ֥מָּה H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural scan מְשׁוֹטְטִ֖ים H7751 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural the whole בְּכָל־ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct earth הָאָֽרֶץ׃ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular will rejoice וְשָׂמְח֗וּ H8055 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural when they see וְרָא֞וּ H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the plumb line הָאֶ֧בֶן H68 Article | Noun - feminine singular . . . הַבְּדִ֛יל H913 Article | Noun - masculine singular in the hand בְּיַ֥ד H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of Zerubbabel זְרֻבָּבֶ֖ל H2216 Noun - proper - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Or facets
  • Or the chosen capstone
Verse 11

Original words

Then I asked וָאַ֖עַן H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular וָאֹמַ֣ר וָאֹמַ֣ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular [the angel] אֵלָ֑יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular What מַה־ H4100 Interrogative are the הָאֵ֔לֶה H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural two שְּׁנֵ֤י H8147 Number - masculine dual construct olive trees הַזֵּיתִים֙ H2132 Article | Noun - masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the right יְמִ֥ין H3225 Noun - feminine singular construct and left שְׂמֹאולָֽהּ׃ H8040 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular of the lampstand הַמְּנוֹרָ֖ה H4501 Article | Noun - feminine singular . . . וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Verse 12

Original words

And I questioned him וָאַ֣עַן H6030 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular further שֵׁנִ֔ית H8145 Number - ordinal feminine singular . . . וָאֹמַ֖ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular . . . אֵלָ֑יו H413 Preposition | third person masculine singular What מַה־ H4100 Interrogative are the two שְׁתֵּ֞י H8147 Number - feminine dual construct olive הַזֵּיתִ֗ים H2132 Article | Noun - masculine plural - אֲשֶׁר֙ H834 Pronoun - relative branches שִׁבֲּלֵ֣י H7641 Noun - feminine plural construct beside בְּיַ֗ד H3027 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct the two שְׁנֵי֙ H8147 Number - masculine dual construct gold הַזָּהָ֔ב H2091 Article | Noun - masculine singular pipes צַנְתְּר֣וֹת H6804 Noun - masculine plural construct from which מֵעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם H5921 Preposition-m | third person masculine plural the golden [oil] הַזָּהָֽב׃ H2091 Article | Noun - masculine singular pours הַֽמְרִיקִ֥ים H7324 Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Hebrew from which the gold
Verse 13

Original words

Do you not הֲל֥וֹא H3808 Adverb - Negative particle know יָדַ֖עְתָּ H3045 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular what מָה־ H4100 Interrogative these are אֵ֑לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural he inquired וַיֹּ֤אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular לֵאמֹ֔ר לֵאמֹ֔ר H559 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - אֵלַי֙ H413 Preposition | first person common singular No לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle my lord אֲדֹנִֽי׃ H113 Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular I replied וָאֹמַ֖ר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Verse 14

Original words

So he said וַיֹּ֕אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular These אֵ֖לֶּה H428 Pronoun - common plural are the two שְׁנֵ֣י H8147 Number - masculine dual construct anointed הַיִּצְהָ֑ר H3323 Article | Noun - masculine singular ones בְנֵֽי־ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct who are standing הָעֹמְדִ֖ים H5975 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural beside עַל־ H5921 Preposition the Lord אֲד֥וֹן H113 Noun - masculine singular construct of all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the earth הָאָֽרֶץ׃ H776 Article | Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew the two sons of new oil
  • See Revelation 11:4.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.