Go to Related Reading
About this book

Zechariah

About this book
Chapter 4

1 The angelic messenger who had been speaking with me then returned and woke me, as a person is wakened from sleep. 2 He asked me, “What do you see?” I replied, “I see a menorah of pure gold⁠ with a receptacle at the top. There are seven lamps at the top, with seven pipes going to the lamps.⁠ 3 There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the receptacle and the other on the left.” 4 Then I asked the messenger who spoke with me, “What are these, sir?” 5 He replied, “Don’t you know what these are?” So I responded, “No, sir.” 6 Therefore he told me, “This is the Lord’s message to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.⁠ 7 “What are you, you great mountain? Because of Zerubbabel you will become a level plain!⁠ And he will bring forth the temple capstone with shoutings of ‘Grace! Grace!’ because of this.” 8 Moreover, the Lord’s message came to me as follows: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this temple, and his hands will complete it.⁠ Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me to you. 10 For who dares make light of small beginnings? These seven eyes will joyfully look on the tin tablet in Zerubbabel’s hand. These are the eyes of the Lord, which constantly range across the whole earth.”⁠ 11 Next I asked the messenger, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the menorah?” 12 Before he could reply I asked again, “What are these two extensions of the olive trees, which are emptying out the golden oil through the two golden pipes?” 13 He replied, “Don’t you know what these are?” And I said, “No, sir.” 14 So he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”

Texts in conversation

Compare Isaiah 40:4 and Zechariah 4:7

Hebrew Bible

Share:

Summary

Isaiah and Zechariah use the image of mountains lowered and valleys raised as part of a new exodus. Isaiah uses it to clear the way for God’s return to Jerusalem, and Zechariah applies it to the rebuilding of the temple and the hope of deliverance.

Passages

Isaiah 40:4

Hebrew Bible
2 “Speak kindly to Jerusalem and tell her that her time of warfare is over, that her punishment is completed. For the Lord has made her pay double for all her sins.” 3 A voice cries out, “In the wilderness clear a way for the Lord; build a level road through the rift valley for our God. 4 Every valley must be elevated and every mountain and hill leveled. The rough terrain will become a level plain, the rugged landscape a wide valley. 5 The splendor of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it at the same time. For the Lord has decreed it.” 6 A voice says, “Cry out!” Another asks, “What should I cry out?” The first voice responds: “All people are like grass, and all their promises are like the flowers in the field.
740–450 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Isaiah

Zechariah 4:7

Hebrew Bible
5 He replied, “Don’t you know what these are?” So I responded, “No, sir.” 6 Therefore he told me, “This is the Lord’s message to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 7 “What are you, you great mountain? Because of Zerubbabel you will become a level plain! And he will bring forth the temple capstone with shoutings of ‘Grace! Grace!’ because of this.” 8 Moreover, the Lord’s message came to me as follows: 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundations of this temple, and his hands will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me to you.
500–401 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Zechariah

References

"... In the writings of two prophets, Isaiah and Zechariah, the image of topographical change symbolizes the intervention of God in human affairs. In Isaiah 40:4 the prophet announces that in preparation for the Lord’s coming “every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain”. And in Zechariah, God’s angel announces that the “mountain” of opposition against Zerubbabel’s rebuilding of the temple will be leveled: “What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you will become level ground” (Zechariah 4:7). ..."
Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit, and Tremper Longman III, eds., Dictionary of Biblical Imagery (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1998), 2185–2186.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

Tags

Your feedback

Isaiah 40:4 and Zechariah 4:7

Leave a comment

Your questions and comments are welcome!

Comments

Glossary

Search the Library