Zechariah3
World English Bible · Public Domain
1He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before Yahweh’s angel, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.
2Yahweh said to Satan, “Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?”
3Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel.
4He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, “Take the filthy garments off him.” To him he said, “Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing.”
5I said, “Let them set a clean turban on his head.” So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him; and Yahweh’s angel was standing by.
6Yahweh’s angel solemnly assured Joshua, saying,
7“Yahweh of Armies says: ‘If you will walk in my ways, and if you will follow my instructions, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by.
8Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign; for, behold, I will bring out my servant, the Branch.
9For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua: on one stone are seven eyes; behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ says Yahweh of Armies, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
10In that day,’ says Yahweh of Armies, ‘you will invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.’”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Zechariah 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The restoration of the church. (1–5). A promise concerning the Messiah. (6–10).
vv1-5
The angel showed Joshua, the high priest, to Zechariah, in a vision. Guilt and corruption are great discouragements when we stand before God. By the guilt of the sins committed by us, we are liable to the justice of God; by the power of sin that dwells in us, we are hateful to the holiness of God. Even God's Israel are in danger on these accounts; but they have relief from Jesus Christ, who is made of God to us both righteousness and sanctification. Joshua, the high priest, is accused as a criminal, but is justified. When we stand before God, to minister to him, or stand up for God, we must expect to meet all the resistance Satan's subtlety and malice can give. Satan is checked by one that has conquered him, and many times silenced him. Those who belong to Christ, will find him ready to appear for them, when Satan appears most strongly against them. A converted soul is a brand plucked out of the fire by a miracle of free grace, therefore shall not be left a prey to Satan. Joshua appears as one polluted, but is purified; he represents the Israel of God, who are all as an unclean thing, till they are washed and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. Israel now were free from idolatry, but there were many things amiss in them. There were spiritual enemies warring against them, more dangerous than any neighbouring nations. Christ loathed the filthiness of Joshua's garments, yet did not put him away. Thus God by his grace does with those whom he chooses to be priests to himself. The guilt of sin is taken away by pardoning mercy, and the power of it is broken by renewing grace. Thus Christ washes those from their sins in his own blood, whom he makes kings and priests to our God. Those whom Christ makes spiritual priests, are clothed with the spotless robe of his righteousness, and appear before God in that; and with the graces of his Spirit, which are ornaments to them. The righteousness of saints, both imputed and implanted, is the fine linen, clean and white, with which the bride, the Lamb's wife, is arrayed, Re 19:8. Joshua is restored to former honours and trusts. The crown of the priesthood is put on him. When the Lord designs to restore and revive religion, he stirs up prophets and people to pray for it.
vv6-10
All whom God calls to any office he finds fit, or makes so. The Lord will cause the sins of the believer to pass away by his sanctifying grace, and will enable him to walk in newness of life. As the promises made to David often pass into promises of the Messiah, so the promises to Joshua look forward to Christ, of whose priesthood Joshua's was a shadow. Whatever trials we pass through, whatever services we perform, our whole dependence must rest on Christ, the Branch of righteousness. He is God's servant, employed in his work, obedient to his will, devoted to his honour and glory. He is the Branch from which all our fruit must be gathered. The eye of his Father was upon him, especially in his sufferings, and when he was buried in the grave, as the foundation-stones are under ground, out of men's sight. But the prophecy rather denotes the attention paid to this precious Corner-stone. All believers, from the beginning, had looked forward to it in the types and predictions. All believers, after Christ's coming, would look to it with faith, hope, and love. Christ shall appear for all his chosen, as the high priest when before the Lord, with the names of all Israel graven in the precious stones of his breastplate. When God gave a remnant to Christ, to be brought through grace to glory, then he engraved this precious stone. By him sin shall be taken away, both the guilt and the dominion of it; he did it in one day, that day in which he suffered and died. What should terrify when sin is taken away? Then nothing can hurt, and we sit down under Christ's shadow with delight, and are sheltered by it. And gospel grace, coming with power, makes men forward to draw others to it.
Key Words
רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
יְהוֹשׁוּעַ: Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader
גָּדוֹל: great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
כֹּהֵן: literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
עָמַד: to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
מֲלְאָךְ: a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)
שָׂטָן: an opponent; especially (with the article prefixed) Satan, the arch-enemy of good
יָמִין: the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south
שָׂטַן: to attack, (figuratively) accuse
Cross References
Zechariah 3Direct parallel where Michael the archangel says, 'The Lord rebuke thee,' echoing the Lord's rebuke to Satan.
Supported by JFB
The exact idiom of being a 'brand plucked out of the burning' describing Israel's narrow escape from judgment.
Supported by JFB
Satan's legal accusations are silenced by God's choice and justification, just as in Joshua's case.
Supported by JFB
Zechariah's later vision identifying the man whose name is 'The BRANCH' who shall build the temple.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The forensic position of the prosecutor or adversary (Satan) standing at the right hand to accuse.
Supported by JFB
The ultimate fulfillment where the 'accuser of our brethren' is finally cast down by the Advocate.
Supported by JFB
The defining OT parallel equating human 'righteousnesses' to 'filthy rags' (or filthy garments).
Supported by JFB
Messianic root prophecy of David's line emerging as a Branch (Netzer) from a cut stump.
Supported by JFB
Explicit cross-reference within Zechariah identifying the 'seven eyes' as the eyes of the Lord.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic description of millennial peace where every man sits under his vine and fig tree.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Mosaic command for making holy garments for Aaron for 'glory and for beauty'.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The historical investiture of Aaron with the holy mitre and crown, echoed in Joshua's restoration.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The laying of a chief cornerstone in Zion as a sure, tested foundation stone.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Solomonic golden age of safety, symbolized by living under the vine and fig tree.
Supported by Matthew Poole