Zechariah

The Old Testament > Zechariah

Subpages: Chapters 1-6, Chapters 7-8, Chapters 9-14

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Summary

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The book of Zechariah can be outlined as follows:

Zechariah

I. The Eight Visions (Chapters 1-6)

II. The Delegation from Bethel (Chapters 7-8)

III. _________ (Chapters 9-14)

Each of the major divisions of Zechariah is discussed separately on the following subpages: Chapters 1-6, Chapters 7-8, Chapters 9-14.

Historical setting

This heading should be brief and explain facts about the historical setting that will help a reader to understand the book. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

A broader treatment of the history of ancient Israel, including Zechariah, is found at Old Testament: Historical Overview.

Discussion

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Points to ponder

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I have a question

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Relation to other scriptures

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Related scriptures

• The relationship of Zechariah to the rest of the Old Testament in general is addressed at Old Testament: Organization.

• Zechariah is one of the "Twelve Minor Prophets" (NEED TO ADD page for discussion of minor prophets as a group).

• Zechariah and Haggai both prophesied among the Jews as the Jerusalem Temple was being rebuilt under Zerubbabel (Ezra 5:1; 6:14).

Joseph Smith Translation

The Joseph Smith Translation made changes to only six verses in Zechariah:

• Zech 4:10, 14

• Zech 6:5-6

• Zech 8:7, 13

Complete outline and page map

This heading contains an outline for the entire book. Items in blue or purple text indicate hyperlinked pages that address specific portions of this section. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Zechariah

I. The Eight Visions (1-6)

A. Lord commands Israel to turn to him, and he will turn to Israel (1:1-6)

B. Vision 1: Horsemen in the myrtle trees (1:7-17)

• horseman of Babylon that conquer to and fro in the earth (7-11)

• the Lord will have mercy and restore Jerusalem (12-17)

_. Vision 2: Four horns and four carpenters (1:18-21

• four foreign nations to scatter Israel (18-19)

• four carpenters to drive out foreign nations (20-21)

_. Vision 3: The man with the measuring line (2:1-13)

• Jerusalem to be inhabited and protected by the Lord (1-5)

• Israel called to return from Babylon to Jerusalem (6-9)

• the Lord will dwell in Jerusalem and the nations converted (10-13)

E. Vision 4: High priest Joshua given clean garments (3:1-10)

• Joshua as one saved from imminent destruction (1-2)

• Joshua cleansed and given new garments (3-5)

• Joshua to officiate in righteousness (6-7)

• prophecies of Christ and of cleansing and restoring the land (8-10)

E. Vision 5: Gold lampstand, Zerubabbel (4:1-14)

• candlestick with bowl, seven lamps and two olive trees (1-5)

• Zerubabbel to have power to move mountains, finish the temple, and rule (6-10)

• two olive trees are servants of the Lord (11-14)

_. Vision 6: The flying scroll and the curse (5:1-4)

• those who steal or swear falsely by the Lord's name will be consumed (1-4)

_. Vision 7: The filthy woman in the basket (5:5-11)

• basket in resemblance of all the earth (5-6)

• woman representing filthiness in the basket (7-8)

• woman and basket to be established in Persian capitol (9-11)

B. Vision 8: Four chariots (6:1-8)

• war chariots of the Lord that go to and fro in the earth (1-7)

• the Lord's spirit quieted in the north country (8)

A. Crowning of the Branch who will build the temple if Israel obey (6:9-15)

II. The Delegation from Bethel (7-8)

a. messengers inquire at the temple whether to continue fasting (7:1-3)

b. did the people in Jerusalem fast or eat feasts unto the Lord? (4-7)

c. the Lord required social justice and righteousness toward neighbors (8-10)

d. but Israel would not hear, so the Lord would not hear Israel and scattered it (13-14)

e. blessing: the Lord will gather the young and old to Jerusalem and dwell with them (8:1-8)

e. blessing: let your hands be strong, for the Lord will prosper Israel economically (9-13)

d. in contrast to earlier days, the Lord plans now to bless Israel (14-15)

c. the Lord now requires social justice and righteousness toward neighbors (16-17)

b. fasts and feasts are to be joy and gladness (18-19)

a. Israel and the nations will seek the Lord at the temple (20-23)

III. _________ (9-14)

A. _________________ (9:1-10:42)

Judgment on those who fight against Israel when it repents (9:1-8)

The coming of Zion’s king (9:9-17)

The gathering of Israel (10:1-12)

a.worthless shepherds condemned (10:1-3)

b. promise of God’s care (10:4-12)

B. Shepherds: condemnation of Lebanon and inhabitants (11:1-17)

a. worthless shepherds lament judgment (11:1-3)

b. good shepherd feeds, rejects the flock of the slaughter (11:4-9)

b. flock rejects the good shapherd (11:10-14)

• staff: favor (11:10-11)

• rejection of the good shepherd (11:12-13)

• staff: bands (11:14)

a. worthless shepherds condemned (11:15-17)

C. Oracle: Destiny of the People of God (12:1-14:21)

a. purification of Jerusalem, Second Coming (12:1-14)

• Israel devours enemies who besiege it at Armageddon or Valley of Decision (12:1-9)

• Jerusalem will mourn for Jesus whom it pierced (12:10-14)

b. cleansing of Israel’s lands of prophecy – is 13:2-6 a chiasmus? (13:1-6)

c. separation, gathering, and salvation of a remnant (13:7-9)

Chapter 14 – the Day of the Lord

d. Promise of future deliverance and security, Judgment on enemies (14:1-15)

• Armageddon, the final siege of Jerusalem (1-3)

• The Lord will appear on Mount of Olives and rescue his people (4-5)

• no night or day, temple fountain, new heaven and new earth (6-9)

• the New Jerusalem (10-11)

• attacking nations punished (12-15)

e. ultimate exaltation of Jerusalem, fate of those who do or do not wortship at Jerusalem (14:16-19)

f. Israel purified and holy (14:20-21)

Resources

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Translations

• Amplified • The Amplified Bible, 1987 update

• NASB • New American Standard Bible, 1995 update

• NIV • New International Version

• RSV • Revised Standard Version

Cited references

• Wayment, Thomas A., ed. The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the Old Testament, p. 219-20. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 2009. (ISBN 1606411314) BX8630.A2 2009

Other resources

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "Zechariah: Preparations for the Lord's Return in Glory." In Old Testament: First Kings to Malachi (Institute Manual), vol. 2, third ed. (PDF version), ch. 33, p. 341-49. Salt Lake City, Utah: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2003.

Notes

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves, such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word. In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources are preferable to footnotes.

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