Zechariah 4:2-3 NKJV,NLT

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 4:3

3. two olive trees—supplying oil to the bowl. The Holy Ghost, who fills with His fulness Messiah (the anointed: the "bowl"), from whom flow supplies of grace to the Church. by it—literally, "upon it," that is, growing so as somewhat to overtop it. For the explanation of the "two" see Zechariah 4:12; Zechariah 4:14. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Zechariah 4:1-5

1. The vision 4:1-5 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Zechariah 4:2-3

The angel asked the prophet what he saw, and Zechariah replied that he saw a golden lampstand with a bowl above it. Lampstands generally, and the lampstands in the tabernacle and temple particularly, held removable lamps (Exodus 25:31; 1 Kings 7:49). Their purpose was to support these light-bearers. Symbolically a lampstand represents what supports whatever bears light (cf. Matthew 5:16; Revelation 1:20; Revelation 2:5). This seems to be the figure in view in 1 Timothy 3:15 where Paul called... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:1-14

The Fifth VisionThe prophet’s thoughts now turn to the civil ruler Zerubbabel. The purpose of the fifth vision is to encourage him in the difficult task of rebuilding the Temple, 1-5, 11-14. The golden candlestick (i.e. the returned exiles) receives its supply of oil (i.e. the divine grace) through two channels (’pipes,’ Zechariah 4:12), viz. the spiritual and the temporal leaders, Joshua and Zerubbabel, through whose united efforts the prosperity of the nation would be accomplished. These are... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Zechariah 4:1-14

A SERIES OF SEVEN VISIONS.Zechariah 1:7 to Zechariah 6:15. Between the commencement of Zechariah’s prophetic labours and the incidents recorded in Zechariah 1:7 to Zechariah 6:15, the Prophet Haggai received the revelation contained in Haggai 2:10-23. On the four-and-twentieth day of the eleventh month, just five months after the re-building of the Temple was resumed, Zechariah sees a succession of seven visions in one night, followed by a symbolic action (Zechariah 6:9-15). read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Zechariah 4:2

(2) This visionary candlestick differed in four points from the original of the Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple—viz., in having “a bowl,” “pipes,” and “olive trees” each side of it, and “two golden spouts.”With a bowl upon the top of it.—This is better than the marg., her bowl—i.e., its bowl—because this was one (a) of the points of difference between the visionary candlestick and its original. But the “seven lamps,” on the other hand, were in agreement with the original; therefore the prophet... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Zechariah 4:1-14

THE FIFTH VISION: THE TEMPLE CANDLESTICK AND THE TWO OLIVE TREESZechariah 4:1-14As the Fourth Vision unfolded the dignity and significance of the High Priest, so in the Fifth we find discovered the joint glory of himself and Zerubbabel, the civil head of Israel. And to this is appended a Word for Zerubbabel himself. In our present text this Word has become inserted in the middle of the Vision, Zechariah 4:6-10 a; in the translation which follows it has been removed, to the end of the Vision,... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Zechariah 4:1-14

CHAPTER 4 1. The fifth night vision (Zechariah 4:1-10 ) 2. The questions of the prophet answered (Zechariah 4:11-14 ) Zechariah 4:1-10 . There was a rest for the prophet between the fourth and fifth night vision. He had fallen into a deep sleep. He may have been overcome by the grand and important visions, and is now awakened by the angel with the question, “What seest thou?” The new vision is a very striking one. A golden candlestick appears before the seer. An oil receiver is seen on... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Zechariah 4:2

4:2 And said to me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a {a} lamp stand all [of] gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps, and seven {b} pipes to the seven lamps, which [were] upon the top of it:(a) Which was ever in the midst of the temple, signifying that the graces of God’s Spirit would shine, here in most abundance, and in all perfection.(b) Which conveyed the oil that dropped from the trees into the lamps, so that the light never went out: and this... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 4:1-14

The Fifth Vision - The Lampstand (vv. 1-14) The next vision requires Zechariah's being awakened by the angel who spoke with him. Our natural inclination would not discern the truth of a vision like this: we are naturally insensible regarding these things and require an awakening by divine power. The essence of the vision is expressed in verse 6: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts," and1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 2:14 reminds us, "The natural man does... read more