Zechariah

The LORD remembers: encouragement to build, visions of Israel’s future, and the most detailed Messianic prophecy among the Minor Prophets.

Zechariah began prophesying two months after Haggai, in 520 BC, to the same discouraged remnant rebuilding the temple. Where Haggai rebuked and exhorted, Zechariah encouraged and lifted their eyes to the future. He was a priest as well as a prophet, the grandson of Iddo, who returned with Zerubbabel, and probably a young man when he began.

The first half of the book (1–8) contains eight night visions—horses among the myrtles, four horns and four carpenters, a man with a measuring line, Joshua the high priest cleansed, the golden candlestick and olive trees, a flying roll, a woman in an ephah, and four chariots—followed by the symbolic crowning of Joshua and answers about fasting. The message: God is jealous for Jerusalem, will judge the nations, cleanse His people, and complete the work “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit” (4:6).

The second half (9–14), probably from Zechariah’s later years, contains two burdens that look to the Messiah’s coming: the King riding upon an ass, the Shepherd sold for thirty pieces of silver, the pierced One for whom Israel will mourn, the smitten Shepherd whose sheep are scattered, and finally the LORD standing on the Mount of Olives and becoming King over all the earth.

Writer: Zechariah
Written: Beginning in 520 BC; the later chapters perhaps about 487 BC.
Name: The Lord remembers

Title and authorship

Zekharyah means “Jehovah remembers.” About thirty men in the Bible bear the name; this one is the son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo (1:1; Ezra 5:1).

Zechariah wrote the book (1:1, 7; 7:1). The difference in style between chapters 1–8 and 9–14 reflects different kinds of material and probably his more mature years, not a different author.

Historical background

Jerusalem during the rebuilding of the temple, beginning in the eighth month of Darius’ second year (520 BC) and extending, in the later chapters, perhaps beyond the temple’s completion in 516 BC.

The returned remnant under Zerubbabel and Joshua, encouraged to finish the temple and to hope in the coming King.

Priest and prophet

Zechariah belonged to a priestly family (Nehemiah 12:4, 16). He was born in Babylon and returned with the captives as a young man. His combination of priestly and prophetic concern shows in his interest in the temple and in Joshua the high priest.

The temple completed

Zechariah and Haggai were present throughout the four years of work that completed the temple in 516 BC. Haggai’s ministry lasted a few months; Zechariah’s extended for years.

Triumphal entry

On the Sunday before His crucifixion, Christ sent for an ass and a colt and rode into Jerusalem while crowds cried “Hosanna.” Matthew and John both cite Zechariah 9:9 as fulfilled (Matthew 21:4–5; John 12:14–15).

Key passages

Zechariah 4:6

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Zechariah 9:9

The King comes to Jerusalem, just, having salvation, lowly, riding upon an ass.

Zechariah 12:10

They shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and mourn for him.

Zechariah 8:3, 7–8

The Lord promises to return, gather his people, and dwell among them in truth.

Outline

1–6 · Visions of restoration

Night visions and the crowning of Joshua reveal divine watchfulness, cleansing, judgment, and the coming Branch.

7–8 · Worship and promised renewal

Questions about fasting lead to instruction about justice and the future blessing of Jerusalem.

9–11 · The King and the shepherds

The coming King, deliverance, and rejected shepherd ministry expose both hope and resistance.

12–14 · The final deliverance

Jerusalem’s crisis, mourning, cleansing, the smitten shepherd, and the Lord’s return lead to universal kingship.

Original language

צֶמַח (tsemach, H6780) — “the BRANCH”

A sprout or shoot. The Messiah is called the Branch in 3:8 (“my servant the BRANCH”) and 6:12 (“the man whose name is The BRANCH... he shall build the temple”). The title links Isaiah 4:2, Jeremiah 23:5, and 33:15.

דָּקָרוּ (daqaru, H1856) — “pierced”

To thrust through. “They shall look upon me whom they have pierced” (12:10). God speaks in the first person—the pierced One is the LORD Himself. John cites the verse at the cross (John 19:37) and at the Second Coming (Revelation 1:7).

שְׁלֹשִׁים כָּסֶף (sheloshim kaseph, H3701) — “thirty pieces of silver”

The price of a slave gored by an ox (Exodus 21:32). The Shepherd’s wages were weighed out and cast “to the potter in the house of the LORD” (11:12–13), fulfilled in Judas’ betrayal (Matthew 27:3–10).

רוּחִי (ruchi, H7307) — “my spirit”

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit” (4:6). The work of God is accomplished by His Spirit, pictured by the golden oil flowing from the olive trees into the candlestick.

Doctrinal study

The Messiah in Zechariah

Christ is the Branch (3:8), the Servant (3:8), the priest-king crowned (6:13), the lowly King on an ass (9:9), the Shepherd sold for thirty pieces of silver (11:12–13), the pierced One (12:10), the smitten Shepherd (13:7; Matthew 26:31), and the LORD whose feet stand on the Mount of Olives (14:4). No Minor Prophet presents Him more fully.

Israel’s national repentance

When all nations gather against Jerusalem, the LORD will pour upon the house of David the spirit of grace and supplications, and they will look upon Him whom they pierced and mourn as for an only son. In that day a fountain will be opened for sin and uncleanness (12:10–13:1). This is the moment when “all Israel shall be saved.”

The Mount of Olives and the kingdom

Christ ascended from the Mount of Olives, and the angels said He would return “in like manner” (Acts 1:11–12). Zechariah says His feet will stand there in that day, the mountain will split, living waters will flow from Jerusalem, and “the LORD shall be king over all the earth” (14:4–9).

Commentary notes

The night visions

The rider among the myrtles shows Christ watching over Jerusalem (1:7–17); the four horns and carpenters, the powers that scattered Israel and those that judge them (1:18–21); the measuring line, Jerusalem in the Millennium (2); Joshua cleansed while Satan resists (3); the candlestick and two olive trees, Zerubbabel and Joshua historically and the two witnesses prophetically (4; Revelation 11:4); the flying roll, the curse on lawbreakers (5:1–4); the woman in the ephah carried to Shinar, wickedness returned to Babylon (5:5–11); and the four chariots, judgment on the nations (6:1–8).

Joshua crowned

Zechariah was told to make crowns and set them on Joshua the high priest, declaring that the man whose name is The BRANCH will build the temple, bear the glory, and be a priest upon His throne (6:11–13). Only the Messiah unites the offices of priest and king.

Holiness unto the LORD

In the kingdom, “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD” will be written on the bells of the horses and every pot in Jerusalem (14:20–21). What was once engraved only on the high priest’s mitre will mark ordinary life.

Christ in the book

  • The angel of the LORD among the myrtles (1:11–13)
  • The BRANCH, the Servant, priest and king (3:8; 6:12–13)
  • The lowly King riding upon an ass (9:9)
  • The good Shepherd valued at thirty pieces of silver (11:12–13)
  • The pierced One (12:10)
  • The smitten Shepherd (13:7)
  • The LORD standing on the Mount of Olives, King over all the earth (14:4, 9)

Applications

Historical

  • Zechariah encourages the remnant to finish rebuilding the temple through uplifting visions rather than harsh rebukes.
  • Zechariah serves alongside Haggai while Zerubbabel governs and Joshua holds the high priesthood.
  • The visions strengthen a discouraged people by placing the immediate temple work within God’s enduring covenant purpose.

Doctrinal

  • The LORD of hosts will return to dwell in Jerusalem on Mount Zion. Zechariah details Israel’s regathering, the siege of Jerusalem, the nation’s mourning and cleansing, the Second Coming to the Mount of Olives, and the millennial reign.
  • The Branch unites royal and priestly hope; the humble King, betrayal for silver, piercing, and smitten shepherd connect the book closely with Christ’s work.

Devotional

  • The focus of believers while building a temple: God will complete the work He started in us (4:6–9; Philippians 1:6), by His Spirit and not by human strength.
  • The assurance that the temple will be completed gives the builders reason to persevere despite its modest beginning.
  • The message to Zerubbabel establishes dependence on the Spirit’s enabling for the completion of the work.

Answering the critics

Critics assign chapters 9–14 to a different author and period, some to pre-exilic times and some to the Greek period, citing differences in style and content from chapters 1–8.

Different material calls for different style; visions differ from burdens. Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 confirm Zechariah’s ministry, and the New Testament quotes the latter chapters as fulfilled prophecy. The argument to divide the book depends on denying that God can reveal the future—a premise no Bible believer can accept.