Zechariah 4:1

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,

Complete Jewish Bible:

Then the angel that had been speaking with me returned and roused me, as if he were waking someone up from being asleep,

Berean Standard Bible:

Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and woke me, as a man is awakened from his sleep.

American Standard Version:

And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the angel^{H4397} that talked^{H1696} with me came again^{H7725}, and waked^{H5782} me, as a man^{H376} that is wakened^{H5782} out of his sleep^{H8142},

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Commentary for Zechariah 4:1

Zechariah 4:1 is part of the Old Testament and specifically falls within the Book of the Minor Prophets, also known as the Twelve Prophets. The verse is set in the post-exilic period, after the Jews had returned from Babylonian captivity, around 520-518 B.C. Zechariah, along with Haggai, was a prophet during this time, encouraging the people to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.

In this verse, Zechariah is experiencing a vision, which is actually a continuation from the previous chapter. The angel who has been conversing with him returns and rouses him from a state that is likened to deep sleep. This imagery of being woken up suggests a need for alertness and attention to the divine message that follows. The angel's action symbolizes a divine summons, indicating that God has more to reveal to His prophet. It underscores the urgency and importance of the message that Zechariah is to receive and convey to the people of Israel.

The theme of the verse is one of divine communication and guidance. It highlights the role of prophets as intermediaries between God and His people, delivering messages that are crucial for the community's spiritual and practical direction. The historical context is the challenging period of rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple, a time when the people needed encouragement and assurance from the Lord. Zechariah's visions, including the one introduced in chapter 4, were meant to invigorate the returned exiles' efforts and to reassure them of God's presence and support in their endeavors. The verse serves as a transition into a significant revelation about the source of power for the completion of the Temple, which is not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zechariah 4:6).

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4397
   There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֲלְאָךְ
   Transliteration: mălʼâk
   Pronunciation: mal-awk'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher); ambassador, angel, king, messenger.
   
2. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7725
   There are 952 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שׁוּב
   Transliteration: shûwb
   Pronunciation: shoob
   Description: a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again; ((break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) [idiom] again, (cause to) answer ([phrase] again), [idiom] in any case (wise), [idiom] at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back), cease, [idiom] certainly, come again (back), [idiom] consider, [phrase] continually, convert, deliver (again), [phrase] deny, draw back, fetch home again, [idiom] fro, get (oneself) (back) again, [idiom] give (again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see) more, [idiom] needs, be past, [idiom] pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, [phrase] say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, [idiom] surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5782
   There are 65 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עוּר
   Transliteration: ʻûwr
   Pronunciation: oor
   Description: a primitive root (rather identical with through the idea of opening the eyes); to wake (literally or figuratively); (a-) wake(-n, up), lift up (self), [idiom] master, raise (up), stir up (self).
   
5. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8142
   There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֵׁנָה
   Transliteration: shênâh
   Pronunciation: shay-naw'
   Description: or שֵׁנָא; (Psalm 127:2), from יָשֵׁן; sleep; sleep.