King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these [be]? And I said, No, my lord.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He replied, "Don't you know what they are?" I answered, "No, my Lord."
Berean Standard Bible:
“Do you not know what these are?” he inquired. “No, my lord,” I replied.
American Standard Version:
And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these are? And I said, No, my lord.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he answered{H559} me and said{H559}, Knowest{H3045} thou not what these be? And I said{H559}, No, my lord{H113}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Zechariah 4:5
- Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
Hebrews 5:11
- Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Hebrews 5:12
- For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which [be] the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Zechariah 4:13
Zechariah 4:13 is a part of a larger vision revealed to the prophet Zechariah during the post-exilic period, around 520-518 BCE. This was a time when the Jewish people were returning from the Babylonian exile and were in the process of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been destroyed by the Babylonians. The book of Zechariah is one of the books of the Minor Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, and its primary themes are encouragement for the people to complete the rebuilding of the Temple and the promise of God's presence and assistance in their efforts.
In the verse itself, Zechariah is inquiring about the meaning of the vision he is seeing, which includes elements such as a golden lampstand with seven lamps and two olive trees. The question posed by the angel, "Knowest thou not what these be?" followed by Zechariah's honest response, "No, my lord," underscores a common motif in biblical prophetic literature: the prophet's role as an intermediary who requires divine interpretation to understand the visions granted to him. This interaction highlights the mysterious nature of divine revelation and the need for divine guidance to interpret it accurately.
The historical context suggests that the vision and the dialogue between Zechariah and the angel aim to reassure the people that their work on the Temple is significant and under God's watchful eye. The vision's symbolic elements are meant to convey God's promise that the Temple's completion will be accomplished not by might or power, but by God's Spirit (as indicated in the broader context of Zechariah 4:6). This promise would have been particularly encouraging to the returning exiles who faced significant challenges in their efforts to restore their religious and cultural center.
In summary, Zechariah 4:13 reflects the broader themes of the book, emphasizing divine guidance and support for the people of Israel during a pivotal moment in their history. It speaks to the need for divine illumination in understanding God's purposes and the importance of the Temple as a symbol of God's presence with His people.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H3045
There are 873 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָדַע
Transliteration: yâdaʻ
Pronunciation: yaw-dah'
Description: a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.); acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be (ig-) norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have (knowledge), (be, make, make to be, make self) known, [phrase] be learned, [phrase] lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, [idiom] prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have (understanding), [idiom] will be, wist, wit, wot. - Strong's Number: H113
There are 337 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדוֹן
Transliteration: ʼâdôwn
Pronunciation: aw-done'
Description: or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'.