Zechariah4

Zechariah sees a vision of a golden candlestick with seven lamps, flanked by two olive trees. The angel explains that this symbolizes the Lord's message to Zerubbabel: the temple will be completed "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit." Zerubbabel will overcome all obstacles and finish the work he started, with the "day of small things" being celebrated by the omnipresent eyes of the Lord. The two olive trees are revealed to be "the two anointed ones" who stand before the Lord of the whole earth.
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The Vision of the Gold Lampstand

1
And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, ​
2
And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: ​
3
And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
4
So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
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. ​

God's Spirit Empowers Zerubbabel

6
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. ​
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Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. ​
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Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
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The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. ​
10
For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. ​

The Meaning of the Two Anointed Ones

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Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? ​
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And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
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And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14
Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. ​

Study Notes for Zechariah 4

Verse 1

Zechariah is roused for the fifth of his eight night visions, suggesting the importance and revelatory nature of the message regarding the Temple's completion and the divine means for achieving it.

Verse 2

The lampstand (menorah) mirrors the one in the Temple, symbolizing Israel's role as a light to the nations. The continuous supply of oil from the central bowl and pipes emphasizes that this light is sustained solely by divine provision.

Verse 5

The angel’s rhetorical question serves to highlight that the interpretation is not based on observable reality but on a spiritual truth revealed directly by God.

Verse 6

This is the central theological statement of the vision. The Temple rebuilding will succeed not through the political strength of Zerubbabel or the might of the returning exiles, but solely through the enabling power of the Spirit of the LORD.

Verse 7

The 'great mountain' represents the seemingly insurmountable obstacles (political opposition, economic hardship) facing Zerubbabel. It will be leveled by divine intervention. The 'headstone' signifies the completion of the Temple, celebrated with shouts of 'Grace!' or 'Favor!'

Verse 9

This direct promise reassures the governor that the one who started the work will certainly finish it, confirming the faithfulness of God and the certainty of the prophetic word.

Verse 10

The 'day of small things' refers to the humble beginnings and slow progress of the Temple rebuilding, which many contemporaries had scorned. The 'plummet' (a measuring line) shows Zerubbabel actively supervising the project. The 'seven eyes' are the omnipresent, discerning eyes of the Lord, actively watching over the whole earth.

Verse 11

Having received the general message for Zerubbabel, Zechariah now presses for the specific identity of the two figures responsible for supplying the continuous oil (the Spirit).

Verse 14

The 'two anointed ones' (literally, 'sons of oil') are the two divinely appointed leaders of the post-exilic community: Joshua the High Priest (religious authority) and Zerubbabel the Governor (political authority), who stand ready to serve the Lord of the whole earth.

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