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Zechariah 1:19

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And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What [be] these? And he answered me, These [are] the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

And I said {H559} unto the angel {H4397} that talked {H1696} with me, What be these? And he answered {H559} me, These are the horns {H7161} which have scattered {H2219} Judah {H3063}, Israel {H3478}, and Jerusalem {H3389}.

I asked the angel who was speaking to me, "What are these?" He answered, "These are the horns that scattered Y'hudah, Isra'el and Yerushalayim."

So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he told me, “These are the horns that have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”

And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

Commentary

Zechariah 1:19 is part of the prophet Zechariah’s first vision, given to him in the second year of Darius’s reign, around 520 BC. This period was significant as the Jewish exiles had recently returned from Babylon and were engaged in rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. The people were discouraged and needed assurance of God’s continued presence and faithfulness.

Context

In this vision, Zechariah sees four horns (introduced in Zechariah 1:18) and asks the interpreting angel about their meaning. The angel's response in verse 19 reveals their identity: "These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem." This vision serves to explain the past suffering of God's people and to set the stage for divine action against their oppressors, as further detailed by the appearance of four carpenters who come to terrify these horns.

Meaning of the Horns

In biblical prophecy, "horns" (Hebrew: qeren) are a powerful symbol of strength, dominion, and political power, often representing kingdoms or rulers. The four horns here represent the various Gentile empires that had historically oppressed and dispersed God's people. This includes:

  • Assyria: Responsible for scattering the northern kingdom of Israel (see 2 Kings 17:6).
  • Babylon: Which conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem, leading to the seventy-year exile (as chronicled in 2 Kings 25:1 and Jeremiah).
  • Persia: Though Cyrus allowed the return, subsequent Persian rule still represented foreign dominion.
  • Greece (and later Rome): Prophetic visions often encompass the sweep of history, and these horns can also prefigure future oppressive powers that would afflict God's people. This symbolism is consistent with other prophetic books, such as the visions of Daniel where horns symbolize kingdoms.
The phrase "scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem" vividly describes the widespread dispersion and suffering inflicted upon God's covenant people by these formidable powers.

Key Themes

  • God's Sovereignty: Despite the scattering, God remains in control of history and the nations. The vision reveals that even oppressive powers are known to Him.
  • Divine Justice: The appearance of the "carpenters" in the subsequent verses signifies God's impending judgment on these oppressive nations that harmed His chosen people.
  • Assurance of Restoration: For the post-exilic community, this vision offered a powerful message of hope – that God would not only judge their past oppressors but also ensure the ultimate restoration and security of His people in their land.

Practical Application

For believers today, Zechariah 1:19 reminds us that God is fully aware of the forces and powers that oppose His people and His purposes. Even in times of oppression, persecution, or difficulty, He sees and will ultimately act. This verse provides comfort that no power, no matter how strong or intimidating, can ultimately thwart God's plan or escape His justice. It encourages us to trust in God's sovereign hand and to look forward to His ultimate triumph over all evil.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezra 4:4 (4 votes)

    Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

  • Zechariah 2:2 (4 votes)

    Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what [is] the breadth thereof, and what [is] the length thereof.

  • Zechariah 1:9 (4 votes)

    Then said I, O my lord, what [are] these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these [be].

  • Ezra 4:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

  • Zechariah 8:14 (4 votes)

    For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:

  • Zechariah 1:21 (4 votes)

    Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These [are] the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up [their] horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.

  • Jeremiah 50:17 (4 votes)

    Israel [is] a scattered sheep; the lions have driven [him] away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.