Zechariah 3:3

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

Now Joshua {H3091} was clothed {H3847} with filthy {H6674} garments {H899}, and stood {H5975} before {H6440} the angel {H4397}.

Y'hoshua was clothed in garments covered with dung; and he was standing before the angel,

Now Joshua was dressed in filthy garments as he stood before the angel.

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel.

Zechariah 3:3 presents a powerful and symbolic image central to the prophet Zechariah's second vision. It states, "Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel." This verse immediately sets the scene for a dramatic divine interaction concerning sin, judgment, and grace.

Context

This verse is part of a series of night visions given to the prophet Zechariah during the post-exilic period, around 520 BC. At this time, the Jewish people had returned from Babylonian captivity and were engaged in the challenging work of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. Joshua (also known as Jeshua) here is Joshua the High Priest, a prominent leader alongside Zerubbabel. His standing "before the angel" implies being in a divine court or a place of divine audience, while his "filthy garments" are a stark visual representation of impurity and sin, not just his personal failings, but also the collective defilement of the nation of Israel after years of exile and idolatry. The "angel" is the Angel of the Lord, a significant figure in the Old Testament often understood as a pre-incarnate manifestation of Christ, who serves as both prosecutor and ultimately, advocate in this scene (as seen in Zechariah 3:1-2).

Key Themes

  • The Reality of Sin: The "filthy garments" vividly symbolize the deep-seated sin and unrighteousness of Joshua and, by extension, the entire Israelite community. This imagery underscores the pervasive nature of human sin before a holy God.
  • The Need for Cleansing: Joshua's defiled state highlights humanity's desperate need for divine purification and atonement, as human effort alone cannot remove such spiritual stain.
  • Divine Grace and Forgiveness: While this verse focuses on the problem, it sets the stage for God's subsequent gracious intervention (in Zechariah 3:4-5) where the filthy garments are removed and replaced with clean ones, signifying God's willingness to forgive and restore.
  • Intercession and Advocacy: The scene involves the Angel of the Lord and Satan, the accuser. This vision beautifully illustrates the divine intercession on behalf of God's people, even when they are deserving of condemnation.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "filthy" is tzo'im (צוֹאִים), which conveys a sense of extreme impurity, defilement, or excrement-stained. It suggests something utterly repulsive and abominable in God's sight, emphasizing the severity of the sin represented. This term is far stronger than merely "dirty," highlighting the spiritual wretchedness. The "angel" is mal'akh (מַלְאָךְ), meaning "messenger," but in this context, it specifically refers to the divine "Angel of the Lord," who possesses divine authority and acts on God's behalf.

Theological Significance and Practical Application

Zechariah 3:3 serves as a profound reminder of the universal human condition: our righteousnesses are as filthy rags before a holy God. Joshua's defiled garments represent not just Israel's sin, but also the personal sin of every individual. This vision powerfully illustrates the Gospel message: despite our spiritual impurity, God, through His grace, provides a way for cleansing and restoration. Just as Joshua was stripped of his filthy garments and clothed in new, clean ones (Zechariah 3:4-5), believers are cleansed from sin through faith in Christ and are clothed with His righteousness. This verse encourages humility in acknowledging our sin and inspires hope in God's abundant mercy and power to forgive and transform, offering a pathway to spiritual purity and renewed service.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 64:6

    ¶ But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

  • Revelation 19:8

    And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

  • Ezra 9:15

    O LORD God of Israel, thou [art] righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as [it is] this day: behold, we [are] before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

  • Revelation 7:13

    ¶ And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

  • Revelation 7:14

    And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

  • Daniel 9:18

    O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

  • 2 Chronicles 30:18

    For a multitude of the people, [even] many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one

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