Zechariah 4:10

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.

For who hath despised {H936} the day {H3117} of small things {H6996}? for they shall rejoice {H8055}, and shall see {H7200} the plummet {H68}{H913} in the hand {H3027} of Zerubbabel {H2216} with those seven {H7651}; they are the eyes {H5869} of the LORD {H3068}, which run to and fro {H7751} through the whole earth {H776}.

For even someone who doesn't think much of a day when such minor events take place will rejoice at seeing the plumbline in the hand of Z'rubavel. So these seven are the eyes of ADONAI that range about over all the earth."

For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven eyes of the LORD, which scan the whole earth, will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”

For who hath despised the day of small things? for these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel; these are the eyes of Jehovah, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

Zechariah 4:10 stands as a powerful message of encouragement and divine assurance during a period of rebuilding and potential discouragement for the post-exilic Jewish community. It addresses the tendency to despise humble beginnings and reaffirms God's active involvement in seemingly "small" endeavors.

Context

This verse is part of a series of visions granted to the prophet Zechariah, who, along with Haggai, ministered to the Jewish people who had returned from Babylonian exile. Their primary task was to encourage the rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a project that had stalled and faced considerable opposition and internal apathy. Zerubbabel, the civil governor, was instrumental in leading this reconstruction. The temple being built was far less grand than Solomon's original, leading many to "despise" its modest scale. Zechariah 4, in particular, focuses on the divine empowerment for this task, emphasizing that it would be completed "not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit" (Zechariah 4:6).

Key Themes

  • Don't Despise Humble Beginnings: The core message is a rebuke to those who look down upon the seemingly insignificant or slow progress of God's work. God values faithfulness and perseverance even in the "day of small things." What appears modest to human eyes is significant in God's grand plan.
  • Divine Oversight and Completion: The reference to "the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel" signifies that the work, though started humbly, will be completed by divine appointment. The plummet, a builder's tool, symbolizes precision and the assured progress of the construction under God's watchful eye.
  • God's Omnipresence and Omniscience: "Those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth" speaks to God's perfect and complete knowledge and constant vigilance over all creation. These "seven eyes" are often interpreted as representing divine perfection, the fullness of God's Spirit, or His all-seeing presence, ensuring that no detail is overlooked and His purposes are fulfilled. This imagery is also found in Revelation 5:6, depicting the Lamb with seven eyes.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "day of small things" (Hebrew: yom qatanot) powerfully captures the idea of humble beginnings or modest scale. The "plummet" (Hebrew: eben habbedil, literally "stone of tin" or "stone of lead") refers to a weight used by builders to ensure vertical accuracy, symbolizing the sure and steady progress of Zerubbabel's work, guided by God.

Practical Application

Zechariah 4:10 offers timeless encouragement for believers today. It reminds us not to be discouraged by the humble scale of our efforts, whether in personal spiritual growth, ministry, or any God-given task. God often begins His greatest works in seemingly small ways. Our faithfulness in the "small things" is seen and valued by an all-seeing God, who is actively working behind the scenes to bring His plans to fruition. This verse fosters patience, perseverance, and trust in God's ability to complete the good work He begins, regardless of how insignificant it may appear at the outset.

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.

  • Job 8:7

    Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:28

    And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, [yea], and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

  • 1 Corinthians 1:29

    That no flesh should glory in his presence.

  • 2 Chronicles 16:9

    For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

  • Haggai 2:3

    Who [is] left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? [is it] not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

  • Matthew 13:31

    Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

  • Matthew 13:33

    Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

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