Zechariah 4:2

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:

And said {H559} unto me, What seest {H7200} thou? And I said {H559}, I have looked {H7200}, and behold a candlestick {H4501} all of gold {H2091}, with a bowl {H1531} upon the top {H7218} of it, and his seven {H7651} lamps {H5216} thereon, and seven {H7651} pipes {H4166} to the seven {H7651} lamps {H5216}, which are upon the top {H7218} thereof:

and asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I've been looking at a menorah; it's all of gold, with a bowl at its top, seven lamps on it, and seven tubes leading to the lamps at its top.

“What do you see?” he asked. “I see a solid gold lampstand,” I replied, “with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven spouts to the lamps.

And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have seen, and, behold, a candlestick all of gold, with its bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are upon the top thereof;

Zechariah 4:2 presents the prophet's immediate response to an angelic inquiry, describing a pivotal vision that forms the core of Zechariah's message of encouragement to the post-exilic community. He sees a magnificent golden lampstand, complete with a bowl at its top, seven lamps, and seven pipes feeding those lamps.

Context

This vision occurs during a crucial period in Israel's history, shortly after their return from Babylonian exile. The people were tasked with rebuilding the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a daunting task met with opposition and discouragement (Ezra 4:4-5). Zechariah, alongside Haggai, was called to prophesy and inspire the leaders—Zerubbabel, the governor, and Joshua, the high priest—and the people to complete God's work. This particular vision, immediately preceding the famous declaration in Zechariah 4:6, assures them that the temple would be completed, not by human might, but by divine power.

Key Themes

  • Divine Illumination and Presence: The lampstand, entirely of gold, signifies God's glorious presence and His desire to bring light and truth to His people and the world. It echoes the lampstand (menorah) in the Tabernacle and Temple, a symbol of God's dwelling among His people and their role as a light to the nations.
  • The Holy Spirit as the Source: The "bowl" and "seven pipes" feeding the "seven lamps" are crucial. They symbolize a continuous, abundant, and self-replenishing supply of oil, which in biblical symbolism often represents the Holy Spirit. This vision emphasizes that God's work, including the rebuilding of the temple and the spiritual restoration of Israel, would be accomplished not by human strength or resources, but by the ceaseless provision and power of the Spirit.
  • Completeness and Perfection: The number "seven" frequently denotes completeness, perfection, or divine fullness in Scripture. The "seven lamps" can signify the full, perfect, and all-sufficient presence and operation of God's Spirit, sometimes associated with the "seven Spirits of God" mentioned in Revelation.
  • God's Unwavering Provision: The intricate design of the lampstand, with its continuous supply system, assures Zechariah and the people that God's resources for His purposes are inexhaustible and eternally flowing.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV term "candlestick" is better understood as a `lampstand` or `menorah` in modern translations. This distinction is important as it was designed to hold oil lamps, not candles, emphasizing the continuous flow of oil (symbolizing the Spirit) rather than a temporary flame. The phrase "all of gold" highlights its preciousness and divine origin, suitable for a sacred object in God's temple.

Practical Application

Zechariah's vision provides profound encouragement for believers today. Just as God assured Zerubbabel that the temple would be completed by His Spirit, we are reminded that God's purposes in our lives and through the church are not dependent on our limited strength, but on His infinite power and the continuous supply of His Holy Spirit. When we face daunting tasks or opposition, this verse reminds us to rely on divine provision rather than human might. The church, like the lampstand, is called to be a bearer of God's light in the world, sustained and empowered by the Holy Spirit, enabling us to be the light of the world.

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.

  • Revelation 4:5

    And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

  • Revelation 1:12

    And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

  • Matthew 5:14

    Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

  • Matthew 5:16

    Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

  • Exodus 25:31

    ¶ And thou shalt make a candlestick [of] pure gold: [of] beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.

  • Exodus 25:38

    And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, [shall be of] pure gold.

  • Zechariah 5:2

    And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof [is] twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.

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