Zechariah 1:19 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The angel explains that the four horns are the powers that scattered God's people.
What Does Zechariah 1:19 Mean?
Again the prophet asks his guide, 'What be these?' and the angel explains: the horns are the powers that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. The naming of all three, the southern kingdom, the northern, and the holy city, gathers up the whole history of conquest and dispersion God's people had endured at the hands of the nations.
It matters that God names the powers that broke His people. He does not minimize the scattering or pretend the wounds were small. Yet to name an enemy before God is to bring it under His judgment. The horns that seemed to act on their own are here arraigned before heaven. The God who sees the scattering is the God who will gather, and the naming of the harm is the first step toward its undoing.
Zechariah 1:19 in the Original Language
zarah (זָרָה), 'scatter' -- to winnow or disperse, as chaff blown apart and driven away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 1:19
What does Zechariah 1:19 mean?
The angel explains that the four horns are the powers that scattered God's people.