Zechariah 3:1 Meaning and Explanation
“And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The prophet sees a vision of Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan at his right hand to accuse him.
What Does Zechariah 3:1 Mean?
The fourth night vision opens like a courtroom. Joshua, the high priest who led the returned exiles, stands in the heavenly court before the angel of the LORD. At his right hand, the customary place of an accuser, stands Satan, whose very name means the adversary, poised to bring a charge against him.
Here is the human condition pictured in one man. Joshua stands not for himself alone but for a guilty, struggling people, and the accuser is real. Yet the scene is set not for our condemnation but for what God is about to do. Before a word of defense is spoken, the reader senses that the verdict will not rest on the accuser, and that the LORD who summoned this court means to act on His servant's behalf.
Zechariah 3:1 in the Original Language
satan (שָׂטָן), 'adversary' -- one who opposes or accuses, here standing as a prosecutor in the court.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 3:1
What does Zechariah 3:1 mean?
The prophet sees a vision of Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan at his right hand to accuse him.