Zechariah 3:2 Meaning and Explanation
“And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The LORD silences the accuser, appealing to His own choice of Jerusalem, and calls Joshua a brand plucked from the fire.
What Does Zechariah 3:2 Mean?
The accuser is cut off before he can press his case. The rebuke rests entirely on the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem, not on any merit in Joshua. The picture of a brand plucked out of the fire recalls the people just rescued from the furnace of exile, half-burnt yet snatched to safety.
God does not deny that Joshua is soiled by the fire; He insists instead on His own committed love. Mercy here is grounded in God's choosing, not in the worthiness of the rescued. To everyone who feels too scorched to be saved, this verse answers that the rescue is the LORD's doing, and that a charred and unlikely brand is exactly what He delights to pull from the flames.
Zechariah 3:2 in the Original Language
ud (אוּד), 'brand' -- a stick already burning, snatched from the fire before it is consumed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 3:2
What does Zechariah 3:2 mean?
The LORD silences the accuser, appealing to His own choice of Jerusalem, and calls Joshua a brand plucked from the fire.