Zechariah 3:8 Meaning and Explanation
“Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Joshua and his fellow priests are signs of things to come, for God promises to bring forth His servant the BRANCH.
What Does Zechariah 3:8 Mean?
The LORD calls Joshua and his fellow priests to listen, naming them men wondered at, that is, living signs of something greater God will do. Then comes the promise that towers over the whole vision: Behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. The cleansed priesthood points beyond itself to a coming One whom God calls His servant.
The title the BRANCH runs through the prophets as a name for the promised King from David's line, the shoot that springs from a cut-down tree. Christians have long read this as a direct promise of the Messiah, Jesus, in whom servant and king, priest and offering all meet. The forgiveness Joshua received in symbol finds its source here, in the Servant God Himself would bring forth to make the cleansing of His people real and lasting.
Zechariah 3:8 in the Original Language
tsemach (צֶמַח), 'Branch' -- a sprout or shoot, used by the prophets as a title for the promised king from David's line.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zechariah 3:8
What does Zechariah 3:8 mean?
Joshua and his fellow priests are signs of things to come, for God promises to bring forth His servant the BRANCH.