Chapter 6
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
2In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
3And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.
4Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?
5And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all the earth.
6The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.
7And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
8Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
9And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
10Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;
11Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
12And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
13Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
14And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.
15And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
“And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”
Overview
Zechariah sees four chariots emerging from between two mountains of brass — angelic patrols going forth to the four winds of heaven, executing God's judgment and sovereignty across the earth. The vision sequence then concludes with a symbolic crowning: Joshua the high priest receives a crown, and Zechariah prophesies about 'the man whose name is The BRANCH' who will build the temple of the Lord and sit as both priest and king on His throne.
Key Themes
God's Sovereignty Over All Nations
The four chariots represent God's Spirit going forth to patrol and govern the earth — no corner of the world escapes His sovereign oversight and control.
The Priest-King
Joshua is crowned as a type of the coming Branch who will unite the offices of priest and king — a union forbidden in Israel's history but perfectly fulfilled in the Messiah.
Building the True Temple
The Branch will build the temple of the Lord — not merely a physical structure but the ultimate dwelling place of God with His people.
Study Questions
What do the four chariots and the mountains of brass represent (vv. 1-7)?
Why is it significant that 'the counsel of peace shall be between them both' — that is, between the priestly and kingly roles (v. 13)?
How does the crowning of Joshua the high priest (vv. 10-11) point beyond itself to Christ?
What does 'the man whose name is The BRANCH' (v. 12) mean, and how does it connect to other Branch prophecies?
How does the union of priest and king in one person challenge what Israel knew about separated offices?
Connection to Christ
The crowning of a priest as king, with 'the counsel of peace between them both,' finds its perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who is both our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14) and the King of kings (Revelation 19:16). No one in Israel's history could hold both offices, but Christ unites them perfectly — interceding for His people and reigning over all creation.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Zechariah 6. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?