Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
Themes 9 ▾
High Priesthood of Christ 1, 8 Spiritual Warfare 1 Angels and Demons 1 Covenant 4, 9 Grace 4 Redemption 4, 9 Forgiveness 4 Messianic Promise 8 Atonement 9
People 1 ▾
Joshua Conquest & Judges 1, 3, 6, 8-9
Speakers 2 ▾
Zechariah human 1, 3-6, 8 God divine 2, 7, 9-10
Prophecies 2 ▾
The Branch of David 8 The Branch (Zechariah) 8
Theophanies 1 ▾
The LORD Rebukes Satan Before Joshua 1-5
Historic voices 7 ▾
Summa Theologica 2× 1, 9 Commentary on the Gospel of John 1× 4 Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible 1× 1-5, 7-10 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-9 Keil and Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament 1× 1, 5-6 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1, 8 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary 1× 2-10
Manuscript witnesses 5 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Vaticanus B c. AD 300-325 Codex Alexandrinus A c. AD 400-440 Aleppo Codex (Crown of Aleppo) c. AD 930 Leningrad Codex (Codex Leningradensis) AD 1008
Cross-references 113 ▾
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What is Zechariah 3 about?

Attention turns from the city to its priesthood as Joshua the high priest is shown standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan at his right hand to accuse him. The LORD rebukes the accuser, calls Joshua 'a brand plucked out of the fire,' and commands that his filthy garments be replaced with clean raiment and a fair mitre, declaring, 'I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee.' Cleansed and charged to walk in God's ways, Joshua and his fellow priests are made a sign of a greater promise: 'I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH,' and 'I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.' The engraved stone with seven eyes and the peace of every man under his vine and fig tree seal the pledge. The account moves from restored walls to a restored priesthood, pointing beyond Joshua to the coming One who would cleanse His people's sin at once and forever.

Historical backdrop

Zechariah takes up the same charge as Haggai, in the same year and the same broken city, under the same Persian peace. Darius I has mastered his empire, and its roads carry mounted royal couriers who patrol the provinces as the king's watching eyes. Judah is a small temple-state within that vast order, granted by Persia the right to rebuild its sanctuary and govern its own worship. Around the half-built temple the returned exiles labor under a governor, Zerubbabel of David's line, and a high priest, Joshua.

Matthew Henry on Zechariah 3
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Zechariah 3
The Church Fathers on Zechariah 3
Cited by the confessions

Zechariah 3

Zechariah Chapter 3
3

1And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Jehovah, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary.

2And Jehovah said unto Satan, Jehovah rebuke thee, O Satan; yea, Jehovah that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?

3Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel.

4And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take the filthy garments from off him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with rich apparel. 5And I said, Let them set a clean mitre upon his head. So they set a clean mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments; and the angel of Jehovah was standing by. 6And the angel of Jehovah protested unto Joshua, saying, 7Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou also shalt judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee a place of access among these that stand by. 8Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men that are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch. 9For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; upon one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith Jehovah of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, shall ye invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig-tree.

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What is Zechariah 3 about?

Attention turns from the city to its priesthood as Joshua the high priest is shown standing before the angel of the LORD, with Satan at his right hand to accuse him. The LORD rebukes the accuser, calls Joshua 'a brand plucked out of the fire,' and commands that his filthy garments be replaced with clean raiment and a fair mitre, declaring, 'I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee.' Cleansed and charged to walk in God's ways, Joshua and his fellow priests are made a sign of a greater promise: 'I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH,' and 'I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.' The engraved stone with seven eyes and the peace of every man under his vine and fig tree seal the pledge. The account moves from restored walls to a restored priesthood, pointing beyond Joshua to the coming One who would cleanse His people's sin at once and forever.