Sign in for free

Zechariah 6

English Standard Version



1 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. (Da 2:39) 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, (Zec 1:8; Re 6:4; Re 6:5) 3 the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong.[1] (Zec 1:8; Re 6:2) 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” (Zec 1:9) 5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. (Ps 104:4; Zec 3:4; Zec 4:14; Heb 1:7) 6 The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” (Jer 1:13; Zec 2:6; Zec 6:8; Zec 9:14) 7 When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. (Zec 1:10) 8 Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.” (Zec 6:6) 



9 And the word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. (2Ki 25:18; Ne 7:39; Zec 6:14) 11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. (Zec 3:1; Zec 3:5) 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. (Zec 3:8; Mt 16:18; Eph 2:20; Heb 3:3) 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there[2] shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ (Ps 21:5; Ps 110:4; Eze 21:27; Hag 2:9; Zec 6:12; Heb 3:1) 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to Helem,[3] Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah. (Ex 12:14; Zec 6:10; Mt 26:13; Mr 14:9) 15 “And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the Lord. And you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God.” (De 30:1; Isa 57:19; Isa 60:10; Zec 2:9; Eph 2:13; Eph 2:19) 

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Zechariah 6

New International Version



1 I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains – mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black, 3 the third white, and the fourth dappled – all of them powerful. 4 I asked the angel who was speaking to me, ‘What are these, my lord?’ 5 The angel answered me, ‘These are the four spirits[1] of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. 6 The one with the black horses is going towards the north country, the one with the white horses towards the west,[2] and the one with the dappled horses towards the south.’ 7 When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, ‘Go throughout the earth!’ So they went throughout the earth. 8 Then he called to me, ‘Look, those going towards the north country have given my Spirit[3] rest in the land of the north.’ 



9 The word of the Lord came to me: 10 ‘Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak.[4] 12 Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he[5] will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.” 14 The crown will be given to Heldai,[6] Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen[7] son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord. 15 Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God.’ 

Holy Bible, New International Version ® (Anglicised), NIV TM
Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The “New International Version” is a trademark registered in the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. The “NIV”, “Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.

Zechariah 6

King James Version

1 And 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. 2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; 3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses. 4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord? 5 And 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. 6 The 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. 7 And 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. 8 Then 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. 9 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 10 Take 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; 11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; 12 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: 13 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. 14 And 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. 15 And 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. 

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain.
Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

Zechariah 6

New International Reader’s Version



1 I looked up again and saw four chariots. They were coming out from between two mountains. The mountains were made out of bronze. 2 The first chariot was pulled by red horses. The second one had black horses. 3 The third had white horses. And the fourth had spotted horses. All the horses were powerful. 4 I asked the angel who was talking with me, ‘Sir, what are these?’ 5 The angel answered, ‘The four spirits of heaven. They are going out to serve the Lord of the whole world. 6 The chariot pulled by the black horses is going towards the north country. The one with the white horses is going towards the west. And the one with the spotted horses is going towards the south.’ 7 The powerful horses went out. They were in a hurry to go all over the earth. The angel said, ‘Go all through the earth!’ So they did. 8 Then the LORD called out to me, ‘Look! The horses going towards the north have given my Spirit rest in the north country.’ 



9 A message from the LORD came to me. His angel said, 10 ‘Get some silver and gold from Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah. They have just come back from Babylon. On that same day go to Josiah’s house. He is the son of Zephaniah. 11 Use the silver and gold to make a crown. Set it on the head of Joshua the high priest. He is the son of Jozadak. 12 Give Joshua a message from the LORD who rules over all. He says, “Here is the man whose name is the Branch. He will branch out and build my temple. 13 That is what he will do. He will be dressed in majesty as if it were his royal robe. He will sit as king on his throne. He will also be a priest there. So he will combine the positions of king and priest in himself.” 14 The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Zephaniah’s son Hen. The crown will be kept in the LORD’s temple. It will remind everyone that the LORD’s promises will come true. 15 Those who are far away will come to Jerusalem. They will help build the LORD’s temple. Then his people will know that the LORD who rules over all has sent me to them. It will happen if they are careful to obey the LORD their God.’ 

Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV® (Anglicised)
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Biblica”, “International Bible Society” and the Biblica Logo are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission.